July 9: Breakout offense and strong pitching guides Akron past Altoona 7-3

RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score

*Akron Black Tyrites (4-6, 44-35) 7, Jax Red Caps (7-4, 40-40) 3 *

WP: Zach Hart (1-0) LP: Luis Ortiz (3-6) Save: N/A

Summary

The Akron RubberDucks and Altoona Curve wore the uniforms of the Akron Black Tyrites and Jax Red Caps to honor the Negro Leagues on Saturday night at Canal Park. The Akron Black Tyrites broke out for 11 hits to back strong pitching and down the Jax Red Caps 7-3.

Turning Point

In the fourth inning with Akron down 1-0, Chris Roller knocked one past the third basemen for a single to put a runner on base for Julian Escobedo. Escobedo followed with a line drive into the Bud Light Lime Tiki Terrace to put Akron ahead 2-1.

Mound Presence

Tanner Burns started on the bump for the Black Tyrites and pitched around traffic throughout the night. Despite the base runners, Burns was able to toss four and two thirds’ innings allowing just one run while striking out seven. Zach Hart followed with two and a third scoreless innings striking out three in his Akron debut. Kyle Marman tossed two innings allowing two runs while striking out two.

Duck Tales

Akron kept the pressure on in the fourth innings when two singles by Brayan Rocchio and Bryan Lavastida followed by an error on a Micah Pries grounder stretched the lead to 3-1 Akron. Jhonkensey Noel’s followed with a sac fly to score Lavastida to make it 4-1 Black Tyrites. Jose Tena launched a solo home run to the Champions Club to extend the lead to 5-1. A Noel walk and a Raynel Delgado single was followed by a Roller RBI single stretched the lead further in the eighth before Delgado was able to score on a wild pitch making the score 7-1 Akron.

Notebook

Tena’s homered measured 419 feet and was his 73rd hit this season putting him second on team and ninth in Eastern League…Game time 2:42…Attendance 5,105

On the Pond

The Akron RubberDucks will conclude the series with the Altoona Curve on Sunday July 10, starting at 2:05 pm at Canal Park. Right-hander Gavin Williams (0-1, 1.69 ERA) will take the ball for Akron against Curve righty Quinn Priester (0-1, 4.09 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.