August 17: Rocchio and Delgado pace Ducks offense in 10-4 win over Erie
RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score Akron RubberDucks (22-18, 62-47) 10, Erie SeaWolves (27-13, 66-43) 4 WP: Robert Broom (3-1) LP: Sawyer Gipson-Long (1-1) Save: Mason Hickman (1) Summary Led by four hits from Brayan Rocchio and four RBI from Raynel Delgado, the Akron RubberDucks offense explodes to pull away
RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score
Akron RubberDucks (22-18, 62-47) 10, Erie SeaWolves (27-13, 66-43) 4
WP: Robert Broom (3-1) LP: Sawyer Gipson-Long (1-1) Save: Mason Hickman (1)
Summary
Led by four hits from Brayan Rocchio and four RBI from Raynel Delgado, the Akron RubberDucks offense explodes to pull away from the Erie SeaWolves 10-4 on Wednesday night at UPMC Park.
Turning Point
After watching Erie slowly drain the lead down to one run entering the ninth, the RubberDucks looked for insurance. After back-to-back singles by Micah Pries and Jhonkensy Noel put runners on the corners, Johnathan Rodriguez lifted a sac-fly to score Pries to make it 6-4 Akron. A Daniel Schneemann double and a hit-by-pitch to Chris Roller loaded the bases with still just the one out. Raynel Delgado unloaded the bases with a liner off the left-center wall to make it 9-4 RubberDucks. Akron loaded the bases once more in the ninth before Bryan Lavastida lifted a sac-fly to make it 10-4 Ducks.
Insurance is never a bad thing! @jjrodz55 lifts a deep sac fly to get us some breathing room!
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) August 18, 2022
TOP 9: Akron 6 | Erie 4 pic.twitter.com/ZkqKVZkbKH
Those bases look a little full, mind if we unload them!? @RayDelgado15 launches a double off the wall to score everyone!
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) August 18, 2022
TOP 9: Akron 9 | Erie 4 pic.twitter.com/70bsKE5enb
Oh it’s the big inning! @Lavastida_ adds on some more with a sac-fly!
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) August 18, 2022
TOP 9: Akron 10 | Erie 4 pic.twitter.com/AXyEOaf1hb
Mound Presence
Thomas Ponticelli got the start for Akron and cruised through the first four innings only allowing one runner past second base. The SeaWolves chased Ponticelli in the fifth after scoring two runs, ending his night with four and two thirds’ innings pitched allowing the two runs while punching out four. Robert Broom followed with two and two thirds’ innings pitched allowing two runs (one earned) while striking out three. Mason Hickman tossed two scoreless innings in his Double-A debut.
Duck Tales
Akron jumped on the board quickly in the first. Jose Tena tripled to lead off the game and came home to score on a Brayan Rocchio single to make it 1-0 Ducks. Delgado lifted a sac-fly in the second inning to score Schneemann and make it 2-0 Akron. Lavastida kept the early offense going in the third inning when he launched a solo home run to open the frame and make it 3-0 RubberDucks. Akron kept the pressure on in the fourth when Rocchio doubled home Delgado before Pries reached on a fielder’s choice to score Tena and make it 5-0 RubberDucks.
Hey we like to start fast! @rocchio05 singles home Tena to give us the lead two batters in!
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) August 17, 2022
TOP 1: Akron 1 | Erie 0 pic.twitter.com/j1cI5FcFiF
Great teammate things! @RayDelgado15 lifts a sac-fly to stretch the lead!
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) August 17, 2022
TOP 2: Akron 2 | Erie 0 pic.twitter.com/fATgFcQK3G
Green light! @Lavastida_ launches the 3-0 pitch way out of Erie for his second 💣 of the series!
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) August 17, 2022
TOP 3: Akron 3 | Erie 0 pic.twitter.com/2hGGlT1QAD
We really like runs! @rocchio05 stays hot with his second RBI today on the double!
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) August 17, 2022
TOP 4: Akron 4 | Erie 0 pic.twitter.com/5H5tLgAUNb
Notebook
All nine Akron starters recorded a hit in the win…Second time this season the RubberDucks offense has recorded 16 hits in a game (6/22 vs Harrisburg), which is the third most hits in a game this season…Rocchio’s four hits tie his career-high for most in a single game…Delgado’s four RBI tie a career-high for most in a single game…Game Time: 2:59…Attendance: 3,133.
On the Pond
The RubberDucks will continue the series with the Erie SeaWolves on Thursday, August 18 with a doubleheader starting at 5:05 p.m. at UPMC Park. Righty Tanner Burns (2-4, 3.45 ERA) will take the mound for Akron in game one against Erie right-hander Reese Olson (5-5, 4.40 ERA). The game broadcast, powered by FirstEnergy, is on 640 WHLO, the 640 WHLO iHeartRadio channel, and akronrubberducks.com, and available on MiLB.TV. Tickets for all RubberDucks home games, are available at akronrubberducks.com/tickets.