April 27: RubberDucks rally past Curve, 5-4, win sixth straight

April 27, 2024 RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score

Akron RubberDucks (12-8) 5, Altoona Curve (5-14) 4

WP: Davis Sharpe (2-0) LP: Eddy Yean (1-1) Save: Jack Leftwich (1)

Summary

After a rally from a 3-1 deficit, Akron center fielder Petey Halpin hit a go-ahead RBI single in the ninth inning of a 5-4 win over the Altoona Curve, giving the RubberDucks their first six-game winning streak since July 2021, following the fifth game of a six-game series at Peoples Natural Gas Field on Saturday.

Turning Point

In a 4-4 tie in the ninth inning against right-hander Eddy Yean, first baseman Joe Naranjo hit a liner down the left-field line and avoided the tag at second base for a leadoff double. He advanced on a groundout by third baseman Yordys Valdés, and Halpin lined a single through the drawn-in infield to right field, scoring the go-ahead run.

Go-ahead RBI single @peteyhalpin !

TOP 9 | Akron 5 | Altoona 4 pic.twitter.com/EIKaHEUZS6

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 27, 2024

Mound Presence

Akron left-hander Ryan Webb yielded two runs on three hits in the second inning and a run on two hits in the third, but he three straight hitters in the fourth with runners on base and lasted five innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts. Right-hander Andrew Walters worked around a hit and a hit batter in two scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Right-hander Davis Sharpe struck out two batters before allowing a game-tying solo home run to right fielder Jase Bowen in the eighth. Right-hander Jack Leftwich had a perfect ninth inning for his first pro save.

An inning-ending Kane Painting Caught Stealing by @RWebb55 @joenaranjo_ @milantolentino pic.twitter.com/M3VjpBx5A9

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 27, 2024

Just like they practice 😉💫@RWebb55 @chriatiancairo2 @joenaranjo_ pic.twitter.com/EKeYN9AMpu

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 27, 2024

RHP Andrew Walters is nasty!

3 K in 2 IP, now has 22 K (tied for team high) in 10 IP this season

(also struck out 20 in his first 9 Eastern League innings) pic.twitter.com/Strn2dOKKE

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 27, 2024

Duck Tales

The RubberDucks scored first for a fifth straight game in Altoona. In the second inning against right-hander Po-Yu Chen, shortstop Milan Tolentino walked, and second baseman Christian Cairo was hit by a pitch. Two batters later, Naranjo hit a sacrifice fly. With Akron trailing 3-1 in the fifth, Naranjo and Halpin each drew walks against Chen, and designated hitter Aaron Bracho grounded an RBI double past third base. Akron tied the game the next inning against right-hander Grant Ford, as catcher Kody Huff doubled and scored after Tolentino and Cairo hit consecutive fly balls. In eighth, right fielder Alexfri Planez singled, Huff and Tolentino walked, and Cairo hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly for a 4-3 lead.

Early lead on @joenaranjo_'s second sac fly in as many games

TOP 1 | Akron 1 | Altoona 0 pic.twitter.com/Un5YfFh4Tl

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 27, 2024

Sneaky RBI double by Aaron Bracho, his team-high 14th RBI

TOP 5 | Altoona 3 | Akron 2 pic.twitter.com/Gd4ZIrRCad

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 27, 2024

New ballgame! @chriatiancairo2 game-tying sacrifice fly to score @Kodyhuff2

TOP 6 | Akron 3 | Altoona 3 pic.twitter.com/CARiegptnJ

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 27, 2024

Back in the lead on @chriatiancairo2's 2nd sac fly

TOP 8 | Akron 4 | Altoona 3 pic.twitter.com/8uACvro00p

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 27, 2024

Notebook

Bracho has a team-high 14 RBIs…Planez has a five-game hitting streak (9-for-21) and seven hits in the series…Akron has a six-game winning streak for the first time since July 21-27, 2021, against Richmond and Erie. The RubberDucks had four separate six-game winning streaks that season. The club has never swept a six-game series since the format began in 2021… Akron has won seven straight over Altoona after the Curve won the season opener at Canal Park April 5…Game Time: 2:36…Attendance: 4,204.

On the Pond

The RubberDucks conclude their series in Altoona at 1:00 p.m. Sunday at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Akron left-hander Jaime Arias (0-1, 1.00 ERA) is scheduled to face Curve left-hander Anthony Solometo (0-1, 4.66 ERA). The game broadcast is on 640 WHLO, the 640 WHLO iHeartRadio channel, and akronrubberducks.com, and available on Bally Live. Tickets for RubberDucks home games are available at akronrubberducks.com/tickets.