May 11: Planez homers twice; Mace, Ducks shut out Bowie, 6-0
May 11, 2024 RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score Akron RubberDucks (21-11) 6, Bowie Baysox (16-15) 0 WP: Tommy Mace (4-1) LP: Seth Johnson (0-4) Save: none Summary RubberDucks right-hander Tommy Mace pitched six scoreless innings for his Eastern League-leading fourth win and Akron’s second straight shutout, while designated hitter
May 11, 2024 RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score
Akron RubberDucks (21-11) 6, Bowie Baysox (16-15) 0
WP: Tommy Mace (4-1) LP: Seth Johnson (0-4) Save: none
Summary
RubberDucks right-hander Tommy Mace pitched six scoreless innings for his Eastern League-leading fourth win and Akron’s second straight shutout, while designated hitter Alexfri Planez homered twice in a 6-0 victory over the Bowie Baysox in the fifth game of a six-game series at Prince George’s Stadium Saturday night.
Another shutout start from Tommy Mace!
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) May 12, 2024
6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
3rd scoreless start of the season
Last 3 outings:
19 IP, 10 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 13 K (0.47 ERA)
Season ERA now 1.86 (3rd in EL & @CleGuardians system) https://t.co/ViE9jcpbQF pic.twitter.com/MGuLZOPGG5
Turning Point
Planez hit the first pitch of the second inning from right-hander Seth Johnson for a home run to left-center field. In the bottom of the second, Mace allowed a one-out double to right fielder John Rhodes. With the tying run at second base, Mace got catcher Silas Ardoin on a groundout, and in a 13-pitch at bat, he struck out shortstop Collin Burns to end the inning. Center fielder Petey Halpin homered in the next half inning, and Bowie never again had the tying run on base.
Mound Presence
Mace scattered four hits and one walk (coming from a plate appearance split across a 30-minute rain delay) while striking out three batters. He worked six innings for the third straight appearance and has yielded one run over his last three outings – 19 total innings for a 0.47 ERA. Right-hander Davis Sharpe pitched two scoreless innings, working around two walks, and had three consecutive strikeouts in one stretch. Right-hander Tyler Thornton struck out two batters in a scoreless ninth inning, finishing Akron’s second straight shutout and seventh this season – most in major or minor league baseball. RubberDucks pitchers have not allowed a run for 23 consecutive innings against Baysox hitters.
😯Yordys Valdés steals a hit from Austin Hays
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) May 11, 2024
END 3 | Akron 2 | Bowie 0 pic.twitter.com/r2BVGCdRrD
A beautiful Kane Painting Caught Stealing@Kodyhuff2 to Yordys Valdés pic.twitter.com/AaYJtJll2E
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) May 12, 2024
Hitting it 101 mph is NOT enough to get past @joenaranjo_ pic.twitter.com/DxkXLzB4Pz
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) May 12, 2024
2 scoreless IP with 3 K by @Dsharpe3
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) May 12, 2024
END 8 | Akron 6 | Bowie 0 pic.twitter.com/s7BMdLvm2z
Back-to-back shutouts (23 straight scoreless IP)!
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) May 12, 2024
SEVEN by Akron this season leads all of MLB & @MiLB @tylrthorntn finishes with 2 Ks & unassisted putout
FINAL | Akron 6 | Bowie 0https://t.co/lpxd2TzJWX pic.twitter.com/slAFPWbtEb
Duck Tales
Akron added to its lead in the fifth inning against left-hander Trey McGough. Third baseman Milan Tolentino reached on an error by Burns, went to second base on a passed ball, and scored on Halpin’s RBI single to center field. Halpin advanced on a balk, and second baseman Aaron Bracho hit a two-out RBI single to right field for a 4-0 lead. In the sixth against right-hander Carlos Tavera, first baseman Joe Naranjo – who turned 23 Saturday – singled to right field, shortstop Yordys Valdés walked, and right fielder Joe Lampe hit an RBI single. Planez slugged his second home run off Tavera in the seventh, becoming the first RubberDuck with a multi-homer game this season.
Another @peteyhalpin RBI!
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) May 12, 2024
TOP 5 | Akron 3 | Bowie 0 pic.twitter.com/bmn0mttC8i
Aaron Bracho's 4th RBI of the week, team-high 19th of the year!
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) May 12, 2024
TOP 5 | Akron 4 | Bowie 0 pic.twitter.com/MZI1m8ptLD
RBI single @joelampe5 adds to the lead!
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) May 12, 2024
TOP 6 | Akron 5 | Bowie 0 pic.twitter.com/6v9CDVeHlL
Notebook
Halpin homered in consecutive games, extending a nine-game hitting streak – the longest by a RubberDuck this season…Akron shut out Bowie, which has scored the most runs (157) of any Eastern League club…Akron has the second lowest team ERA (2.53) among major and full-season minor league clubs this season…The RubberDucks pitched four shutouts in the entire 2023 season…Game Time: 2:38 (0:30 delay)…Attendance: 8,422.
On the Pond
The RubberDucks conclude their series in Bowie at 1:05 p.m. Sunday at Prince George’s Stadium. Akron left-hander Rodney Boone (2-0, 2.84 ERA) is scheduled to face Baysox right-hander Alex Pham (1-1, 6.57 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.