SummaryAkron RubberDucks Alexis Pantoja and Tyler Friis hit their first home runs of the season as back-to-back game-tying and go-ahead homers in the fourth inning of a 7-2, seven-inning comeback win in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader. In Game 2, Erie SeaWolves designated hitter Kody Eaves hit a game-tying home
Summary
Akron RubberDucks Alexis Pantoja and Tyler Friis hit their first home runs of the season as back-to-back game-tying and go-ahead homers in the fourth inning of a 7-2, seven-inning comeback win in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader. In Game 2, Erie SeaWolves designated hitter Kody Eaves hit a game-tying home run in the seventh inning, a game-tying triple in the ninth inning, and walk-off three-run home run in the 11th inning of an 8-5 Game 2 win at UPMC Park.
Turning Point
With Erie leading Game 1, 2-0, in the top of the fourth inning, SeaWolves right-hander Matt Manning (4-3) walked first baseman Nellie Rodríguez with one out. Pantoja then homered to right-center field - his first since Aug. 24, 2017 - to tie the game, 2-2. The next batter, Friis, homered to right field - his first since June 16, 2018 - giving a 3-2 lead, which it never lost in the Game 1 win. Game 2 turned when Eaves' solo home run in the seventh inning off right-hander Nick Sandlin tied the game, 2-2. Each team scored single runs in the eighth, ninth, and 10th innings, before Eaves' game-winning homer off right-hander Dalbert Siri (1-1) in the 11th.
Mound Presence
In Game 1, Akron right-hander Eli Morgan (3-0) allowed consecutive second-inning home runs to Erie's Kade Scivicque and Chad Sedio but went 5 2/3 innings to win his third straight start. Left-hander Kyle Nelson struck out all four batters he faced for his third save. In Game 2, right-hander Aaron Civale matched a career-high with 10 strikeouts (including a four-strikeout sixth inning) and allowed one run in six innings.
Duck Tales
Akron secured Game 1 with a four-run seventh inning, including Ka'ai Tom 's third home run of the week and ninth this season. In Game 2, first baseman Wilson Garcia 's fourth-inning two-run double (his Eastern League leading 19th) gave Akron a 2-0 lead. Akron carried one-run leads into the bottom of the seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th, all of which Erie tied.
Notebook
Wilson Garcia doubled in Game 1 and had three hits in Game 2, extending his season-long 11-game hitting streak and team season-high 16-game on-base streak…Akron is 2-1-1 in doubleheaders, including 1-0-1 on the road and dropped to 5-6 in extra innings, including 2-3 on the road…Time of games: Game 1 - 2:04, Game 2 - 2:56…Attendance: 2,386.
On the Pond
The RubberDucks open a home series with Reading at Canal Park on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. EDT. LHP Tanner Tully (4-4, 3.70) is scheduled to start for Akron against LHP Bailey Falter (4-3, 3.05) for the Fightin Phils. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1350 AM, the WARF iHeartRadio channel, and the TuneIn Radio App, and available on MiLB.TV.
