EL Akron RubberDucks

Somerset Wins, 6-5, Pulls Within a Game of Akron

Published on September 15, 2021 under Eastern League (EL)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


The Somerset Patriots lost a 5-1 lead but broke a 5-5 tie with a run in the seventh inning and used a shutdown bullpen to outlast the Akron RubberDucks, 6-5, in the second game of a six-game series Wednesday night at Canal Park. Akron's magic number to clinch a playoff berth remained at four, and its lead for the best record is a half game over Bowie.

Turning Point

After Akron tied the game in the bottom of the sixth, Somerset retook the lead in the top of the seventh. Designated hitter Michael Beltre drew a two-out walk against left-hander Joey Cantillo, stole second base and scored on first baseman Dermis Garcia's two-out RBI single to left field to make it 6-5.

Mound Presence

Peyton Battenfield breezed through the Patriots lineup the first time through. After a leadoff home run by Oswald Peraza in the top of the fourth tied the game, 1-1, Somerset scored four more runs in the inning. Battenfield lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing five runs while striking out three batters. Dakody Clemmer followed with 1 1/3 innings scoreless. Cantillo went two innings, allowing one run while striking out two. Aaron Pinto tossed two perfect innings with two strikeouts.

Duck Tales

Akron donned its Los Perros Calientes identity and jumped on the board with a first-inning RBI single by Bryan Lavastida to make it 1-0. After surrendering five in the top of the fourth, Lavastida homered off the batter's eye in center to cut it 5-2 in the bottom of the inning. Los Perros Calientes came closer in the fifth, when Brayan Rocchio doubled home Marcos Gonzalez to trim it to 5-3. Akron tied the game in the bottom of the sixth, when George Valera launched a two-run home run into the right-center-field bullpen to tie the game, 5-5. Los Perros Calientes left six on base while going 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

Notebook

Akron leads Bowie (71-45) by a half game and Somerset (70-45) by two games. The top two teams will play in the best-of-five championship series...Rocchio and Valera each extended their hitting streaks to eight games...Rocchio's double was his 45th extra base hit this season between High-A and Double-A...Game Time: 3:07...Attendance: 2,380.

On the Pond

Union Home Mortgage Welcomes You Home To Canal Park for the six-game RubberDucks homestand with the Somerset Patriots, continuing Thursday at 6:35 p.m. EDT. Right-hander Xzavion Curry (Low & High-A: 8-1, 2.23 ERA) is scheduled to start against Patriots right-hander Randy Vasquez (1-1, 3.45 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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Eastern League Stories from September 15, 2021


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