EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Merritt Tosses RubberDucks No-Hitter in Doubleheader Split

Published on July 11, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


Akron's Ryan Merritt threw a masterful, seven-inning no-hitter in a 1-0 victory over the Reading Fightin Phils in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday night at Canal Park. Reading rallied late and held off the RubberDucks, 4-3, in eight innings in the nightcap.

Turning Point

In game one, Joe Sever's one-out, RBI single in the fourth inning off Reading starter Ben Lively (7-7) provided all the offense Merritt needed. Sever's base hit to center drive in Carlos Moncrief, who had walked.

Mound Presence

Merritt, a 23-year-old lefty from Celina, Texas, issued a two-out walk to Cam Perkins in the first inning and absolutely nothing thereafter. He proceeded to retired the next 19 batters to polish off the Phils and secure his first career no-hitter. Merritt (6-7) was remarkably efficient and needed only 78 pitches to complete his gem, 51 of which were strikes. He fanned three batters. It was Merritt's third victory of the season against Reading, though, unquestionably the most thrilling.

Duck Tales

Sever, Ryan Rohlinger, and Yandy Diaz each turned in a sensational defensive play to preserve the no-hit bid. Sever made a nifty sliding catch on a pop-up by Perkins in shallow right field in the fourth. Rohlinger took a hit away from Harold Martinez with a diving catch and throw in the fifth. Diaz made a lunging stop on a hard ground ball by Drew Heid in the sixth. In game two, Anthony Gallas blasted a two-run homer in the eighth inning, his team-high ninth of the season.

Notes

Merrit's gem was the first RubberDucks no-hitter, the fifth no-hitter in Akron franchise history, the first seven-inning no-hitter, the third by an individual pitcher, and the first of any kind since Giovanni Soto no-hit the Altoona Curve on July 15, 2012...The second game of the doubleheader went to extra innings tied 1-1, and the Fightin Phils scored three times in the 8th inning off Casey Weathers (0-1) to take a 4-1 lead....Closer Stephen Shackleford worked around the Gallas homer to claim his league-high 19th save ...Reading's Ryan O'Sullivan (2-0) earned the win...Righthander Charles Brewer made his Akron debut in Game 2, and tossed four scoreless innings....Time of games: 1:34/2:18...Attendance: 6,586.

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Eastern League Stories from July 11, 2015


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