Curve Outduel RubberDucks in Walk-Off 2-1 Win
August 5, 2022 - Eastern League (EL)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
Summary
After eight scoreless innings between Akron and Altoona Friday night, the RubberDucks scored a ninth-inning run on catcher Bryan Lavastida's single, but the Curve tied and won the game, 2-1, in the bottom of the ninth, for its first victory in three games of the series at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
Turning Point
With Akron leading, 1-0, in the bottom of the ninth inning, right-hander Robert Broom walked catcher Grant Koch, and third baseman Jared Triolo lined a game-tying triple to right-center field. After Broom walked second baseman Andres Alvarez, designated hitter Blake Sabol hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Triolo for the 2-1 Altoona win - its fifth walk-off victory of the season.
Mound Presence
Right-hander Gavin Williams started by retiring the first five batters of the game, but rain that had been falling since the game began finally delayed the contest with two outs in the bottom of the second inning. Neither team's starting pitcher returned after the one-hour, 19-minute delay. Left-hander Randy Labaut took over on the mound and worked 3 1/3 hitless innings, only allowing a walk while striking out four batters. Right-hander Aaron Pinto, just transferred from Triple-A Columbus, began the sixth inning and carried the no-hitter until Sabol's seventh-inning, one-out single. Pinto completed three scoreless innings around one hit and one walk. Broom began the ninth and allowed the two Altoona runs.
Duck Tales
Each team had only one hit through the first eight innings. In the top of the ninth against right-hander Tahnaj Thomas, second baseman Brayan Rocchio hit a two-out single to right field. Rocchio ran on an 0-1 pitch to Lavastida, who grounded a single into right-center field, and Rocchio came around to score the game's first run.
Notebook
Seven RubberDucks relievers had combined to pitch 14 2/3 scoreless innings in the series before the ninth inning Friday...Akron and Altoona are tied for the most one- or two-run games in the league this season, as each has played 54. The RubberDucks are 30-24 in those games, while the Curve are 23-31 in those games...Akron leads the season series, 8-7...Game Time: 2:19 (1:19 delay)...Attendance: 3,508.
On the Pond
The RubberDucks continue their series in Altoona with a doubleheader at 4 p.m. EDT Saturday. Akron right-hander Tanner Burns (1-3, 3.51 ERA) is scheduled to face Curve right-hander Quinn Priester (0-3, 4.26 ERA) in Game 1, and right-hander Thomas Ponticelli (2-2, 3.79 ERA) is set to start Game 2 for Akron. The game broadcast, powered by FirstEnergy, is on 640 WHLO, the 640 WHLO iHeartRadio channel, and akronrubberducks.com, and available on MiLB.TV. Tickets for RubberDucks home games are available at akronrubberducks.com/tickets.
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