Dodson, Curve Outmuscle RubberDucks 4-2
May 15, 2015 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
Altoona lefty Zack Dodson tossed seven masterful innings and first baseman Josh Bell drove in a pair of runs as the Curve claimed a 4-2 victory over the Akron RubberDucks Friday night at People's Natural Gas Field.
Turning Point
The RubberDucks trailed 4-0 until the eighth inning when reliever Josh Smith took over for Dodson. Smith issued a lead-off walk to Tony Wolters, and then gave up a two-run home run to Anthony Gallas to make it 4-2. Smith walked the next hitter, Jake Lowery, but retired Tyler Naquin on a line-out to center field. Smith was lifted in favor of right-hander Jeff Inman. On Inman's first and only pitch of the game, he induced a double play grounder from Todd Hankins to end the inning and preserve the lead.
Mound Presence
Dodson (2-1) was in total command during his seven innings of work. After yielding a lead-off double to Tyler Naquin, Dodson retired the next 14 hitters in a row. Wolters broke the string with a double in the fifth inning. Dodson gave up back-to-back singles with one out in the seventh, but retired the side on a first-pitch double play off the bat of Jordan Smith. All told, Dodson gave up just four hits, walked none, and struck out a season-high, eight batters. He was inexplicably removed after throwing 78 pitches in seven innings. In three starts against the RubberDucks, Dodson has twirled 19 consecutive scoreless innings and picked up both of his wins. Ryan Merritt (2-3) started for Akron and allowed two runs in the first and two more in the third. He also worked seven innings in the losing cause.
Duck Tales
Gallas yanked his two-run homer into the left-field bleachers. It was his first of the year. Yandy Diaz and Smith drew back-to-back, two-out walks in the 9th, but Altoona closer Yhonathan Barrios fanned Wolters to end the game.
Notes
The Curve (22-11) jumped on the board with two runs in the first inning. Keon Broxton and Max Moroff led off with hits, Bell forced in a run with a groundout, and Edward Salcedo knocked in a run with a two-out base hit...The same scenario played out in the third inning. Bell drove in Broxton with a single and Moroff scored on a double play to make it 4-0...The RubberDucks (14-21) have lost four straight games, and fell to nine games back in the EL West...Time of game: 2:03 ...Attendance: 3,422.
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