April 23: Espino fans first 11, posts 14 Ks in Ducks' 8-6 win in Bowie

April 23 RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score

Akron RubberDucks (6-8) 8, Bowie Baysox (8-5) 6

WP: Daniel Espino (1-0) LP: Antonio Velez (0-1) Save: Jerson Ramírez (1)

Summary

RubberDucks right-hander Daniel Espino struck out the first 11 batters of the game and had a career-high 14 strikeouts – matching the most by any affiliated minor league pitcher in 2022 – to earn his first Double-A victory when Akron rallied for an 8-6 win, snapping a four-game losing streak to the Bowie Baysox at Prince George’s Stadium Saturday night.

Turning Point

Trailing 2-1 in the sixth inning, the RubberDucks rallied to take the lead against Bowie left-hander Antonio Velez. Third baseman Daniel Schneemann lined a leadoff double to right field and went to third base on a one-out wild pitch. Right fielder George Valera hit a one-out, game-tying single to right-center field. Second baseman Brayan Rocchio doubled to the left-field corner, and center fielder Will Brennan hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly to center field. Catcher Bo Naylor then drove his first home run of the season, a two-run shot over the left-center field wall, for a 5-2 Akron lead.

And we are tied!! @GV13__ lines a single to center to tie the game!

TOP 6: Akron 2 | Bowie 2 pic.twitter.com/QASihNey9N

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 23, 2022

And we are in front! @Silly_Willy18 does his job and brings home a run with a sac fly!

TOP 6: Akron 3 | Bowie 2 pic.twitter.com/BMCKJncUC1

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 23, 2022

BO Knows oppo tacos! @_BoNaylor_ with a two run bomb to extend the lead!

TOP 6: Akron 5 | Bowie 2 pic.twitter.com/LxgEEPlDHa

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 23, 2022

Mound Presence

Espino extended a string of 8 1/3 hitless innings – going back to his last start – until shortstop Gunnar Henderson broke the 11-strikeout string with fourth-inning home run. Espino struck out the next three batters, recording his first 14 outs on strikeouts. With two outs in the fifth inning, he allowed a double to left fielder Dylan Harris and go-ahead single to catcher Cody Roberts, before fielding a comeback grounder to finish his start with five innings, three hits, two earned runs and no walks. Right-hander Manuel Alvarez pitched a scoreless sixth inning. Right-hander Nick Gallagher (one inning) and left-hander Jake Miednik (1 2/3 innings) each allowed two-run homers. Right-hander Jerson Ramírez got the final out.

That’s a good start! Six up, six down, six strikeouts for @Daniel24Espino

END 2: Akron 0 | Bowie 0 pic.twitter.com/izGHQQ5njL

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 23, 2022

Duck Tales

Akron scored its first run when Naylor hit a fifth-inning leadoff triple and scored on an RBI single by first baseman Micah Pries. The RubberDucks added a run on Henderson’s seventh-inning throwing error and two on RBI singles by shortstop José Tena and Brennan in the ninth inning.

It’s Tena time! Jose Tena drives in some insurance!

TOP 9: Akron 7 | Bowie 4 pic.twitter.com/ZfpPq5ktTD

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 24, 2022

Notebook

Espino came within one strikeout of the affiliated minor league record for consecutive strikeouts (12), set by Yusniel Padron-Artiles for Lowell in 2019…No other Akron pitcher since the start of 2005 has struck out 14 batters in a game…The other 14-strikeout games in baseball this season are by Tanner Gordon (High-A Rome April 16) and Andrew Painter (Low-A Clearwater Saturday)…Game Time: 2:42…Attendance: 3,983.

On the Pond

The RubberDucks conclude their six-game series in Bowie at 1:05 p.m. EDT Sunday. Akron right-hander Tanner Burns (0-0, 2.16 ERA) is scheduled to face Baysox right-hander Zach Peek (0-1, 4.00 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.