April 26: Davenport, RubberDucks win fifth straight, 6-2 in Altoona

April 26, 2024 RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score

Akron RubberDucks (11-8) 6, Altoona Curve (5-13) 2

WP: Aaron Davenport (2-0) LP: Braxton Ashcraft (0-1) Save: none

Summary

Akron right-hander Aaron Davenport held Altoona hitless until the fifth inning, and the RubberDucks scored four runs in the first four innings for a 6-2 win over the Curve and season-high fifth straight victory in the fourth game of a six-game series at Peoples Natural Gas Field Friday night.

Turning Point

The RubberDucks broke the scoreless tie in the second inning, as second baseman Christian Cairo hit a two-out double to left field off right-hander Braxton Ashcraft, and shortstop Milan Tolentino hit an RBI single to left for a 1-0 lead.

A @chriatiancairo2 double & @milantolentino single get it started!

Tolentino has 3 hits, 3 RBI this week in Altoona

TOP 2 | Akron 1 | Altoona 0 pic.twitter.com/oA0s4IVZdz

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 26, 2024

Mound Presence

Davenport retired the first nine batters of the game and worked around two walks in the fourth inning by getting a comebacker to start an inning-ending double play. He allowed a two-out walk and the first Altoona hit in the fifth inning to score a run. He allowed consecutive singles to start the sixth inning before being lifted. He went five innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits and three walks with three strikeouts. Left-hander Erik Sabrowski allowed an infield single that scored a run but retired the next three batters and struck out four in two scoreless innings. Right-hander Tyler Thornton pitched around a hit and an error to strike out three batters in two scoreless innings.

Duck Tales

The RubberDucks added to their lead in the third inning. Ashcraft walked center fielder Petey Halpin with one out and threw a wild pitch that sent him to third base. Designated hitter Aaron Bracho hit an RBI double to right field and scored on an RBI single by right fielder Alexfri Planez. Cairo led off the fourth inning with his second home run of the season to left field for a 4-0 lead. Akron added two runs in the sixth inning off right-hander Cameron Junker, as third baseman Dayan Frías hit a double to left field and scored after consecutive wild pitches. Cairo walked, went to second base on a throwing error, stole third base and scored on first baseman Joe Naranjo’s sacrifice fly to make it 6-1.

Aaron Bracho has RBI #13 on a 2-out double!

TOP 3 | Akron 2 | Altoona 0 pic.twitter.com/liToiEgpgr

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 26, 2024

STAY HOT Alexfri Planez

6 hits, 6 RBI the last 3 days

TOP 3 | Akron 3 | Altoona 0 pic.twitter.com/1j3gFIGeBE

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 26, 2024

🚀@chriatiancairo2 99 mph, 357 feet

Western Reserve Distillers 🍸 HOME RUN

TOP 4 | Akron 4 | Altoona 0 pic.twitter.com/07n4oseBlJ

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 26, 2024

Aaron Bracho flies into 3rd for his first @CAKairport triple of the season! pic.twitter.com/WtNTK3rqUr

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 26, 2024

Notebook

Akron has a five-game winning streak for the first time since Sept. 8-13, 2022, against Harrisburg and Bowie…Planez (four-game hitting streak) and Frías (three-game hitting streak) each have six hits over the last three games…Akron has won six straight over Altoona after the Curve won the season opener at Canal Park April 5…Planez and Frías each have six hits over the last three games…Game Time: 2:31…Attendance: 3,809.

On the Pond

The RubberDucks continue their series in Altoona at 4:00 p.m. Saturday at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Akron left-hander Ryan Webb (1-0, 1.35 ERA) is scheduled to face Curve right-hander Po-Yu Chen (0-1, 9.90 ERA). The game broadcast is on 640 WHLO, the 640 WHLO iHeartRadio channel, and akronrubberducks.com, and available on Bally Live. Tickets for RubberDucks home games are available at akronrubberducks.com/tickets.