RubberDucks Game RecapRubberDucks 4 Curve 3WP: David Speer (1-1) LP: Luis Heredia (1-2) Save: Neil Holland (2) SummaryAkron's Joe Sever grounded a timely, two-run single in the top of the ninth inning that lifted the RubberDucks to a 4-3 victory over the Altoona Curve in the opener of a four-game series
RubberDucks Game Recap
RubberDucks 4 Curve 3
WP: David Speer (1-1) LP: Luis Heredia (1-2) Save: Neil Holland (2)
Summary
Akron's Joe Sever grounded a timely, two-run single in the top of the ninth inning that lifted the RubberDucks to a 4-3 victory over the Altoona Curve in the opener of a four-game series Monday Night at PNG Field in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Turning Point
With the game tied, 2-2, the RubberDucks loaded the bases in the top of the ninth on three walks by Altoona right-hander Luis Heredia. Closer Montana DuRapau was brought in to face Sever with two outs, but Sever grounded DuRapau's first pitch up the middle for a two-run single and a 4-2 Akron lead. It was Sever's second hit of the night.
Winging It
Sidearm specialist Neil Holland worked the ninth and gave up a leadoff home run to Wyatt Mathisen to close the gap to 4-3, but then recorded the final three outs to secure his second save. Holland made a winner of David Speer (1-1). The lefty pitched 1.2 innings of relief, and, despite, allowing an inherited runner to score to tie the game in the seventh, earned his first Double-A victory. Luis Lugo started the game for Akron and allowed two runs in 6.1 innings.
Duck Tales
Bobby Bradley was 3-3, with three singles, a walk, a steal and three runs scored. His three-hit night raised his average 20 points to .227. Yu Chang clubbed a pair of doubles. Luigi Rodriguez drove in the RubberDucks' first run with a groundout in the second. Dorssys Paulino chipped in a sacrifice fly in the fourth that gave the Ducks a 2-1 lead.
Notebook
The RubberDucks (18-21) snapped a three-game losing streak and gained a game on the first-place Curve (24-17)… Austin Coley started and worked seven innings for Altoona, giving up just two runs…Lugo's ERA dropped to 2.95, which ranks among the top 10 in the EL…Chang's older brother, Jin-Da Jhang, is a member of the Curve, but didn't play on Monday…Ducks right-hander D.J. Brown was placed on the DL, retroactive to Saturday, with a left oblique strain…Time of Game: 2:27 …Attendance: 2,320.
On Deck
The RubberDucks and Curve will play Game 2 of the series Tuesday night at 6:00. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1350 AM, the WARF iHeart channel, and the TuneIn Radio App.
