RubberDucks Win, 4-3, Fall to Curve, 3-2, in Split
June 12, 2021 - Eastern League (EL)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
Left-hander Juan Hillman pitched five innings to become the first Akron RubberDuck to win four games this season, and left fielder Alex Call homered in a 4-3 Game 1 win. In Game 2, the Altoona Curve rallied from a 2-0 deficit, with shortstop Oneil Cruz hitting a fifth-inning, go-ahead homer that split Saturday's doubleheader at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
Turning Point
Akron took the lead for good in Game 1 with a three-run second inning against left-hander Trey McGough. Center fielder Chris Roller walked, shortstop José Fermín singled, and first baseman Jonathan Engelmann hit a two-run double to left-center field, before designated hitter Marcos González added an RBI double for a 3-0 lead. In Game 2, Cruz broke a 2-2 tie with his third go-ahead home run of the series, leading off the fifth inning against left-hander Tanner Tully.
Mound Presence
Hillman allowed a pair of Altoona runs on three hits in the second inning of Game 1, but catcher Mike Rivera threw out a runner trying to steal, keeping the tying run out of scoring position. A fifth-inning RBI single by catcher Arden Pabst brought Altoona within 4-3, but he was thrown by Roller when trying to reach second base. After a single and walk began the sixth inning for Altoona, left-hander Francisco Pérez retired three straight batters to hold the lead, and he pitched a scoreless seventh inning for his first professional save. In Game 2, Tully allowed single runs in the first and second innings, but lost his third straight Double-A start, with three runs - two earned - in a season-long 5 1/3 innings.
Duck Tales
Akron took a first-inning lead in Game 2, when the first four batters reached against right-hander Osvaldo Bido. Shortstop Tyler Freeman hit a leadoff infield single, second baseman Richie Palacios walked, before Call and left fielder Oscar González hit consecutive RBI singles for a 2-0 lead. Bido did not allow another run the rest of his five innings.
Notebook
Pérez earned his first save in 83 career outings (17 in relief)...Palacios extended a seven-game hitting streak (11-for-28) with his team-high 12th double...Call is 9-for-18 in his five-game hitting streak...Each team has scored 32 runs in the series, with four of five being one-run games...Time of games: 2:09, 1:54 (shortest of the season)...Attendance: 4,712.
On the Pond
The RubberDucks conclude their six-game series in Altoona at 6:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday. Akron RHP Alex Royalty (1-1, 4.44 ERA) is scheduled to start against Curve RHP Jeff Passantino (0-2, 2.70 ERA). 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.
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