by The RubberDucks defeated the Richmond Flying Squirrels on an energetic night at the ballpark on Friday. A big win for Akron, as all factors of today’s contest leaned in their way. Southpaw starter Dough Nikhazy’s strong and steady performance led the way for Akron. On the other hand, the Akron lineup finished their day with 5 extra-base hits.
Akron and Richmond honored the Negro Leagues tonight. Akron represented the Akron Black Tyrites. Richmond represented the Jacksonville Red Caps, a team that lasted from 1938-1945. The Akron Black Tyrites played one season during 1933, being a part of the second Negro National League, which lasted from 1933-1948. The Black Tyrites merged with the Columbus Blue Birds during the second half of that 1933 season. The mid-summer merge was short-lived, playing only 10 games before renamed to the Cleveland Giants.
Akron wasted no time, scoring 2 runs in the bottom half of the first inning. Center fielder Petey Halpin and shortstop Jose Tena singled. Following a fielder’s choice hit by third baseman Angel Martinez, right fielder Johnathon Rodriguez roped a ground-rule double down the left field line. With Tena on third and Rodriguez on second, third baseman Juan Brito did his job by hitting a sacrifice fly to deep center field, easily driving in Tena.
Nikhazy was in cruise control throughout the day, dominating the Flying Squirrels. He threw 5 complete innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 walk, and fanning 6. Despite his clean stat sheet, Nikhazy got himself into trouble in the fifth. He had to fight out of a bases-loaded situation with only 1 out, after giving up a hit, walk, and hit-by-pitch. Richmond right fielder Ismael Munguia flew out to shallow center field, foiling a potential sacrifice fly opportunity. Nikhazy then struck out top prospect Vaun Brown to end the inning without allowing a run to score. A trumpet yell came from Nikhazy as he walked off the mound.
Akron extended their lead to 5 in the bottom of the seventh. Left fielder Connor Kokx kicked started the inning with a double to left field. With two outs and Kokx still on second, Angel Martinez hit a no-doubt home run to the right-field stands. It was Martinez’s 5th home run of the year, and his 2nd in July.
Richmond fought back, scoring 3 unanswered runs in the eighth inning off Akron reliever Ross Carver. Carver pitched 1.2 innings, allowing 3 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts. With 2 outs in the eighth, righty Franco Aleman came in to shut the door. In his second appearance in the series and fifth as a RubberDuck, Aleman came through in the clutch. Earning his second save in 3 games, Aleman went 1.1 innings, punch-out 3 Richmond batters, all of which came in the ninth.
Martinez went 2-for-4 with a home run and 2 RBIs. Rodriguez also went 2-for-4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBIs. Newley acquired designated hitter Bryce Ball blasted a moonshot in his second at-bat as a RubberDuck. Brito complemented his fellow teammates with a quiet 2-for-3 day with a sacrifice RBI and a stolen base. The RubberDucks look to take game 5 of the series against Richmond. Jack Leftwich will be on the bump. The first pitch is slated for 7:05 EDT.
