EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Johnson Leads Charge in RubberDucks Victory

May 16, 2019 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


Akron RubberDucks center fielder Daniel Johnson hit his sixth home run in seven games - and team-high ninth this season - to tie Thursday's series opener, 2-2, leading off the sixth inning, and he led off the eighth inning with a triple before scoring the go-ahead run on right fielder Connor Marabell's sacrifice fly in a 4-2 win over the Richmond Flying Squirrels at The Diamond in Richmond, Virginia. Akron has won back-to-back games and four of its last five.

Turning Point

Against right-hander Ryan Halstead (1-3), Johnson hit a leadoff triple to right-center field. Left-hander Sam Moll entered and retired first baseman Wilson Garcia on a popout to left field, before Marabell lined to medium-deep left field, allowing Johnson to score ahead of the throw from left fielder Chris Shaw, for a 3-2 RubberDucks lead.

Mound Presence

Akron right-hander Eli Morgan did not allow a run for the first four innings, preserving a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the fifth inning, he allowed an infield-popup single, walk and sacrifice, before center fielder Johneshwy Fragas hit a two-run single to right-center field, for a 2-1 Richmond lead. After Morgan's five-inning start, left-hander Rob Kaminsky (1-1) pitched two scoreless innings, and after the leadoff batter reached in the eighth inning, right-hander Nick Sandlin pitched two scoreless innings with four strikeouts - both matching career highs - for his first Double-A save. For Richmond, left-hander Connor Menez allowed two runs in six innings. Halstead pitched a scoreless seventh inning before allowing Johnson's triple in the eighth inning. Moll went for 1 2/3 innings, allowing one run.

Duck Tales

The RubberDucks took the lead in the first inning, as shortstop Ernie Clement hit a leadoff single to right-center field, and designated hitter Nellie Rodriguez grounded an RBI double down the third-base line. The final run came in the ninth inning, as left fielder Ka'ai Tom hit a leadoff infield single and later scored on third baseman Tyler Krieger's RBI single.

Notebook

Johnson extended a nine-game hitting streak, matching a RubberDucks season high (set by Jorma Rodriguez), and has six of Akron's 15 home runs the last seven games...Marabell and Tom have season-high eight- and six-game hitting streaks, respectively...Morgan is the ninth straight Akron starter to pitch at least five innings without allowing more than two earned runs. Akron is 5-4 in that span...Time of game: 2:48...Attendance: 5,076.

On the Pond

The RubberDucks continue the series in Richmond on Friday at 7:05 p.m. EDT. RHP Aaron Civale (1-0, 3.60) is scheduled to start for Akron. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1350 AM, the WARF iHeartRadio channel, and the TuneIn Radio App, and available on MiLB.TV.

Check out the Akron RubberDucks Statistics



Eastern League Stories from May 16, 2019


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