Sept. 10: Brito homers, Ducks pitch 1-0 shutout in Richmond

September 10, 2023 RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score

Akron RubberDucks (28-35, 63-69) 1, Richmond Flying Squirrels (37-26, 70-62) 0

WP: Will Dion (3-4) LP: Ben Madison (2-2) Save: Franco Aleman (7)

Summary

Akron pitchers Jack Leftwich, Will Dion, and Franco Aleman combined for a two-hit shutout, and RubberDucks third baseman Juan Brito homered in the ninth inning for a 1-0 win, snapping a seven-game winning streak by the Richmond Flying Squirrels in the finale of a six-game series at The Diamond Sunday afternoon.

Turning Point

Each team was scoreless with only two hits entering the ninth inning. With one out, Brito drilled the first pitch from right-hander Ben Madison 359 feet over the right-field wall, just beyond the reach of right fielder Victor Bericoto. It was Brito’s 10th home run as a RubberDuck and first in two weeks.

Mound Presence

Leftwich began the game by hitting Richmond center fielder Ismael Munguia with his first pitch and then walked Bericoto and left fielder Yoshi Tsutsugo to load the bases with no outs in the first inning. Third baseman Sean Roby then hit a fly ball down the right-field line, where right fielder Petey Halpin caught it and threw on a hop to catcher Joe Donovan to retire Munguia as he tried to score. Leftwich struck out first baseman Brady Whalen to end the inning, and Richmond never had another runner in scoring position. Leftwich worked five scoreless innings, allowing one hit with four strikeouts. Dion retired the first seven batters against him and yielded one hit in 3 2/3 innings. After Dion struck out the first two batters of the ninth inning, Aleman struck out Roby to end the game – Akron’s fourth shutout of the season.

Beware the Halpin HOSE!

💪 @peteyhalpin pic.twitter.com/OQaz0zpI5l

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) September 10, 2023

⭐️@Jacklefty21 stellar start today⭐️

5 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts 🔥 https://t.co/Owlz4Hf5a8 pic.twitter.com/DPcYfKplSl

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) September 10, 2023

👊 @WDion22

3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K

BOT 9 | Akron 1 | Richmond 0 pic.twitter.com/m5nNIjaATY

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) September 10, 2023

Franco 🔥 for the finish!

Franco Aleman is 7-for-7 in saves w/ 23.2 IP, 0 ER as a RubberDuck

FINAL | Akron 1 | Richmond 0 pic.twitter.com/bDdwx1qZNU

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) September 10, 2023

Duck Tales

Brito hit a one-out double in the first inning off right-hander Ryan Murphy, and designated hitter Bryce Ball walked, but Murphy got second baseman Aaron Bracho to ground into an inning-ending double play. Akron never had another runner in scoring position and had only one other hit before Brito’s home run in the ninth inning. Meanwhile, after Richmond had scored 33 runs and hit nine homers in the first five games of the series, it was shut out for the 11th time this season.

Notebook

Halpin has nine outfield assists this season, second on the team to Johnathan Rodríguez (11)…Aleman has begun his Double-A career 7-for-7 in save chances and 23 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run…Richmond remained three games ahead of Bowie (34-29) for the Southwest Division second-half playoff spot with six games remaining…Richmond won the season series, 11-7…Game Time: 2:06…Attendance: 6,569.

On the Pond

The RubberDucks open their final homestand with Altoona at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday at Canal Park. Right-hander Ross Carver (1-4, 6.60 ERA) is scheduled to face Curve right-hander Justin Meis (4-3, 4.81 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.