Sept. 22: Game 2: Ducks beat Bowie, 8-5, stand one win from title

RubberDucks Game Recap – AA Northeast Championship | Box Score

Game 2: Akron RubberDucks (2-0) 8, Bowie Baysox (0-2) 5

WP: Xzavion Curry (1-0) LP: Grayson Rodriguez (0-1) Save: none

Summary

The RubberDucks scored six runs in the first three innings, while right-hander Xzavion Curry earned his first Double-A win, and Akron beat the Bowie Baysox, 8-5, to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five Double-A Northeast Championship Series at Prince George’s Stadium Wednesday night. The RubberDucks can clinch their first league title since 2016 as soon as Friday’s 6:05 p.m. Game 3 at Canal Park in Akron, with all remaining games at home if necessary.

Turning Point

In the first inning against Baysox right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, left fielder Will Brennan hit a leadoff double to left-center field, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on shortstop Brayan Rocchio’s sacrifice fly. Second baseman José Fermín walked, went to second on a groundout and scored on right fielder George Valera’s RBI double for a 2-0 lead.

TOP 1: Don’t mind us, just sliding into the lead! @rocchio05 lifts a sac-fly to bring home @Silly_Willy18 ahead of the throw!

AKRON 1 - BOWIE 0 #QuAkron pic.twitter.com/HaCtaZQABG

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) September 22, 2021

TOP 1: This guy is really good! @GV13__ doubles off the wall to double our lead!

AKRON 2 - BOWIE 0 #QuAkron pic.twitter.com/7JrsS6azcB

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) September 23, 2021

Mound Presence

In his second Double-A start, Curry only allowed two hits, including a second-inning solo homer by Bowie shortstop Gunnar Henderson. He walked two batters and struck out eight in five innings. Left-hander Ben Krauth pitched a scoreless sixth inning. Left-hander Jake Miednik struck out two batters in the seventh before allowing a walk and RBI double. Right-hander Nic Enright got the final out of the seventh, struck out the side in the eighth, and started the ninth. After an error, two hits and two runs, right-hander Aaron Pinto entered to record the final two outs to earn the save.

Here’s how the final out sounded @LaNaveMarco pic.twitter.com/qVYY2MB9N6

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) September 23, 2021

Duck Tales

Akron added four runs against Rodriguez in the third inning. Rocchio hit a one-out single, stole second base, and scored on Fermín’s infield RBI single. Designated hitter Bryan Lavastida hit an RBI double to right-center field, right fielder George Valera hit an RBI single and later scored on an error following third baseman José Tena’s double to make it 6-1. Lavastida added a seventh-inning RBI double, and Fermín hit a ninth-inning sacrifice fly.

TOP 3: JOSE JOSE JOSE!!! @JoseFermin29 with a hustle single that along with a little help brings home a run!

AKRON 3 - BOWIE 1 #QuAkron pic.twitter.com/DAIJEJD5az

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) September 23, 2021

TOP 3: Hot as lava! @Lavastida_ lines a double into gap to extend the lead some more!

AKRON 4 - BOWIE 1 #QuAkron pic.twitter.com/WrQWTdTVpn

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) September 23, 2021

TOP 3: Two hops this time! @GV13__ bounces one through the infield to bring home another!

AKRON 5 - BOWIE 1 #QuAkron pic.twitter.com/xF55SJm96Y

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) September 23, 2021

TOP 3: It is Tena time! Jose Tena picks up his first AA hit! A little help brings home another run!

AKRON 6 - BOWIE 1 #QuAkron pic.twitter.com/UGTYJHw4E1

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) September 23, 2021

TOP 7: Someone call a scientist because this is some red hot lava! @Lavastida_ with his second RBI double of the night!

AKRON 7 - BOWIE 1 #QuAkron pic.twitter.com/EaVQmaVDzr

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) September 23, 2021

Notebook

Including the regular season, Akron is 10-4 against Bowie, including 6-2 at Prince George’s Stadium and 4-0 in games started by Rodriguez, who is ranked as baseball’s top pitching prospect by MLB.com and Baseball America. He is 0-2 against Akron and 9-0 against all other opponents in 2021…Rocchio has a 14-game hitting streak and has reached base in 23 straight games…Fermín has a team-high five hits in the series…Time: 3:21 (0:59 rain delay)…Attendance: 1,153.

On the Pond

The RubberDucks and Baysox play Game 3 at Canal Park at 6:35 p.m. EDT Friday. Akron left-hander Konnor Pilkington (3-2, 2.33 ERA) is scheduled to face Bowie left-hander Drew Rom (3-1, 3.83 ERA). The game broadcast, powered by FirstEnergy, is on Fox Sports 1350 The Gambler, the iHeartRadio app, NEOSportsRadio.com and akronrubberducks.com, and available on MiLB.TV. Tickets are available at akronrubberducks.com/tickets.