EL Akron RubberDucks

Ducks Rally to Knock out Patriots, 5-4, Earn Championship Berth

Published on September 19, 2021 under Eastern League (EL)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


After being no-hit for six innings, the Akron RubberDucks overcame a 4-0 deficit, rallying with a four-run eighth inning to down the Somerset Patriots, 5-4, on Sunday afternoon at Canal Park. The RubberDucks eliminated Somerset and clinched the No. 1 seed in the best-of-five Double-A Northeast Championship Series that will start Tuesday in Bowie.

Turning Point

With Akron trailing, 4-1, in the eighth, Will Brennan worked a one-out walk against Nick Ernst, and Brayan Rocchio singled to put runners on first and second, bring the tying run to bat. José Fermín played hero again for the RubberDucks by launching a no-doubt, three-run home run down the left-field line to tie the game, 4-4. Bryan Lavastida walked and advanced to second base on a wild pitch by Addison Russ before coming around to score on a George Valera single through the hole between shortstop and third base to make it 5-4 Akron.

Mound Presence

Cleveland Indians right-hander Shane Bieber made a rehab start and allowed a first-inning, two-run home run to Oswaldo Cabrera. Bieber settled down and retired nine in a row before giving up a solo home run to Dermis Garcia in the fourth to end his outing. In total, Bieber tossed 3 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on three hits while striking out four batters. Nic Enright followed by getting the last two outs of the fourth. Logan Allen was lights-out the rest of the way for the RubberDucks, tossing five innings, allowing an unearned run and striking out seven batters to earn the victory.

Duck Tales

Akron picked up its first hit of the game off Luis Medina in the bottom of the seventh, when Lavastida tripled down the right-field line. Lavastida came around to score two pitches later on a wild pitch by Medina to cut the Patriots lead to 4-1. The RubberDucks left five runners on base and were 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

Notebook

Bowie's Sunday win over Altoona secured the No. 2 seed...Akron and Somerset split their 12-game season series, with each team going 3-3 at home...Brennan's walk in eighth extended his on-base streak to 20 games...Rocchio's single extended his hitting streak to 12 games...Game Time: 2:34...Attendance: 4,013. Season total attendance: 208,162.

On the Pond

The RubberDucks will travel to Bowie to start the Double-A Northeast Championship Series at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday. The game broadcast, powered by FirstEnergy, is on 640 WHLO, the 640 WHLO iHeartRadio channel, and akronrubberducks.com, and available on MiLB.TV. The series comes to Canal Park presented by Brennan Manna Diamond on Friday, September 24 at 7:05 p.m. Tickets for RubberDucks home games are available at akronrubberducks.com/tickets.

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Eastern League Stories from September 19, 2021


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