Right-handed pitcher Austin Adams struck out nine batters, but allowed a Derek Norris three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning that proved to be the difference as the Akron Aeros lost the rubber match of a three-game series against the Harrisburg Senators 4-2 Thursday at Canal Park. 
 
With the loss, the Aeros (64-60) have fallen six games back of the first place Senators and four games back of second place Bowie for the Western Division Wild Card spot with 18 games left to play.
 
Adams suffered the loss for Akron tossing seven innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits and walking none.
 
Left-handed pitcher Danny Rosenbaum recorded the win for Harrisburg lasting 6.2 innings, allowing one earned run on six hits, walking three and striking out one. Right-hander Pat Lehman got the last three outs to earn the save.
 
The game was scoreless until the top of the fourth when the Senators (70-54) took a 1-0 lead on a Kyle Bellows fielding error that allowed Archie Gilbert to score.
 
The Aeros tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning when Cristo Arnal scored on a Josh Johnson fielding error.
 
In the top of the seventh inning, Norris hit a three-run home run to give the Senators a 4-1 lead.
 
Akron scored a run in the bottom of the ninth inning, but that was as close as they would get as they lost the rubber match.
 
The Aeros will begin a seven-game road trip with the first of three against the Richmond Flying Squirrels on Friday. Akron will give the ball to left-handed pitcher Matt Packer, who is 6-11 with a 4.41 ERA in 2011. He will face right-handed pitcher Justin Fitzgerald, who is 8-7 with a 3.42 ERA this season. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.