April 13: Halpin triple gives Ducks 6-4 win in Richmond

April 13, 2024 RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score

Akron RubberDucks (5-3) 6, Richmond Flying Squirrels (3-5) 4

WP: Andrew Walters (1-0) LP: Tyler Myrick (0-2) Save: Lenny Torres Jr. (3)

Summary

Akron center fielder Petey Halpin hit a two-out, two-run triple to break ninth-inning tie and lead the RubberDucks to a 6-4 win over the Richmond Flying Squirrels in the fifth game of a six-game series at The Diamond Saturday night.

Turning Point

In a 4-4 tie with two outs in the ninth inning, Akron catcher Kody Huff singled to right field, third baseman Yordys Valdés singled to left field, and Halpin hit a 2-2 pitch off the right-field wall, scoring both runners for a 6-4 RubberDucks lead.

Mound Presence

Akron left-hander Rodney Boone hit the leadoff batter of the game, center fielder Grant McCray, who later scored on a single by designated hitter Hunter Bishop. In the third inning, with a 3-1 lead, Boone issued a walk and hit a batter before first baseman Logan Wyatt hit a go-ahead, three-run home run to right field. But Boone responded by retiring five straight batters, finishing four innings with four earned runs on three hits and one walk with two strikeouts. That began a stretch of Akron pitchers retiring 13 straight Richmond batters, as left-hander Jaime Árias worked a perfect fifth inning, and right-hander Trey Benton set down the first five he faced in two scoreless innings. Right-hander Andrew Walters had three strikeouts around a walk in the eighth, and right-hander Lenny Torres Jr. overcame a leadoff walk with a strikeout and game-ending double play to earn his third save in as many appearances.

Strikeout clinic by @AndrewWalters07

Now has 10 K in 4.1 IP (3 G)

END 8 | Akron 4 | Richmond 4 pic.twitter.com/qmg7zV1FKV

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 14, 2024

Sealed by @KahlilWatson1 turning the game-ending double play!

FINAL | Akron 6 | Richmond 4

Box score https://t.co/2bSJjlRMY3 pic.twitter.com/fXj9t50pZf

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 14, 2024

Duck Tales

Akron grabbed a first-inning lead against right-hander Matt Frisbee when left fielder Chase DeLauter walked, and designated hitter Aaron Bracho walloped a 409-foot home run to right-center field – his second first-inning, two-run homer of the series. Another run scored in the second inning after right fielder Joe Lampe walked, moved to third on first baseman Joe Naranjo’s single and scored on Huff’s ground-ball double play. Shortstop Dayan Frías tied the game, 4-4, with a home run in the sixth inning off right-hander Wil Jensen.

First-inning déjà vu

Aaron Bracho crushing a two-run homer (as he did Tuesday)

106 mph 💪 409 feet

TOP 1 | Akron 2 | Richmond 0 pic.twitter.com/LwyaqEi20P

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 13, 2024

Notebook

Halpin extended his seven-game hitting streak to begin the season…Halpin’s 11 hits, five extra-base hits and 19 total bases are each tied for second in the Eastern League…Game Time: 2:38…Attendance: 9,309.

On the Pond

The RubberDucks conclude their series in Richmond at 1:35 p.m. Sunday at The Diamond. Akron right-hander Aaron Davenport (1-0, 0.00 ERA) is scheduled to face Flying Squirrels right-hander Hayden Birdsong (0-1, 4.50 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.