Aug. 3: Rocchio and Roller homer in Ducks' 4-2 win in Altoona

Aug. 3 RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score

Akron RubberDucks (12-15, 52-44) 4, Altoona Curve (14-15, 47-51) 2

WP: Brett Daniels (3-1) LP: Luis Ortiz (3-8) Save: Cade Smith (1)

Summary

The Akron RubberDucks overcame a 2-0 deficit, as second baseman Brayan Rocchio homered, doubled and scored the tying run, and center fielder Chris Roller hit an eighth-inning, go-ahead, two-run home run for a 4-2 victory and second straight win over the Altoona Curve to begin the six-game series at Peoples Natural Gas Field Wednesday night.

Turning Point

In a 2-2 tie, Altoona right-hander Luis Ortiz began the eighth inning for the first time in his professional career as a starter. First baseman Micah Pries singled to right field, and Roller launched a two-run home run to left field for a 4-2 Akron lead. It was Roller’s fourth home run of the season and first since June 28.

We just keep rolling rolling! @ChrisRoller_7 with a swing and a 376 foot blast to give us the lead!

TOP 8: Akron 4 | Altoona 2 pic.twitter.com/58zLE9GH5l

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) August 3, 2022

Mound Presence

Left-hander Jaime Árias pitched a season-long 5 2/3 innings, only allowing a pair of third-inning runs on two hits, including third baseman Jared Triolo’s RBI triple and catcher Blake Sabol’s sacrifice fly. Árias scattered five hits and did not walk a batter, while striking out three and retiring the final seven batters he faced, leaving with a 2-1 deficit. Right-hander Brett Daniels recorded four outs and stranded two runners on base in the seventh to preserve a 2-2 tie. After Akron took a 4-2 lead, right-hander Cade Smith struck out the side in the eighth inning, and after allowing two one-out singles in the ninth, he induced a game-ending double play to earn his first Eastern League save. Five Akron relievers have combined for 8 1/3 scoreless innings in the first two games of the series.

Duck Tales

After Ortiz retired the first 10 RubberDucks batters, Rocchio crushed a fourth-inning solo home run to right field to cut Altoona’s lead to 2-1. In the seventh inning, Rocchio hit a leadoff double to left field, went to third base on catcher Bryan Lavastida’s groundout and scored the tying run on Ortiz’s two-out wild pitch.

Whoops you forgot something! @rocchio05 comes home on the wild pitch to tie the game!

TOP 7: Akron 2 | Altoona 2 pic.twitter.com/69g6rxR21e

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) August 3, 2022

Notebook

Smith has pitched six straight scoreless outings, for a span of 9 1/3 innings…Wednesday marked the second game in 11 since the All-Star break that Akron did not allow a home run. Its opponents have hit 21 since the All-Star break, while the RubberDucks have hit 12…Akron leads the season series, 8-6…Game Time: 2:13…Attendance: 3,896.

On the Pond

The RubberDucks continue their series in Altoona at 6 p.m. EDT Thursday. Akron right-hander Gavin Williams (1-3, 2.08 ERA) is scheduled to face Curve right-hander Kyle Nicolas (0-3, 4.26 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.