RUBBERDUCKS WIN EL TITLE!! Sweep Trenton!
RubberDucks 2 Thunder 1
WP: Nick Pasquale (1-0) LP: Justus Sheffield (0-2) SV: Louis Head (2)
Summary
The Akron RubberDucks are champions of the Eastern League for 2016, thanks to a 2-1, series-clinching victory over the Trenton Thunder on Friday night at ARM & HAMMER Park.
Turning Point
The RubberDucks scored the game's pivotal run in the fifth inning when Greg Allen reached on a one-out infield single, stole second and third off Anthony Swarzak and scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Eric Stamets. The run gave Akron a 2-0 lead at the time and set the stage for the eventual one-run victory.
Winging It
Nick Pasquale (1-0) continued to wield the magic touch that helped the RubberDucks clinch a playoff spot and win the Division Series over Altoona. On Friday, in his biggest start of the season, Pasquale held the Thunder to one run on four hits over 5.2 innings. The only blemish on his line was a solo homer by Sebastian Valle in the fifth that pulled the Thunder to within 2-1. He walked one and fanned three. In his last 20.2 innings of the season, Pasquale allowed two earned runs. Right-hander Cole Sulser took over in the sixth with two outs and a man on third and induced a groundout by Miguel Andujar to preserve Akron's lead. He then retired the Thunder in order in the seventh and eighth. Closer Louis Head made quick work of the Thunder in the ninth, retiring three straight, including a strikeout of Andujar on a fastball at 9:41 p.m. to set off Akron's championship celebration.
Duck Tales
Jordan Smith gave the Ducks a 1-0 lead in the third inning with an RBI groundout off Justus Sheffield (0-2). Many of the RubberDucks in the lineup were teammates of Sheffield at Single-A Lynchburg prior to a July trade that sent Sheffield to the Yankees. The lefty lasted 4.1 innings, allowing just four hits and a run in his third Double-A appearance. Allen finished 3-4, with a double and sacrifice to go along with his two steals.
Notebook
The RubberDucks swept the ELCS three games to none…It is the fifth league title in franchise history ('03, '05, '09, '12, '16)…Ironically, the 2012 championship was also captured at Trenton on 9/15/12, almost four years to the day from Friday's victory…Eric Haase was named the ELCS MVP…He clubbed a grand slam in Game 1 and finished with seven RBI in the playoffs…Second baseman Mark Mathias made two stellar defensive plays to keep Akron's lead intact…Head did not allow a run in his final 16 appearances of the season…Time of Game: 2:42…Attendance: 3,018.