June 30: Rocchio and Noel each homer twice, but Ducks fall in Erie, 13-9

June 30 RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score

Erie SeaWolves (2-1, 41-31) 13, Akron RubberDucks (1-2, 41-31) 9

WP: Joe Navilhon (5-0) LP: Luis Oviedo (0-3) Save: None

Summary

RubberDucks shortstop Brayan Rocchio had his first career two-homer game and a career-high five RBI, and left fielder Jhonkensy Noel also homered twice as Akron hit a season-high five home runs, but the Erie SeaWolves prevailed in a 13-9 victory in the third game of a six-game series at UPMC Park Thursday night.

Turning Point

The SeaWolves grew a 5-4 lead to 12-4 in the fourth inning. Right-hander Luis Oviedo walked right fielder Eric De La Rosa, and second baseman Wenceel Perez hit an RBI triple. Right-hander Manuel Alvarez entered and threw a run-scoring wild pitch on a walk before allowing three straight singles – including another run-scoring wild pitch in an at-bat – and a two-run home run to catcher Dillon Dingler. Erie’s lead remained at least four runs the rest of the night.

Mound Presence

Oviedo allowed two first-inning runs on an RBI single by center fielder Parker Meadows and solo home run by first baseman Quincy Nieporte. In the third, he allowed two singles to start the inning and later threw a wild pitch to tie the game, before a fielder’s choice and sacrifice fly gave Erie a 5-3 lead. In all, Oviedo allowed seven earned runs on seven hits and two walks with one strikeout in 3 1/3 innings. Alvarez allowed five earned runs on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. Right-hander Carlos Vargas went 1 2/3 innings in his fourth rehab appearance, allowing an earned run on two hits, a walk and three strikeouts. Right-hander Thomas Ponticelli went 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

Duck Tales

All nine RubberDucks runs scored on homers. In the first inning against right-hander Reese Olson, Rocchio hit a two-run home run to right field, and Noel added a one-out solo home run off Erie Insurance Arena in left field for a 3-0 lead. First baseman Micah Pries homered for a fourth straight game leading off the fourth inning to trim the deficit to 5-4. Noel hit a two-run homer in the fifth, and Rocchio was a triple shy of the cycle but hit a three-run homer in the eighth.

Top 4: That’s our Eastern League Player of the Week! 😁 Micah Pries stays hot with yet another blast!

Akron 4 | Erie 5 pic.twitter.com/HAH7ZpNl3v

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) June 30, 2022

Notebook

Rocchio’s season-high four hits matched his career high…Noel had his third two-homer game this season and ninth of his career…Pries extended a season-long nine-game hitting streak and has nine home runs in his last 18 games…Akron hit 35 home runs in June after hitting 34 in April and May combined…Game Time: 3:11…Attendance: 4,480.

On the Pond

The RubberDucks continue their six-game series in Erie at 6:35 p.m. EDT Friday. Right-hander Tanner Burns (1-2, 2.20 ERA) is scheduled to face SeaWolves right-hander Chance Kirby (6-2, 2.08 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.