July 29: Ducks' 5 homers, Tully's 6 innings beat Erie, 6-0
July 29 RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score Akron RubberDucks (45-28) 6, Erie SeaWolves (41-34) 0 WP: Tanner Tully (5-3) LP: Joey Wentz (0-3) S: None
July 29 RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score
Akron RubberDucks (45-28) 6, Erie SeaWolves (41-34) 0
WP: Tanner Tully (5-3) LP: Joey Wentz (0-3) S: None
Summary
The RubberDucks hit a season-high five home runs to back six scoreless innings from left-hander Tanner Tully in a 6-0 victory over the SeaWolves – the fourth time Akron has shut out Erie this season – at UPMC Park Thursday night.
Turning Point
The SeaWolves threatened with their best scoring chance in the first inning. Center fielder Riley Greene, third baseman Spencer Torkelson, and catcher Dillon Dingler each singled to load the bases with one out. Tully struck out second baseman Andre Lipcius and got left fielder Kerry Carpenter to fly out to end the inning. Erie only put one runner at second base the rest of the game. In the next half inning, RubberDucks first baseman Jonathan Engelmann hit a solo home run to left field – his second in as many nights – off SeaWolves left-hander Joey Wentz, and Akron led the rest of the way.
And just like that…. We’re on the board. 🐤
— Akron RubberDucks 🐤 (@AkronRubberDuck) July 29, 2021
That’s @JonnyNutCracker’s 5th HR of the season. pic.twitter.com/pkwY2duR5q
Mound Presence
With the lead to start the second inning, Tully worked around lone singles in each of the second through fifth innings and pitched a perfect sixth inning to finish his start. Tully won his fourth straight decision and finished July with a 3-0 record, 1.00 ERA, 32 strikeouts and three walks in 27 innings across six games (four starts) in which Akron went 5-1. Right-hander Nic Enright worked around a walk and struck out three batters in two scoreless innings, and right-hander Kyle Marman struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning, completing Akron’s seventh shutout of the season.
Duck Tales
Akron widened the lead in the third inning with consecutive homers by left fielder Steven Kwan – his second of the series – and shortstop Andruw Monasterio. In the seventh inning, catcher Mike Rivera and center fielder Will Benson each homered, with the latter hitting his second of the series and 11th of the season. Akron’s only non-homer hit came in the eighth inning, as right fielder Chris Roller hit two-out RBI double to score designated hitter Richie Palacios, who had been hit by a pitch and stolen second base.
BACK 2 BACK BOMBBBBBBS! @ajmonasterio16 sends it out of the park! His 4th of the campaign. https://t.co/t8jPav4OG8 pic.twitter.com/Qvi7FfAaqE
— Akron RubberDucks 🐤 (@AkronRubberDuck) July 30, 2021
HR PARTY IN ERIE.
— Akron RubberDucks 🐤 (@AkronRubberDuck) July 30, 2021
MIKE RIVERA GOES DEEP!! 💪💪💪 pic.twitter.com/QRUhdoOPBW
Benson 💣@_thekidbilly_ hits his 11th HR of the season.
— Akron RubberDucks 🐤 (@AkronRubberDuck) July 30, 2021
5 Hits. 5 HR’s. pic.twitter.com/vloTuVSKgJ
Notebook
Akron has a two-game lead in the Southwest Division…The RubberDucks hit five home runs in a game for the first time since hitting six in Reading on May 11, 2019…Akron has 10 homers in the series and has outhomered Erie, 27-20, in the season series, but trails, 12 games to nine, with three remaining…Time of game: 2:42…Attendance: 3,387.
On the Pond
The RubberDucks continue their six-game series in Erie at 7:05 p.m. EDT Friday. Akron LHP Logan Allen (0-0, 4.35 ERA) is scheduled to face SeaWolves RHP Chance Kirby (3-1, 6.43 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.
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring