May 1: Naranjo's power and Boone's pitching push Akron past Richmond 7-2

RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score

Los Perros Calientes de Akron (15-8) 7, Ardillas Voladoras de Richmond (11-12) 2

WP: Rodney Boone (2-0) LP: Matt Frisbee (0-3) Save: N/A

Summary

The RubberDucks and Flying Squirrels donned their Copa identities on Wednesday night at Canal Park as Los Perros Calientes de Akron used a four-run fourth and seven strong innings from Rodney Boone to beat Ardillas Voladoras 7-2. The win is the ninth straight for Akron.

Turning Point

Akron finally broke through against Richmond in the bottom of the fifth. Yordys Valdes singled to open the inning before a Joe Lampe walk put runners on first and second with no outs. Joe Naranjo launched his first home run of season off the top of the batter’s eye in center to put Akron ahead 3-2. Petey Halpin kept the big inning going by doubling to right before advancing to third on a groundout. Aaron Bracho brought home Halpin by lifting a sac-fly to left to put Akron ahead 4-2.

BANG!!!@joenaranjo_ for three to give us the lead! A Western Reserve Distillers 🍸three-run home run!

BOT 5: Akron 3 | Richmond 2 pic.twitter.com/zgUrZpvfoN

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) May 1, 2024

Just adding on!

Aaron Bracho brings home @peteyhalpin with a sac-fly to stretch the lead!

BOT 5: Akron 4 | Richmond 2 pic.twitter.com/tGcxFlRsHU

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) May 1, 2024

Mound Presence

Boone ran into some early long ball trouble allowing a solo shot to the leadoff batter in the second and fourth but kept Richmond off the board otherwise. The left-hander did not allow more than two baserunners in a single inning on his way to seven innings of two-run ball and five strikeouts. Andrew Walters struck out two over a scoreless inning and a third. Erik Sabrowski struck out the only two he faced in the ninth.

Duck Tales

Los Perros Calientes added on in the sixth as Kody Huff lead off the inning with a solo home run to left. Later in the inning, Naranjo singled home Valdes to make it 6-2 Akron. Los Perros Calientes tacked on an extra run in the eighth as Lampe singled home Christian Cairo to make it 7-2 Akron.

SEE YA!!!@Kodyhuff2 with a Western Reserve Distillers 🍸home run!

BOT 6: Akron 5 | Richmond 2 pic.twitter.com/wXRi6kXrde

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) May 2, 2024

Have a night Joe!!@joenaranjo_ drives in his fourth run of the game with the RBI single!

BOT 6: Akron 6 | Richmond 2 pic.twitter.com/Mo1mMEiabW

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) May 2, 2024

It is a good night to be a Joe!@joelampe5 with the RBI single!!

BOT 8: Akron 7 | Richmond 2 pic.twitter.com/szyalcDsXe

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) May 2, 2024

Notebook

Walters increased his team lead in strikeouts to 24…Boone’s start is the longest start by an Akron starter this season (seven innings)…Longest winning streak since 8/12-24, 2016 (11 games)…Game Time: 2:20…Attendance: 2,210.

On the Pond

The RubberDucks will continue their series at Canal Park against the Richmond Flying Squirrels on Thursday, May 2 at 6:35 p.m. Akron right-hander Aaron Davenport (2-0, 2.21 ERA) will take the mound against Richmond righty Hayden Birdsong (1-1, 1.65 ERA). The game broadcast is on 640 WHLO, the 640 WHLO iHeartRadio channel, and akronrubberducks.com, and available on Bally Live. Tickets for all RubberDucks home games, are available at akronrubberducks.com/tickets.