Pérez, Benson Lift Ducks Past Ponies, 3-1
May 26, 2021 - Eastern League (EL)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
RubberDucks left-hander Francisco Pérez struck out a season-high eight batters in four scoreless relief innings coming out of a two-hour, 14-minute rain delay, and designated hitter Will Benson hit a game-tying double and solo home run in a 3-1, seven-inning win over the Binghamton Rumble Ponies at Rumbletown Stadium Wednesday night. Akron matched a season high with its sixth straight win and has won the first two games of a seven-game, six-day series. The second game of Wednesday's scheduled doubleheader will instead be played in a Thursday doubleheader at 5:35 p.m. EDT.
Turning Point
With Akron trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning, RubberDucks second baseman José Fermín hit a one-out triple to center field, and Benson hit a game-tying double down the right-field line. Shortstop Tyler Freeman later hit a two-out, go-ahead RBI double for a 2-1 Akron lead against right-hander Luc Rennie. The rain delay followed the inning.
Mound Presence
Right-hander Alex Royalty allowed a leadoff walk in the first inning to left fielder Carlos Cortes, who later scored on first baseman Jeremy Vasquez's RBI single. Royalty pitched a scoreless second inning before Akron took the lead. After the rain delay, left-hander Pérez started the third inning and retired 12 of 13 batters, only allowing a fifth-inning single. He has pitched 15 consecutive scoreless innings across six appearances this season. Right-hander Juan Móta struck out the side after a leadoff single in the seventh inning for his first Double-A save. Akron pitchers had 15 strikeouts, one shy of their season high.
Duck Tales
Benson hit a solo home run to right field in the fourth inning off right-hander Cole Gordon, who otherwise pitched scoreless relief for Binghamton after the rain delay. Benson has four homers, including one in three of the last four games.
Notebook
Akron moved to 7-0 against Binghamton...Akron was the home team for Wednesday's game, making up a postponement from May 9 at Canal Park...Binghamton will be the home team for both games Thursday...Freeman had his sixth multi-hit game and has reached base in all 16 games he has played...Alex Call extended a 14-game on-base streak, and Richie Palacios extended a 10-game streak... Time of game: 2:13 (2:14 rain delay)...Attendance: 686.
On the Pond
The RubberDucks continue their seven-game, six-day series in Binghamton with a doubleheader at 5:35 p.m. EDT Thursday. 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.
Eastern League Stories from May 26, 2021
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