EL1 Akron RubberDucks

RubberDucks Sweep Cats, Win fourth Straight

Published on August 7, 2014 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


(Akron, Oh.) Akron righthander Will Roberts scattered six hits and allowed just one run in seven innings Thursday night as the RubberDucks completed a three-game series sweep with a 3-1 victory over the New Britain Rock Cats at Canal Park.

Roberts (11-11) continued building his new career-high in wins with his 11th of the season. It was also his second against the Rock Cats (55-61). His 11 victories rank second in the Eastern League, and also second in the entire Indians organization. On Thursday, he walked one and fanned four, and blanked the Cats during his first six innings. Roberts was reached for his only run of the night in the seventh inning on a walk, and ground-rule double and a ground out.

The win extended the RubberDucks winning streak to four straight games, and further tightened a compelling race for the EL Western Division crown. First-place Richmond lost their eighth consecutive game, dropping a 3-0 decision at home against Binghamton. Thus, the RubberDucks are now just 2 � games out of first place with 23 games left to play. Third- place Bowie managed to hold steady with a 6-3 win over Portland, and are still 5 � games behind Akron. The top two teams in the division make the post-season.

Akron (64-55) broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the fifth against New Britain starter Tyler Duffey (8-3). Bryan LaHair, Anthony Gallas and Alex Lavisky lead off the inning with consecutive singles. Jake Lowery chipped in a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0, and Ronny Rodriguez drove in Gallas with a ground out to short to make it 2-0. After New Britain pulled to within 2-1 in the seventh, the RubberDucks tacked on an important insurance run in the eighth on double by Rodriguez, a sacrifice bunt by Jaime Pedroza and a perfectly-executed squeeze bunt by Ollie Linton.

Once Roberts left, relief help came from lefty Giovanni Soto and Shawn Armstrong, both of whom tossed a perfect inning. Armstrong closed it in the ninth, notching his second save of the series and 14th of the year.

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Eastern League Stories from August 7, 2014


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