July 30: Ducks' 5-run 7th sparks 7-4 win in Erie

July 30 RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score

Akron RubberDucks (46-28) 7, Erie SeaWolves (41-35) 4

WP: Thomas Ponticelli (4-2) LP: Chance Kirby (3-2) S: None

Summary

RubberDucks first baseman Marco González had hits in his first three at-bats, including a game-tying fifth-inning double and go-ahead seventh-inning single, starting a five-run seventh inning that lifted Akron to a 7-4 Friday night win and second straight victory over the Erie SeaWolves in the fourth game of a six-game series at UPMC Park.

We scored a run! 🤗🤗🤗

Marcos with the RBI Double! 💪 pic.twitter.com/naEUrKXDPG

— Akron RubberDucks 🐤 (@AkronRubberDuck) July 31, 2021

Turning Point

Erie right-hander Chance Kirby allowed only two hits and one run through the first six innings. In a 1-1 tie, he began the seventh by walking designated hitter Jonathan Engelmann, and second baseman José Fermín reached on catcher’s interference. With one out, catcher Bo Naylor singled to load the bases and chase Kirby. Right-hander Yaya Chentouf entered, and González hit a go-ahead single to right field, marking his first three-hit game of the season. Center fielder Steven Kwan added a two-out RBI single to left field, third baseman Andruw Monasterio hit a two-run single to center field, and shortstop Daniel Schneemann added an RBI single to center field, capping a five-run inning for a 6-1 lead.

Mound Presence

Akron left-hander Logan Allen allowed a first-inning solo home run to Erie first baseman Spencer Torkelson before retiring 13 of the next 14 batters, with the only baserunner on a third-strike wild pitch. He finished five innings, allowing one hit and no walks with five strikeouts. Right-hander Thomas Ponticelli began the sixth inning and retired the first seven batters he faced, before catcher Brady Policelli’s one-out homer in the eighth inning made it 6-2. Ponticelli yielded a double by Torkelson and two-run homer by third baseman Andre Lipcius in the ninth inning before finishing the win. He allowed three earned runs on three hits with a walk and two strikeouts in four innings.

Duck Tales

Akron trailed 1-0 from the bottom of the first inning until the fifth, when Naylor drew a two-out walk and scored from first base when González doubled to right-center field. The other RubberDucks run came in the ninth inning, when Monasterio hit a two-out single, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Schneemann’s second RBI single of the game.

Notebook

Akron has a two-game lead in the Southwest Division…Akron went homerless for the first time in the series but clinched a series split…Erie leads the season series, 12-10, with two games remaining…Time of game: 2:39…Attendance: 3,623.

On the Pond

The RubberDucks continue their six-game series in Erie at 7:05 p.m. EDT Saturday. Akron LHP Juan Hillman (7-2, 3.69 ERA) is scheduled to face SeaWolves RHP Elvin Rodriguez (3-2, 5.66 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 RubberDucks home games are available at akronrubberducks.com/tickets.