RubberDucks Game RecapCurve 5 (8-5, 43-37) RubberDucks 4 (5-9, 39-44) WP: Beau Sulser (7-0) LP: Kyle Nelson (1-2) Save: Matt Eckelman (14)SummaryDespite hitting two home runs, the Akron RubberDucks could not fend off an eighth-inning rally from the Altoona Curve, losing 5-4 Monday night at Canal Park.
RubberDucks Game Recap
Curve 5 (8-5, 43-37) RubberDucks 4 (5-9, 39-44)
WP: Beau Sulser (7-0) LP: Kyle Nelson (1-2) Save: Matt Eckelman (14)
Summary
Despite hitting two home runs, the Akron RubberDucks could not fend off an eighth-inning rally from the Altoona Curve, losing 5-4 Monday night at Canal Park.
Turning Point
The top of the eighth inning did in the RubberDucks as the Curve put up a three-spot on the Akron bullpen, thanks to a out-out error, a walk and then a two-run, game-tying double from Chris Sharpe. The Curve would then take the lead on Robbie Glendinning's RBI double down the left field line which would be enough for Altoona to hold onto the 5-4 lead.
Mound Presence
With the promotion of starter Tanner Tully, who was originally scheduled to pitch Monday, the RubberDucks went to a bullpen day, beginning with David Speer . Speer notched his third game started of the 2019 campaign and allowed only one hit and one walk in two scoreless innings. Newly promoted, Eli Lingos worked 5.1 solid innings out of the bullpen and set down 11 Altoona Curve batters in a row before being lifted in the eighth inning for Kyle Nelson. Nelson could not finish off the Curve in the eighth inning and suffered his second loss of the season after allowing three runs to cross the plate in relief of Eli Lingos.
Duck Tales
Alexis Pantoja put the RubberDucks on the board in the bottom of the second inning with a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Mitch Longo from third base. Connor Smith 's fourth inning two-run home run marked his first hit at the double-A level, collecting his first hit and two RBIs in the process. Ka'ai Tom , the Eastern League's Player of the Month for May, continued his power surge by taking Cole Bolton deep in the fifth inning for his 14th home run of the season.
Notebook
Eastern League Player of the Week Alex Call continued his recent hot streak now reaching base safely in 10 of his last 11 games … Ka'ai Tom now ranks among the Eastern League leaders in: Avg. (.286), HR (14), hits (81), Total Bases (145), and Runs (49) … The RubberDucks added to their Eastern League leading home run total with two more long shots, bringing their total up to 73 home runs for the 2019 season … Time of Game: 2:32 … Attendance: 3,174
On the Pond
The RubberDucks continue their series with the Altoona Curve Tuesday with the first pitch slated for 7:05 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1350 AM, the WARF iHeartRadio channel, and the TuneIn Radio App, and available on MiLB.TV. LHP Jake Paulson (5-5, 4.04) will take the mound for Akron facing off against LHP Domingo Robles (2-1, 4.13) of Altoona.
