RubberDucks Overcome Slow Start
August 11, 2018 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
Akron's Andrew Calica drilled a two-run triple, and Jordan Milbrath provided scoreless relief at crunch time, as the RubberDucks snapped a five-game losing streak with a 5-2 win over the Portland Sea Dogs Saturday night at Canal Park in Akron, Ohio.
Turning Point
The RubberDucks (67-51) rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the seventh inning to assume a 3-2 lead. Ka'ai Tom led off the inning with a single to right field after grinding out an 11-pitch at-bat against Teddy Stankiewicz (7-10). Mark Mathias followed with a ringing double to right to chase Tom home and make it 2-1. Sam Haggerty chipped in a sinking liner to right, just out of the reach of Portland's Luke Tendler, that fell in for a two-base hit and advanced Mathias to third. Stankiewicz retired the next two hitters, but Calica delivered the key blow, socking a two-run triple to center field that gave the Ducks a 3-2 lead. It was Calica's first triple of the year.
Mound Presence
Jordan Milbrath (2-3) pitched a pair of scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth to pick up the relief win. He allowed a lead-off single in the ninth, and gave way to lefty Rob Kaminsky, who got an immediate double play from Danny Mars. Kaminsky then fanned Chad De La Guerra to end the game and claim his second save. Triston McKenzie started and and worked five innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits while striking out seven.
Duck Tales
The RubberDucks added a pair of insurance runs in the ninth on Jodd Carter's two-run single off Harrison Cooney. Earlier, Carter collected his first Double-A hit with an infield single in the third inning. Calica was 2-4 and snapped an 0-16 slump at the plate. Mathias was 2-4, and has three hits in the series against the Sea Dogs (48-68).
Notebook
The RubberDucks halted a five-game losing streak, which was the longest skid of the season...Milbrath has not allowed a run in his last eight appearances, dating back to July 19th...Mathias started a sensational double play in the top of the eighth when he snagged a grounder up the middle and flipped the ball out of his glove to shortstop Sam Haggerty...Second-place Altoona swept a doubleheader from Erie, so Akron's lead in the EL West was cut to 2.5 games with 22 left to play...Time of game: 2:39... Attendance: 8,331 (sellout).
On the Pond
The RubberDucks and Sea Dogs will play the series and homestand finale on Sunday afternoon at 2:05. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1350 AM, the WARF iHeart channel, and the TuneIn Radio App.
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