RubberDucks' Late Rallies Stun SeaWolves, 6-4, in Ten-Inning Series Finale
Published on August 1, 2021 under Eastern League (EL)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
The Akron RubberDucks used four runs in the final two innings to stun the Erie SeaWolves, 6-4 in ten innings, and take Sunday's series finale.
Turning Point
After a dramatic, game-tying home run in the top of the ninth inning from Marcos Gonzalez, Bryan Lavastida gave the Ducks their first lead since the second inning on a deciding two-run single to left field that plated Clark Scolameiro and Steven Kwan for the 6-4 lead.
Mound Presence
With a scheduled day off Monday, RubberDucks manager Rouglas Odor utilized his bullpen early and often to try to keep the SeaWolves offense off balance on Sunday afternoon. Cody Morris made the start for the RubberDucks throwing only 67 pitches over 3.1 innings, and was only touched for a two-run homer by Brady Policelli in the bottom of the fourth. Aside from that one misstep from Morris, the Ducks righthander showed out with seven strikeouts and only three hits surrendered. Six different relievers worked a total of 6.2 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits, issuing five walks, and striking out a total of eleven batters. Of the 46 total batters faced, the RubberDucks pitching staff totaled 18 outs via the strikeout.
Duck Tales & Notebook
After an offensive outburst of eleven runs during Saturday night's game, runs were more difficult to come by during Sunday's finale. The RubberDucks collected nine hits and three walks at the plate, which allowed them to push across two runs in three different frames to take the victory. In the top half of the third inning, Steven Kwan leadoff by doubling to right field for his only hit of the ballgame. Kwan's double was critical as Andruw Monasterio would follow two pitches later by homering to dead center field, giving him his 41st RBI and the Ducks an early 2-0 lead. Akron's bats would go quiet for the next five innings, until Marcos Gonzalez came to the plate in a high-leverage situation. After Jose Fermin had leadoff the ninth with a line drive single to center, Marcos Gonzalez was down in the count 0-2 with two outs, but the Ducks' first baseman went opposite field for a game-tying, two-run home run to right field. Akron would deliver the knockout blow in the top of the tenth inning. With Clark Scolameiro automatically starting the inning at second base, Steven Kwan worked a free pass to put two runners on, and Bryan Lavastida came through once more on a line drive single to left field. A defensive miscue by Erie in the outfield allowed both Scolameiro and Kwan to score on the play, giving Akron all the run support it needed to finish off the 6-4 victory.
With Sunday afternoon's victory the RubberDucks officially split the season series with the Erie SeaWolves at 12 wins apiece. To say these teams are evenly matched is an understatement, as both team scored exactly 113 runs in games against each other. The road team fared better during this 24-game season series as the Ducks were 7-5 in games played in Erie and only 5-7 against the SeaWolves at Canal Park. Akron has now won 10 out of their last 11 games, improving their winning percentage to .632 on the season, which would qualify them for first place in the Double-A Northeast. The two teams with the highest winning percentage in the Double-A Northeast, regardless of division, will play a five-game series at the end of the season to determine the league champion.
Time of Game 3:43 ... Attendance: 1,677
On the Pond
The RubberDucks will now return to the Rubber City August 3rd at 6:35 p.m. to take on the Altoona Curve as Union Home Mortgage welcomes fans back home to Canal Park. The game broadcast, powered by FirstEnergy, is on 640 WHLO, the WHLO iHeartRadio channel, and the TuneIn Radio App, and available on MiLB.TV.
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