Aug. 11: Brito, Bracho homers lift Ducks in Harrisburg, 5-3

August 11, 2023 RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score

Akron RubberDucks (19-18, 54-51) 5, Harrisburg Senators (19-18, 50-55) 3

WP: Jack Leftwich (5-5) LP: Jack Sinclair (2-4) Save: none

Summary

Akron shortstop Juan Brito hit a go-ahead two-run home run, and second baseman Aaron Bracho added a solo homer in a three-run eighth inning, while left-hander Will Dion and right-hander Jack Leftwich combined to give the RubberDucks a 5-3 win, snapping a three-game losing streak against the Harrisburg Senators at FNB Field Friday night.

Turning Point

With Akron trailing, 3-2, center fielder Connor Kokx drilled a leadoff double to the top of the left-field wall, where fan interference placed Kokx at second base. Brito followed by driving a two-run home run to right field for Akron’s first lead since the first inning Tuesday. Two batters later, Bracho drilled a solo home run to right field to make it 5-3.

Hammerin' Aaron Bracho hits one out!

TOP 8 | Akron 5 | Harrisburg 3 pic.twitter.com/iAZG4eBpOU

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) August 12, 2023

Mound Presence

Dion allowed a first-inning run when left fielder Robert Hassell III reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on third baseman Trey Lipscomb’s RBI double to left-center field. Dion induced double plays in each of the next two innings and pitched a perfect fourth. In the fifth, he allowed a walk and another RBI single by Lipscomb to make it 2-0. Dion finished five innings, allowing seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Leftwich started in the sixth inning and allowed a seventh-inning run on one hit and two groundouts, before retiring eight of the last 10 batters to work the final four innings. He struck out four batters while allowing one walk and two hits, earning his first win since June 3.

Duck Tales

The RubberDucks erased a 2-0 deficit in the seventh inning against left-hander Garvin Alston. Catcher Micael Ramírez drew a leadoff walk, and first baseman Bryce Ball hit an RBI double to left-center field. After third baseman Gabriel Rodríguez singled, Ball scored when right fielder Cesar Idrogo grounded into a double play, tying the game, 2-2.

Notebook

Brito’s home run extended his 24-game on-base streak – the longest by a RubberDuck since Ka’ai Tom (27) in 2019, the longest active streak in the Eastern League, and tied for seventh-longest in the league overall this season…Akron tied Harrisburg and Bowie (19-18), now two games behind Richmond (21-16) in the Southwest Division second-half race…Akron leads the season series with Harrisburg, 9-7…Game Time: 2:27…Attendance: 4,863.

On the Pond

The RubberDucks continue their series in Harrisburg at 6 p.m. Saturday at FNB Field. Right-hander Ross Carver (1-3, 7.39 ERA) is scheduled to face Senators left-hander Dustin Saenz (2-4, 5.36 ERA). The game broadcast is on 640 WHLO, the 640 WHLO iHeartRadio channel, and akronrubberducks.com, and available on Bally Live. Tickets for RubberDucks home games are available at akronrubberducks.com/tickets.