Ducks Grow First-Place Lead with 6-1 Win in Somerset
August 28, 2021 - Eastern League (EL)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
RubberDucks left-hander Konnor Pilkington pitched five innings to earn a win, and Akron scored six runs across the second through fourth innings of a 6-1 victory over the Somerset Patriots in the fifth game of a six-game series between first-place teams at TD Bank Ballpark Saturday night. Akron holds the league's best record by 3.5 games over Bowie.
Turning Point
Akron held a 3-1 lead through three innings but capitalized on Patriots miscues in the fourth inning to put the game beyond one swing. First baseman Jonathan Engelmann hit a leadoff single against Somerset right-hander Randy Vasquez and scored on a two-out fly ball by left fielder Will Brennan, who reached third base when right fielder Isiah Gilliam misplayed the potential third out. Shortstop Brayan Rocchio grounded an RBI triple down the right-field line and scored on second baseman Jesus Bastidas' errant relay throw to third base, which made it a 6-1 Akron lead.
Mound Presence
Pilkington held Somerset scoreless until the third inning, when a double and walk put two runners on base, but he got a double play to limit the damage to a run. He did not allow another run, allowing only two hits and two walks with six strikeouts in his fifth straight five-inning appearance for Akron. Right-hander Dakody Clemmer pitched two scoreless innings. Left-hander Skylar Arias and right-hander Aaron Pinto each worked a scoreless inning. Akron pitching allowed three hits, and has not allowed a hit with a runner in scoring position (Somerset has gone 0-for-21) in the last 19 innings, while the bullpen has worked consecutive scoreless innings.
Duck Tales
Akron took the lead in the second inning, when Engelmann reached on a two-out error by shortstop Oswald Peraza and scored on a double by third baseman Victor Nova, who collected his first Double-A RBI. The RubberDucks added runs in the third inning, when Rocchio singled, stole second base and scored on center fielder Steven Kwan's RBI double. Kwan later scored on right fielder Chris Roller's RBI infield single to make it 3-0.
Notebook
The RubberDucks are 24 games above .500, matching their season high mark...Akron has won at least three games in every series it has played since June 15, a span of 11 consecutive series...Game Time: 3:00... Attendance: 5,575.
On the Pond
The RubberDucks conclude their six-game series in Somerset at 5:05 p.m. EDT Saturday. Akron left-hander Juan Hillman (10-4, 3.69 ERA) is scheduled to face Patriots right-hander Hayden Wesneski (5-4, 4.66 ERA). 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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