Friday’s result: Big inning not enough as Richmond wins fourth straight over RubberDucks
A six-run fifth inning was not enough to end the RubberDucks’ slide, as Richmond (24-6) scored nine unanswered runs to score a 9-6 win at CarMax Park.
The Ducks (16-15) did all their damage in the fifth. Nick Mitchell opened the scoring with an RBI single, followed by a RBI double by Ralphy Velazquez. With the bases loaded, Jake Fox hit a base-clearing double and the scored on a Flying Squirrels throwing error to make it 6-0.
But the Ducks bullpen gave up nine runs after starter Justin Campbell allowed only two hits in four scoreless innings.
Richmond second baseman Diego Velasquez had a huge game, going 3-4 with a home run, a double and three runs scored.
Thursday’s result: RubberDucks’ ninth-inning rally falls short in third straight loss to Richmond
Richmond has the best record of any Double A team in minor league baseball. The Flying Squirrles (23-6) continued to find ways to win May 7 with a 5-4 victory over the RubberDucks (16-14) at CarMax Park.
Designated hitter Ralphy Velazquez continues to be the bright spot for the Ducks. He went 3-4 with two RBIs, including an RBI double to get the Ducks on the board in the fourth inning.
Ducks catcher Cameron Barstad smacked his first home run of the season, a solo homer in the fifth.
Ducks starting pitcher Matt Wilkinson allowed three runs (two earned) in 4⅔ innings. The Flying Squirrels added two vital insurance runs in the eighth off Ducks reliever Jay Driver.
Much like Richmond had the previous day, Akron tried to rally in the ninth inning.
Alex Mooney hit an RBI single, followed by an RBI single by Velazquez to make it 5-4. With the tying run on third base, however, Alfonsin Rosario grounded out to end the game.
Wednesday’s result: Richmond rallies to stun RubberDucks in ninth inning
Up two runs heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, the RubberDucks suffered perhaps their toughest loss of the season May 6 at CarMax Park in Richmond.
A home run by Josiah Cox followed by a walk-off double by Drew Cavanaugh gave Richmond (22-6) a 5-4 win over the RubberDucks (16-13). The Flying Squirrels rallied three times in the last three innings to win it.
Wuilfredo Altunez gave Akron the lead in the sixth inning with an RBI single before a sacrifice fly in the seventh by Cox tied the score.
The RubberDucks took a 3-1 in the eighth on back-to-back RBI doubles by Jack Cozart and Nick Mitchell, and added an insurance run in ninth on two Richmond errors and a sacrifice fly by Jake Fox.
Ducks starting pitcher Dylan Delucia threw four scoreless innings, giving up four hits. Hunter Stanley (0-2) suffered his second blown save of the year in the ninth.
Tuesday’s result: RubberDucks shut out in series opener at Richmond
The RubberDucks (16-12) opened their series against the first-place Richmond Flying Squirrels (21-6) with a 5-0 loss at Carmax Park.
The Ducks managed only two hits in the game, both of which came from first baseman Ralphy Velazquez, including a triple in the sixth inning.
The game marked the RubberDucks debut for Guadians prospect Jaison Chourio, who was just called up from the Lake County Captains. Chourio went 0-4 as Akron’s lead-off hittter and center fielder.
Ducks starting pitcher Caden Favor (1-3) took the loss, giving up five earned runs on seven hits in five innings of work. Jack Jasiak, Adam Tulluch and Reid Johnston each pitched one scoreless inning.
Richmond got home runs from Sabin Ceballos, Zach Morgan and Maui Ahuna.
Friday’s result: Ralphy Velazquez hits grand slam to lead RubberDucks to win over Senators
Ralphy Velazquez hit a grand slam in the eighth inning to power the Akron RubberDucks to a 4-3 win over the Harrisburg Senators on chilly May 2 before a crowd of 2,890 at 7 17 Credit Union Park.
Nick Mitchell opened the eighth with a single and advanced to second two batters later on Christian Knapczyk’s one-out single. After a fielder’s choice kept runners on first and second, Angel Genao walked to load the bases. On the seventh pitch of his at-bat, Velazquez launched a grand slam over the center field fence to give the Ducks a 4-3 lead.
The result gave the RubberDucks their first back-to-back wins since April 18-19. Velazquez’s grand slam was the third by an Ducks hitter this season and his second. He also hit one on April 24.
The RubberDucks were hitless through five innings. Joe Lampe doubled to open the sixth to break up Harrisburg starter Kyle Luckham’s perfect game.
Ducks right-hander Khal Stephen pitched six innings, struck out a season-high nine and allowed three runs (two earned). Carter Rustad followed with a season-high three scoreless innings and two strikeouts to get the victory.
The game was completed in two hours and nine minutes.
Friday’s result: Ralphy Velazquez single, Senators error leads RubberDucks to walk-off win
Ralphy Velazquez hit an RBI single and a costly throwing error allowed the Akron RubberDucks to earn a 3-2 win over the Harrisburg Senators in 10 innings on a cold May 1 before a crowd of 2,434 at 7 17 Credit Union Park.
Trailing 3-1 and with the bases loaded, Velazquez lifted a bloop single into shallow left field to score Alex Mooney and Guy Lipscomb scored on a throwing error. Velazquez extended his hitting streak to seven games and his on-base streak to 12 games.
Ducks reliever Alaska Abney recorded the win after allowing an unearned run over two innings. Marquis Grissom Jr., the son of former MLB center fielder Marquis Grissom, took the loss for the Senators.
Ducks starter Matt Wilkinson pitched five scoreless innings with six strikeouts. Wilkinson allowed a single to open the game and end his hitless innings streak at 10⅓ innings. He has allowed just one run over his last 16⅔ innings and has struck out five or more in all five starts this season.
Jack Jasiak struck out three over two perfect innings and Sean Matson allowed a run in an inning for the Ducks.
In the second inning, Cameron Barstad reached with a one-out single, advanced to second on a Mooney walk and scored via a Lipscomb single up the middle.
The game was completed in two hours and 36 minutes.
Thursday’s result: RubberDucks drop close game to Senators
Ralphy Velazquez singled twice to extend his hitting streak to six games and on-base streak to 11 games, but the Rubberducks lost 4-2 to the Harrisburg Senators on April 30 at 7 17 Credit Union Park.
Chance Huff earned the win for the Senators and Erick Mejia recorded a save. The Ducks scored on an error and a groundout in the seventh.
Ducks starter Dylan DeLucia worked 4⅓ innings, struck out five and allowed two runs. Jay Driver tossed 1⅔ scoreless innings, Jack Carey allowed a run in ⅔ inning, Magnus Ellerts posted 1⅓ scoreless innings with four strikeouts and Reid Johnston allowed a Leandro Pineda solo home run in th eninth.
Wednesday’s result: Five-run first inning powers RubberDucks to win over Senators
The RubberDucks scored five runs in the first inning and topped the Harrisburg Senators 8-3 on April 29 at 7 17 Credit Union Park.
Angel Genao, Ralphy Velazquez and Wuilfredo Antunez each walked to load the bases with no outs. Jacob Cozart followed with a double down the line in left to unload the bases and give Akron 3-0 lead. Nick Mitchell then hit a home run beyond the fence in right field to give the RubberDucks a 5-0 advantage.
Alex Mooney reached on an error in the second, advanced to third on a single by Genao and scored when Antunez lifted a sacrifice fly to center to make it 6-1. In the fourth, Cameron Barstad doubled and came around to score via a Genao sacrifice fly. Akron’s final run came in the sixth when Joe Lampe walked and came around to score on a Mooney sacrifice fly.
Akron left-handed starter Caden Favors was effectively wild as he scattered seven walks over 4⅔ innings, struck out two and did not allow a hit. The only run Favors allowed was in the second when back-to-back walks followed by back-to-back fielder’s choices plated Caleb Lomavita to make it 5-1. Carter Rustad struck out three in 1⅓, Adam Tulloch tossed two scoreless innings and Hunter Stanley allowed two runs in the ninth.
Tuesday’s result: Senators earn shutout win over RubberDucks
The Harrisburg Senators recorded a 3-0 shutout win over the RubberDucks on April 28 at 7 17 Credit Union Park. Sam Peterson singled and came around to score on a Caleb Lomavita sacrifice fly to give the Senators a 1-0 lead in the second inning. The RubberDucks were nevere able to get even.
Ducks starter Josh Hartle worked 5⅓ innings, struck out four and allowed two runs and five hits. Alaska Abney allowed a run in the seventh inning and finished his night at 1⅓ inning.
Former Cleveland Guardians prospect Alex Clemmey (2-1) pitched 5⅔ no-hit innings for the Senators. Clemmey, a left-handed pitcher, finished six innings and allowed one hit and two walks and struck out six.
The RubberDucks broke up Clemmey’s perfect start when Jake Fox reached on catcher’s interference. Ralphy Velazquez walked and Wuilfredo Antunez singled, but Clemmey got a flyout to end the inning.
Jared Simpson followed Clemmey with two scoreless innings and Erick Mejia earned the save with a scoreless ninth.
Sunday’s result: Nick Mitchell home run powers RubberDucks to win over Baysox
Nick Mitchell hit a go-ahead three-run home run amid 10 unanswered RubberDucks runs in a three-inning span to earn a 10-5 win April 26 and series split in the finale of a six-game series at Prince George’s Stadium. Akron erased a four‑run deficit with a three‑run fifth inning and surged ahead with four runs in the sixth three runs in the seventh.
Trailing 4‑0 entering the fifth inning, the Ducks got on the board with a three‑run rally. Alex Mooney doubled in a run and Ralphy Velazquez delivered a two‑run single to bring the RubberDucks within a run. An inning later, Cameron Barstad and José Devers each walked against right-hander Tyson Neighbors, and Mitchell launched a two-out, go-ahead three‑run home run – his second of the season – to right‑center field, giving Akron 6-4 lead. Jacob Cozart added an RBI single to make it 7-4.
Velazquez delivered a bases‑loaded single in the seventh that brought home three runs with the help of a Chesapeake error. Cozart reached base five times with two hits and three walks. Cozart’s two hits gave him seven in the series. Velazquez had two hits and three RBIs to finish with six hits and seven RBIs over the series’ final three games.
Akron right‑hander Khal Stephen allowed a leadoff home run in the first and a three-run double in the third. He struck out six in a four-inning start. Left‑hander Adam Tulloch earned the win with a scoreless fifth. Right‑hander Carter Rustad pitched a scoreless sixth, right-hander Jay Driver allowed one run in 1⅔ and right-hander Jack Carey followed with 1⅓ scoreless innings.
Saturday’s result: RubberDucks fall in 12 innings to Baysox
Left-hander Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson struck out a season-high seven batters and pitched a second straight hitless start April 25, but the RubberDucks lost 3‑2 in 12 innings to the Chesapeake Baysox at Prince George’s Stadium.
Akron took the lead in the top of the 11th inning, but Chesapeake responded in the bottom half against right-hander Reid Johnston. With an automatic runner on second base, the Baysox used a sacrifice bunt and an RBI single by Tavian Josenberger to even the score and extend the game. One inning later, Chesapeake scored the winning run on Maverick Handley’s walk‑off single.
Wilkinson retired the first six batters and left with one out in the sixth, extending his 10⅓ innings hitless streak. The RubberDucks’ bullpen combined for six innings of one‑hit relief before surrendering the winning run in the 12th. Right-handers Hunter Stanley (1⅔), Sean Matson (two innings), and Jack Jasiak (one) each worked scoreless outings before Johnston took the loss.
Akron’s Guy Lipscomb contributed an RBI sacrifice fly in the fourth Nick Mitchell brought in a run with a sacrifice bunt. Jake Fox and Ralphy Velazquez each had two hits.
Friday’s result: RubberDucks win slugfest over Baysox
The bats were swinging April 24 at Prince George’s Stadium, where the RubberDucks (12-7) outslugged Chesapeake 10-8.
The Ducks led 6-1 before the BaySox scored seven unanswered runs to take an 8-6 lead. But the Ducks responded with two runs in both the seventh and ninth innings to win.
Ralphy Velazquez’s grand slam highlighted a six-run fourth inning that put the Ducks in front.
Then, with the Baysox leading 8-6, the Ducks rallied in the seventh with the long ball and the short game. After Wuilfredo Antunez clubbed his team-leading fifth home run of the year, Guy Lipscomb put down a sacrifice bunt to score Jake Fox and tie the score 8-8.
In the ninth, Joe Lampe’s RBI double gave the Ducks the lead. Lampe then scored an insurance run on a sacrifice bunt by Cameron Barstad.
Ducks reliever Magnus Ellert (1-0) got the win with two scoreless innings, and Jack Carey earned his first save with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Thursday’s result: Baysox get past RubberDucks on the road
Despite outhitting Chesapeake 9-7, the RubberDucks (11-7) lost a matinee game 5-2 to the Baysox at Prince George’s Stadium.
Akron’s lone scoring came in the ninth inning when Jacob Cozart smashed his second home run of the season, a two-run blast to right field.
Cozart, Angel Genao and Christian Knapczyk each had two hits in the game but the RubberDucks left 13 runners on base.
Ducks starter Caden Favors (1-2) took the loss, giving up four runs (three earned) in six innings. The Ducks had a rough game in the field with three errors.
Sunday’s result: 5 RubberDucks pitchers combine to no-hit Rumble Ponies
RubberDucks pitchers Matt Wilkinson, Matt Jachec, Magnus Ellerts, Jay Driver and Jack Carey combined on a no-hitter in a 4-0 Ducks win over the Binghamton Rumble Ponies at 7 17 Credit Union Park.
Wilkinson (1-0) started and pitched five perfect innings with six strikeouts, striking out at least one batter in each inning. Jachec got the first two outs in the sixth before issuing a walk to break up the perfect game. He then induced a groundout to end the inning. Ellerts walked two batters in a hitless seventh, and Driver allowed a two-out walk before getting out of the eighth.
Carey took over for the ninth inning, and issued back-to-back walks with one out before getting a popout to third and a flyout to left to complete the sixth no-hitter in RubberDucks history and the first in the minor leagues this season..
Wuilfredo Antunez hit a two-run home run and Angel Genao and Alfonsin Rosario had double for the Ducks (10-5).
Saturday’s result: Ducks beat Rumble Ponies on walk-off bunt single
Guy Lipscomb hit awalk-off bunt single to cap a two-run ninth-inning rally and lift the RubberDucks to a 5-4 win over the Binghamton Rumble Ponies at 7 17 Credit Union Park.
The Ducks (9-5) trailed 4-3 with one out in the ninth whenChristian Knapczyk reached on an error. After pinch runner Jose Devers advanced to second on a wild pitch, Jake Fox hit a triple to bring him home and tie the score 4-4. On the next pitch, Lipscomb put down a squeeze bunt to score Fox for a walk-off win.
Jack Jasiak (4-1), the fourth Ducks pitcher, struck out four over two innings for the win.
Wuilfredo Antunez hit a a solo home run in the third for the game’s first run, Cameron Barstad and Lipscomb each drew a bases-loaded walk to keep the Ducks within striking distance.
Friday’s result: Rumble Ponies snap Ducks’ 6-game home winning streak
RubberDucks left-hander Caden Favors pitched five no-hit innings but gave up two hits and two runs in the sixth inning and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies went on to beat the Ducks 4-1 at 7 17 Credit Union Park.
The loss snapped the Ducks’ six-game home winning streak to start the season.
After recording one out in the sixth, Favors surrendered a double to Jacob Reimer to break up the no-hit bid and Eli Serrano III followed with a two-run home run to give the Rumble Ponies the lead. Favors (1-1) allowed two hits and three walks with four strikeouts.
Wuilfredo Antunez had two hits, including an RBI triple in the sixth for the Ducks’ only run.
Thursday’s result: Josh Hartle, RubberDucks shut out Rumble Ponies
Josh Hartle pitched 5⅓ strong innings and the RubberDucks blanked the Binghamton Rumble Ponies 5-0 in game shortened to seven innings by rain at 7 17 Credit Union Park.
The home win was the Ducks’ sixth consecutive to open the season, tying the 2021 RubberDucks for longest home winning streak to open a season since at least 2005.
Hartle (1-0) allowed two hits and three walks and struck out seven.
Jake Fox went 3-for-4 and Alfonsin Rosario blasted a three-run home run to lead the Ducks’ 11-hit attack. Cameron Barstad and Angel Genao added doubles. Genao extended his on base-streak to an Eastern League-best 11 games.
Wednesday’s result: After rain delay, Ducks limit Binghamton to 1 hit in victory
Rain pushed back and shortened the game, but the RubberDucks (7-4) made good with a second consecutive win over the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, 3-0 at 7 17 Credit Union Park.
Ducks pitchers Khal Stephen, Magnus Ellerts and Carter Rustad combined to allow just one hit to the Rumble Ponies (5-5). Stephen (1-1) pitched five scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 0.71, and Rustad picked up his first save.
Binghamton’s lone hit came in the seventh inning when Kevin Parada hit a line drive single off the pitcher’s glove.
After Christian Knapczyk scored the Ducks’ first run on a passed ball in the second inning, they scored twice more in the sixth on a fielder’s choice by Alex Mooney and an RBI groundout by Jose Devers.
Angel Genao and Joe Lampe each had two singles for the Ducks.
Friday’s result: Visiting Ducks end slide, rally to beat Harrisburg Senators
After three consecutive losses to Harrisburg, the RubberDucks (4-3) pulled one back on the Senators with an 8-6 win April 10 at FNB Field. It was Harrisburg’s first loss of the season.
The Senators took a a 3-0 lead with a home run in the first inning before the Ducks scored eight unanswered runs, including three runs in the fourth inning, keyed by a two-run single by Jake Fox.
The Ducks added four runs in the fifth inning. After Joe Lampe hit an RBI single, Alex Mooney hit his second home run of the season, a three-run blast to make it 7-0.
Jack Jasiak (2-1) picked up the win in relief, allowing two runs on two hits in 2⅓ innings. Magnus Ellerts got the final out for his first save.
Thursday’s result: Harrisburg routs Ducks in matinee game
The Harrisburg Senators made it three wins in a row over the RubberDucks April 9, routing the Ducks 12-1 at FNB Field.
Akron was held to just four hits in the game compared to 16 hits for the Senators
The Ducks’ lone run came on Christian Knapczyk’s solo home run in the fourth.
The Senators broke the game open with six runs in the fifth inning. Khal Stephen (0-1) took the loss for the Ducks, allowing one earned run on seven hits in 3⅔ innings.
Wednesday’s result: Ducks held to 1 hit in loss at Harrisburg
After a slugfest to open the series, the RubberDucks managed just one hit in their second game at Harrisburg’s FNB Field, losing 4-2 to undefeated Senators (5-0).
Christian Knapczyk broke up the no-hitter with a single in the ninth inning for the Ducks, who still had plenty of scoring chances with 10 walks and a hit batsman. Angel Genao drew four walks alone.
The Ducks scored twice in the eighth inning without a hit. Jacob Cozart reached on an error, allowing Genao to score. A balk then plated Wuilfredo Antunez.
Ducks starting pitcher Matt Wilkinson (0-1) took the loss despite allowing just one run on three hits while striking out eight in four innings.
The two teams will play a noon matinee game at FNB Field April 9.
Tuesday’s result: Senators edge Ducks in 25-run slugfest
To say the RubberDucks’ first road trip of the season started with a bang was an understatement.
The Ducks (3-1) scored 12 runs on 12 hits, but it wasn’t enough as Harrisburg pulled out a 13-12 win in 10 innings at FNB Field.
The Ducks trailed 10-1 before erupting for seven runs in the seventh inning, highlighted by Alex Mooney’s grand slam. RBI singles by Wuilfredo Antunez, Jacob Cozart and Nick Mitchell tied the score 11-11 in the seventh. Cozart also hit a solo home run in the second inning.
A solo home run by Angel Genao in the eighth inning forced the game to go to extra innings. The Senators won it in the 10th inning on an RBI single by Cortland Lawson.
Six different RubberDuck pitchers combined to give up 10 earned runs on 14 hits, but they did strike out 10 Senators.
Saturday’s result: Ducks complete sweep of Fightin Phils with shutout win
Angel Genao, Wuilfredo Antunez and Nick Mitchell each hit a home run and the RubberDucks completed a season-opening series sweep of the Reading Fightin Phils with a 5-0 win at 7 17 Credit Union Park.
After Antunez blasted a solo homer in the sixth to snap a scoreless tie, Genao belted a three-run home run in the seventh to give the Ducks a 4-0 lead. Mitchell tacked on a solo shot in the eighth for the final run.
Making his Double-A debut, left-hander Caden Favors started and allowed two hits and struck out four in four scoreless innings. Relievers Mangus Ellerts, Jack Jasiak, Hunter Stanley and Matt Jachec completed the shutout.
The Ducks begin a six-game series in Harrisburg against the Senators at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 7.
Saturday’s game moved up to 4:05 p.m.
With evening storms in the forecast, the RubberDucks game against the Reading Fightin Phils game originally scheduled for 6:05 p.m. April 4 has been changed to a 4:05 p.m. start. Gates will open at 3 p.m.
All postgame activities, including fireworks, are set to be held as scheduled.
Friday’s result: Alfonsin Rosario powers Ducks over Fightin Phils
Alfonsin Rosario hit two home runs and matched his career high with five RBIs to lead the RubberDucks to a 9-3 win over the Reading Fightin Phils at 7 17 Credit Union Park.
The Ducks broke a scoreless tie with four runs in the third inning. Christian Knapczyk drew a lead-off walk and scored on a triple by Alex Mooney, who came home on a single by Ralphy Velazquez. Rosario then capped the inning with a two-run home run to make it 4-0.
Rosario then blasted a three-run home run in the fifth to score Angel Genao and Velazquez, who reached on two-out hits.
Left-hander Josh Hartle started for the Ducks and allowed one run with five strikeouts in 4⅔ innings.
The Akron Beacon Journal sports department can be contacted via email at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron RubberDucks scores: Big inning not enough as Ducks fall again
Reporting by Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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