May 13: RubberDucks fall short in Altoona, 5-4

May 13, 2023 RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score

Altoona Curve (15-15) 5, Akron RubberDucks (15-16) 4

WP: Kyle Nicolas (2-4) LP: Jaime Árias (0-1) Save: Tyler Samaniego (2)

Summary

Jackson High School alumnus and Altoona right-hander Kyle Nicolas held Akron to one run in five innings to earn his first win in five career starts against the RubberDucks, although the visitors rallied within one run on three occasions before ultimately falling to the Curve, 5-4, in the fifth game of a six-game series at People Natural Gas Field on Saturday.

Turning Point

The RubberDucks trailed, 5-4, entering the ninth inning and were down to their final strike before first baseman Joe Naranjo singled to right field against left-hander Tyler Samaniego. After two wild pitches and a walk, Naranjo was at third base, with center fielder Connor Kokx at first base. A third pitch eluded catcher Henry Davis, but he recovered in time to throw to Samaniego at home plate, where the pitcher tagged Naranjo to end the game.

Mound Presence

Left-hander Jaime Árias worked out of bases-loaded jams in the first and third innings, but the Curve broke the scoreless tie in the fourth inning, with doubles by second baseman Andres Alvarez and right fielder Matt Fraizer, and a single by shortstop Liover Peguero to make it 2-0. Árias retired the next three batters, completing four innings with five hits, three walks and four strikeouts. Right-hander Jordan Jones began the fifth inning and allowed two runs on three hits to extend the Altoona lead to 4-1. He later allowed a seventh-inning solo home run to designated hitter Lolo Sanchez to make it 5-3. Jones went three innings, before right-hander Trey Benton pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

Angel-ically smooth pic.twitter.com/nAzRwVH3pa

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) May 13, 2023

Duck Tales

After going scoreless through four innings, the RubberDucks tallied a run in the fifth inning against him. With one out, Nicolas walked shortstop José Tena and hit second baseman Angel Martínez with a pitch, and designated hitter Bryan Lavastida grounded an RBI single to center field to make it 2-1. Akron also trimmed the lead in the sixth inning, when third baseman Gabriel Rodríguez and Naranjo hit consecutive singles, Kokx grounded into an RBI fielder’s choice, and Martínez hit a sacrifice fly, cutting the Altoona lead to 4-3. The RubberDucks again came within a run in the eighth, as Kokx walked and stole second base, then scored on a two-out RBI single by Martínez that made it 5-4.

We like this subscription@Lavastida_ 's 7th hit & 7th RBI this week

TOP 5 | Altoona 2 | Akron 1 pic.twitter.com/I16plnzDB1

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) May 13, 2023

Angel Martínez trims the deficit to one with a sacrifice fly, scoring @connorkokx

TOP 6 | Altoona 4 | Akron 3 pic.twitter.com/95JUqKe1Kd

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) May 13, 2023

Again, Martínez makes it a one-run game

2-for-3 with 2 RBI today

TOP 8 | Altoona 5 | Akron 4 pic.twitter.com/j503F5DMEA

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) May 13, 2023

Notebook

Nicolas, a Massillon, Ohio, native, did not earn a win in four 2022 starts against Akron (0-1, three no-decisions)…Akron left 13 runners on base and was 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position…Johnathan Rodríguez and Julian Escobedo each extended six-game hitting streaks…The RubberDucks are 55-for-181 (.304) in the first five games of the series and have outscored the Curve, 28-17…Game Time: 2:43 (0:38 pregame rain delay)…Attendance: 4,743.

On the Pond

The RubberDucks conclude their series in Altoona at 1 p.m. Sunday at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Akron left-hander Joey Cantillo (1-0, 1.83 ERA) is scheduled to face Curve right-hander Justin Meis (0-2, 6.86 ERA). The game broadcast is on 640 WHLO, the 640 WHLO iHeartRadio channel, and akronrubberducks.com, and available on Bally Live. Tickets for RubberDucks home games are available at akronrubberducks.com/tickets.