Lugo fans 8 Fightin Phils in series win, 6-2

Luis Lugo struck out eight batters in 7.1 innings in the the RubberDucks' 6-2 series win over the Reading Fightin Phils at FirstEnergy Stadium. (David Monseur)

August 7, 2017

RubberDucks Game RecapRubberDucks 6 Fightin Phils 2WP: Luis Lugo (7-6) LP: Tom Bergjans (1-6) Save: noneSummaryAkron's Luigi Rodriguez stroked a key two-run double, and Luis Lugo struck out eight batters in his longest outing of the season, as the RubberDucks defeated the Reading Fightin Phils, 6-2, Monday afternoon at FirstEnergy

RubberDucks Game Recap
RubberDucks 6 Fightin Phils 2
WP: Luis Lugo (7-6) LP: Tom Bergjans (1-6) Save: none
Summary
Akron's Luigi Rodriguez stroked a key two-run double, and Luis Lugo struck out eight batters in his longest outing of the season, as the RubberDucks defeated the Reading Fightin Phils, 6-2, Monday afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, Pa.

Turning Point
The RubberDucks (56-56) scored three times in the sixth to extend the lead to 5-0. Eric Haase reached on an error and Todd Hankins doubled off Tommy Bergjans (1-6), right-hander Shane Watson was brought in to face Rodriguez, who socked a two-run double off the wall in center field. It was Rodriguez's 18^th double and gave him 31 RBI. He later scored on an RBI single by Greg Allen to give the Ducks a 5-0 lead.
Winging It
Lugo (7-6) enjoyed one of his best outings of the season, as he went a season-high 7.1 innings and allowed just two runs on five hits. Lugo didn't allow a run until the seventh and left the game with a runner on and one out in the eighth. That runner scored off Leandro Linares who came in from the bullpen. Lugo walked only won and struck out eight. For his part, Linares closed out the game and fanned four over his 1.2 innings of work.
Duck Tales
Francisco Mejía drilled a solo homer to right off Bergjans in the fifth, his 12^th of the season and second of the series. He added another RBI on a fielder's choice in the ninth. He's hitting a team-best .316. Yu Chang got the Ducks on the board in the first inning with a sacrifice fly. Joe Sever had two singles. Allen was 1-4 with a walk and a stolen base.
Notebook
The RubberDucks took three out of four from the Fightin Phils (59-53)…All other EL teams were idle Monday, so Akron stands 2.5 games out of first place in the EL West…Entering Tuesday's game, the Ducks have 28 games left in the regular season…Time of game: 2:40 (1:48 delay)… Attendance: 6,516.

On Deck
The RubberDucks return to Canal Park Tuesday to open a three-game series against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at 7:05 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1350 AM, the WARF iHeart channel, and the TuneIn Radio App.