by After losing a tightly contested game one, the Akron RubberDucks defeated the Binghamton Rumble Ponies in the night capper in extra innings. This win brought the season total to 33-34 for Akron, breaking a 4-game losing streak, all of which that came at the hands of the Rumble Ponies.
Contrary to last night’s dismal offensive performance, Akron put runs on the board early in game number one. Following singles by right fielder Petey Halpin and second baseman Angel Martinez, catcher Bryan Lavastida drew a walk to load the bases. With ducks on the pond and one out in the inning, third baseman Juan Brito hit a sacrifice fly deep out to center field, driving in Halpin. The next batter, left fielder Johnathan Rodriguez, singled to center allowing Martinez to cross home.
In the top of the 5th, Akron starter Hunter Stanley hit a roadblock, allowing a walk and 2 straight singles to open the frame. Righty reliver Bradley Hanner came in to try and find a way out of the jam. Unfortunately for Hanner, he plunked Binghamton designated hitter Jose Peroza then walked left fielder Brandon Mcllwain to tie the game up at 3.
In the top of the 7th, Hanner retired two straight batters in a row. Binghamton second baseman Rowdey Jordan reached second base on a fielding error by Rodriguez, then grabbed third on a wild pitch. Peroza struck out the next at-bat. Center fielder Brandon Mcllwain reached base on yet another costly error by Akron shortstop Jose Tena, which led to Jordan scoring the go-ahead run. In the bottom half of the frame, Rumble Pony reliever William Woods shut down the RubberDucks lineup to conclude game one.
Although Hanner did not allow a single hit in 3 innings of relief, 2 walks and a hit-by-pitch eventually brought home Binghamton runners. Earning the loss, Hanner is now 5-3 on the year. Binghamton’s Woods, who had been with the Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse for much of his season, picked up his second win with the Rumble Ponies. He tossed 2 innings, striking out 3 Akron batters.
The second half of tonight’s doubleheader was a pitches duel through the first 6 innings. In the bottom of the third, Binghamton catcher Jose Mena received an RBI when he crushed a sure double to the left field wall.
In the top of the seventh, with only two outs remaining for the RubberDucks, first baseman Joe Naranjo slapped a ball though the left side of the infield. With second baseman Aaron Brancho and right fielder Korey Holland stealing, Naranjo’s executed hit-and-run easily scored Brancho to tie the game at 1.
Binghamton southpaw Daniel Juarez was given the extra-inning duties in the eighth inning to try and hold the RubberDucks to no runs. With a runner on second to start the inning, Juarez walked 2 batters to load the bases with no outs. Lavastida smoked a grounder through the hole between first and second, driving in two runs. Exactly what the RubberDucks needed, as they have been yearning for a clutch hit in this series. In the bottom of that same inning, Akron reliever Davis Sharpe shut the door, giving the RubberDucks a much-needed victory.
10 different Akron batters each recorded a hit between the two contests. 4 different pitches held the Binghamton offense in check during game two. Starter Zach Haft, Trey Benton, lefty Erik Sabrowski, and Sharpe combined for 10 strikeouts. The Akron RubberDucks looks to start a win-streak, as they take on the Rumble Ponies for the sixth time in five days tomorrow. First pitch is slated for 7:05 EDT at Canal Park.
