June 11: Oscar González homers, drives in 5 in 7-5 Ducks win in Altoona

June 11 RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score

Akron RubberDucks (19-12) 7, Altoona Curve (20-12) 5

WP: Juan Móta (2-0) LP: Cam Vieaux (1-1) S: Aaron Pinto (3)

Summary

Akron right fielder Oscar González hit a go-ahead three-run home run – his team-high eighth of the season – in the eighth inning to cap a season-high five-RBI night and give the RubberDucks a 7-5 road victory over the Altoona Curve in the third game of a six-game series at Peoples Natural Gas Field Friday night.

Turning Point

Akron trailed 5-4 entering the eighth inning. Altoona left-hander Cam Vieaux walked second baseman Richie Palacios, and center fielder Alex Call hit a ground ball misplayed by Curve shortstop O’Neil Cruz. González hit the next pitch over the left-center-field fence for his fourth go-ahead home run of the season. His 23 RBI also lead the team.

Mound Presence

Right-hander Shane McCarthy held the Curve to one hit over the first four innings and had a 3-0 lead entering the fifth, when an error by third baseman Marcos González and five straight Curve hits – including consecutive homers by Cruz and Canaan Smith-Njigba – put Altoona ahead, 5-3, ending McCarthy’s start with four earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. Left-hander Zach Draper made his first appearance for Akron this season and worked 2 1/3 hitless innings. Right-hander Juan Móta got four outs around a single hit, and right-hander Aaron Pinto struck out two batters in a perfect ninth inning.

Duck Tales

After the first 11 hitters were retired by Altoona right-hander Noe Toribio, the RubberDucks took the game’s first lead in the fourth inning. Call hit a two-out single to center field, stole second base – his team-high eighth stolen base – and went to third base on an errant throw before Oscar González drove him in with a single. In the fifth inning, left fielder Will Benson singled, catcher Mike Rivera was hit by a pitch, and both scored on first baseman Josh Rolette’s double.

Notebook

Oscar González is 7-for-15 in the series…Palacios extended a six-game hitting streak in which he is 10-for-25, including 6-for-15 in the series…Benson extended a five-game hitting streak (6-for-15)…Akron pitchers did not walk a batter for the first time this season… Altoona has hit two homers in each of the first three games of the series…Each team has taken and lost the lead at least once in each of the first three games of the series…Time of game: 2:40…Attendance: 4,201.

On the Pond

The RubberDucks continue their six-game series in Altoona with a 4 p.m. EDT Saturday doubleheader. Akron LHP Juan Hillman (0-1, 4.64 ERA) is scheduled to start against Curve LHP Trey McGough (0-1, 7.36 ERA) in Game 1, and RubberDucks LHP Tanner Tully (1-2, 8.03 ERA) will face Altoona RHP Osvaldo Bido (1-0, 2.01 ERA) in Game 2. The broadcast, powered by FirstEnergy, is on 640 WHLO, the 640 WHLO iHeartRadio channel, and akronrubberducks.com, and available on MiLB.TV. Tickets for RubberDucks home games are available at akronrubberducks.com/tickets.