June 17: RubberDucks fall in Hartford, 4-2, drop to first-place tie

June 17 RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score

Hartford Yard Goats (39-22) 4, Akron RubberDucks (35-26) 2

WP: Noah Gotsis (3-1) LP: Xzavion Curry (4-3) Save: Gavin Hollowell (8)

Summary

RubberDucks designated hitter George Valera hit a sixth-inning, go-ahead home run for a second straight game, but Hartford scored three runs in the bottom of the inning and won, 4-2, for the Yard Goats’ first victory over Akron since June 20, 2018, after 11 straight Akron wins. The RubberDucks also fell into a Southwest Division first-place tie with Richmond.

Turning Point

With Akron leading, 2-1, in the bottom of the sixth inning, Hartford second baseman Isaac Collins doubled down the left-field line against right-hander Xzavion Curry, and designated hitter Daniel Montano hit a go-ahead, two-run home run to right field. Curry retired the next two batters before walking first baseman Michael Toglia and allowing consecutive singles to third baseman Aaron Schunk and catcher Willie MacIver to make it 4-2.

Mound Presence

Curry retired the first six batters but allowed a third-inning solo home run to right fielder Tyler Hill. He allowed only one other hit through the fifth inning. He yielded the deciding three runs on four hits in the sixth. In 5 2/3 innings, he allowed four earned runs on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Right-hander Thomas Ponticelli entered to record the final out of the sixth inning and worked 2 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits.

. @JulianEsco1_ makes it look too easy! We’re tied at the bottom of the first.

Bottom 1: Akron 0 | Hartford 0 pic.twitter.com/4jafBTnyJg

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) June 17, 2022

That’s one way to end the inning. Marcos said gimme those!

Bottom 3: Akron 1 | Hartford 1 pic.twitter.com/qVv5Q6OJHV

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) June 18, 2022

Duck Tales

The RubberDucks took the lead in the second inning against right-hander Mitch Kilkenny. Center fielder Julian Escobedo walked, stole second base, went to third base on a groundout and scored on third baseman Raynel Delgado’s RBI single (his first in Double-A) to center field. Akron broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning against right-hander Noah Gotsis on Valera’s solo home run to right field, his third of the road trip, his team-high fifth go-ahead home run, and team-high 11th overall this season. Akron did not put another runner in scoring position the rest of the game, grounding into two double plays.

Notebook

Brayan Rocchio had two hits for his second straight multi-hit game in the series…Akron’s starting pitcher has pitched into the sixth inning in nine of the 10 games on the current road trip…The RubberDucks had won 11 straight games over the Yard Goats, whose last win in the series was June 20, 2018, at Canal Park. Akron had also won seven straight in Hartford, where the Yard Goats last won May 20, 2018…Game Time: 2:19…Attendance: 6,850.

On the Pond

The RubberDucks continue their six-game series in Hartford at 6:05 p.m. EDT Saturday. Right-hander Tanner Burns (1-2, 2.80 ERA) is scheduled to face Yard Goats right-hander Michael Baird (0-1, 2.67 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.