EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Roberts Razor Sharp in 3-2 Win at Reading

Published on June 19, 2014 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


(Reading, Pa.) June 19, 2014 - Akron righthander Will Roberts delivered one of the best outings of his pro career Thursday night, as he twirled eight innings in a 3-2 RubberDucks victory over the Reading Fightin Phils at First Energy Stadium.

Roberts (7-7) gave up two runs on four hits, but did not allow a hit after the third inning. He retired the final 16 batters he faced before turning the ball over to closer Shawn Armstrong in the ninth. Roberts walked none and struck out seven. Of his 90 pitches, 64 were thrown for strikes.

Given a one-run lead to protect, Armstrong came through with his 10th save, although he had to strand runners on the corners to do it. After recording two outs and allowing a pair of singles in the ninth, Armstrong got Reading's Brock Stassi to ground out to third baseman Ronny Rodriguez to end the game.

The win completed a three-game series sweep for the RubberDucks (43-30). The win, coupled with Richmond's 6-0 loss at Binghamton, extends the Akron lead in the EL West to 2 1/2 games.

Roberts and the Rubberducks actually trailed 2-0 in the third inning after Peter Lavin rolled a two-out single into right, and Carlos Alonso homered to left. Alonso's homer, his seventh, was the last hit the Fightin Phils (33-36) would get until the ninth inning.

Bryan LaHair socked a solo homer in the top of the fourth off Severino Gonzalez (4-8), and Francisco Lindor followed with a two-run double in the fifth to give Akron a 3-2 lead, which they would never relinquish. For LaHair, it was his third homer of the season. He finished 2-4 on the night. Lindor's double off the wall in center, drove in Jake Lowery, who had walked, and Tyler Naquin, who had singled. Lindor now has 40 RBI, second on the club to Joe Wendle's 41.

Roberts' cause was aided by some slick defense by the RubberDucks. LaHair robbed Kelly Dugan of a base hit with a diving stop leading off the fourth. Roberts himself, in an act of pure self-preservation, caught a screaming line drive by Edgar Duran in the fifth, and Rodriguez turned in a dazzling, bare-handed pick-up of Lavin's bunt in the sixth and threw Lavin out at first. The RubberDucks are the top defensive team in the EL, and committed only one error in the series.

The RubberDucks and Harrisburg Senators will open a three-game series at Metro Bank Park on Friday night at 7:00.

RHP Gabriel Arias (5-2, 3.38) will oppose Harrisburg's RHP Brian Dupra (1-2, 5.59). The game will be broadcast on WARF 1350 AM and www.AkronRubberDucks.com.

The Akron RubberDucks are the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The 2014 season is the 18th since moving to Canal Park and the first as the RubberDucks. For more information, including official team merchandise, go to www.AkronRubberDucks.com or call 330-253-5151. Fans may also follow the team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AkronRubberDucks and Twitter at @AkronRubberDuck.

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Eastern League Stories from June 19, 2014


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