Early slam leads Akron to 18-2 win over 'Dogs

Akron, OH - Akron 2B Todd Hankins hit a grand slam and a two-run homer, and the RubberDucks (59-60) never looked back, beating the Portland Sea Dogs (45-72), 18-2 on Friday night at Canal Park in front of a sellout crowd of 7,674 fans. 

Rob Kaminsky (7-7) beat Portland for the second straight start, working six innings on 7 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. Jacob Dahlstrand took the loss for the 'Dogs, falling to 2-2. Dahlstand gave up the grand slam to Hankins, allowing 7 runs (6 earned) over 3.1 IP.

Yoan Monacada made his professional debut at third base, going 1-for-2 with a double and 2 walks.

Akron had 20 hits, scoring seven runs in the eighth inning on seven hits. Nellie Rodriguez went 2-for-5 with a homer and 5 RBI.

Trailing 7-0, Cody Decker blasted his team-leading 11th homer in the sixth off Kaminsky. Decker has homered in four of his last five games.

Akron built a 3-0 lead in the third inning off Dahlstand. Luigi Rodriguez (3 stolen bases) knocked in the game's first run with a fielder's choice and Jordan Smith provided a two-run double.

Aneury Tavarez went 1-for-4, extending his on-base streak to a team-high 16 games.

Taylor Grover worked 2.2 innings in relief of Dahlstrand, yielding two unearned runs, but fanned a season-high 5 batters.

Hankins' second homer was a two-run shot off Taylor Grover in the seventh, giving Akron an 11-2 lead.

The Sea Dogs and RubberDucks play the middle game of their series Saturday in Akron at 7:05 PM. RHP Keith Couch (8-4, 3.16) is slated to pitch for Portland against RHP Nick Pasquale (1-6, 5.10) for Akron. Pregame coverage on the WPEI U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network begins at 6:45 PM.

Portland returns home for a 5-game series in three days against the Altoona Curve (Pirates affiliate) on August 16-18. Tickets are available at seadogs.com or 207-879-9500.