by The Akron RubberDucks won their second straight against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies on Saturday at Canal Park. After splitting last night’s double header, Akron had picked up some momentum heading into tonight. In a tie game in the bottom of the 11th with the bases loaded, Akron first baseman Joe Naranjo flared one into left to walk it off.
RubberDucks starter Will Dion coasted through his first three innings of work, posting 5 strikeouts. Throughout the entirety of his outing, Dion showcased great command, working the strike zone. “Normally I’m pretty popular with my fastball, especially with two strikes. Today it just wasn’t those days. I felt really good about the curveball today, and the slider at some points,” said Dion.
Binghamton starter Jose Chacin was pulled after three innings. A puzzling move made by skipper Reid Brignac, as Chacin had not given up a hit up to that point. At the start of the 4th, righty Dylan Hall was called from the bullpen. After a slow start the RubberDucks lineup had exploded. Following a Jose Tena groundout, center fielder Petey Halpin smashed a rope over the right field wall. His third home run of the season. Second baseman Angel Martinez found the left center gap and reached second base for a double in the very next at-bat. Third baseman Juan Brito would drive in Martinez a few batters later via a single.
Leading by three runs entering the sixth, Dion was sent back out. Binghamton shortstop Branden Fryman opened the inning with a single up the middle. After retiring the next batter, Dion would let up two straight singles. Rumble Ponies third baseman Jose Peroza cashed in Fryman with a single to center field, which was the first run of the game for Binghamton. With runners on the corners, right fielder Brandon Mcllwain grounded out to third, but would earn an RBI as Akron had no chance at a double play.
Dion would get out the inning, ending his day. He threw 6 complete innings, giving up 6 hits, 2 earned runs, no walks and 7 strikeouts. In his fourth career start in Double-A, he had shown no signs of nervousness. Dion was called up to the RubberDucks after a more than impressive stint for the Guardians High-A affiliate Lake County Captains this spring. With 13 appearances and 4 starts for the Captains, Dion posted an impressive 1.87 ERA. Dion is still searching for his first career win at the Double-A level. “These hitters in Double-A are extremely well. They are a lot better than they are in High-A. I think they just don’t chase as much as you want them to. They put the bat on the ball, and they can do a lot of damage at this level.”
Akron’s Jordan Jones came in for Dion. Jones tossed clean seventh and eighth. Leading by 1 run in the top of the 9th, the RubberDucks were just two outs away from victory. Binghamton’s Mcllwain blasted a towering shot over the left field wall, tying the game at 3. Mason Hickman relieved Jones and held the Rumble Ponies scoreless in the top of the 11th.
With Martinez on second, RubberDucks catcher Bryan Lavastida and left fielder Johnathan Rodriguez reached base in the bottom half of the inning. Naranjo stepped up to the plate with the bases juiced. Naranjo was fresh off his go-ahead RBI from last night’s doubleheader. His clutch ways had not yet left his system, as he flared one out to left field to drive in Martinez, giving the RubberDucks their second straight nail-biting win.
Naranjo went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Brito and Martinez each recorded 2 hits. Halpin, Rodriguez, and designated hitter Aaron Brnacho collected 1 hit. Hickman earned his third win on the year, lowering his ERA to 3.62. Akron attempts to win their third straight against Binghamton on Sunday. First pitch for the series finale is at 2:05 EDT.
