July 3: Mace start, Brito slam pace Akron to 6-0 win in Erie
July 3, 2023 RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score Akron RubberDucks (2-4, 37-38) 6, Erie SeaWolves (4-2, 41-33) 0 WP: Tommy Mace (1-2) LP: Sawyer Gipson-Long (5-5) Save: none Summary Akron right-hander Tommy Mace pitched six scoreless, one-hit innings, and second baseman Juan Brito hit a first-inning grand slam in
July 3, 2023 RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score
Akron RubberDucks (2-4, 37-38) 6, Erie SeaWolves (4-2, 41-33) 0
WP: Tommy Mace (1-2) LP: Sawyer Gipson-Long (5-5) Save: none
Summary
Akron right-hander Tommy Mace pitched six scoreless, one-hit innings, and second baseman Juan Brito hit a first-inning grand slam in a 6-0 victory over the Erie SeaWolves in the finale of a six-game series at UPMC Park Saturday night.
Tommy Mace was carving tonight
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) July 3, 2023
6 IP
1 H
0 R
2 BB
6 K pic.twitter.com/XtZWO950PD
Turning Point
In the top of the first inning, left fielder Petey Halpin hit a leadoff single to left field against right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long. Third baseman Angel Martínez also singled to left field, and designated hitter Johnathan Rodríguez singled to right field to load the bases for Brito, who hit Akron’s first grand slam of the season for a 4-0 lead.
Mound Presence
In his best start yet as a RubberDuck, Mace retired the first seven batters. He worked around a single and walk in the third inning and set down 10 in a row before a two-out walk in the sixth. He struck out six batters – one in each inning – and walked two batters. Right-hander Davis Sharpe pitched a perfect seventh inning. Right-hander Mason Hickman worked around a hit and walk to strike out the side in the eighth. Right-hander Bradley Hanner pitched a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts to finish Akron’s second shutout of the series and third of the season.
Our CF @connorkokx covering ground! pic.twitter.com/wkYrFJAQrE
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) July 3, 2023
Duck Tales
Akron added to its lead in the top of the fifth inning against right-hander Angel De Jesus. Center fielder Connor Kokx hit a one-out double to left field, and left fielder Petey Halpin singled to right field. Shortstop José Tena hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Kokx for a 5-0 lead. Rodríguez led off the sixth inning with his team-high 13th home run and 40th RBI to right field off right-hander Tim Naughton to extend the edge to 6-0.
Oppo taco @jjrodz55
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) July 3, 2023
Team-high 13th HR
First RubberDuck to 40 RBI
TOP 6 | Akron 6 | Erie 0 pic.twitter.com/gMJfJ8q0q5
Notebook
Rodríguez extended his season-long 11-game hitting streak…Martínez hit safely in all six games of the series, going 9-for-22 with four runs, a double and triple…Erie leads the season series, 6-3. In the six games in Erie this week, the SeaWolves outscored Akron, 23-16, and outhomered them, 9-4, but Akron pitched two shutouts, the same number pitched against Erie by all clubs in the first half…Game Time: 2:13…Attendance: 6,888.
On the Pond
The RubberDucks open a six-game homestand against Harrisburg at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday at Canal Park. Cleveland Guardians right-hander Peyton Battenfield is scheduled to make a rehab start against Senators left-hander Dustin Saenz (0-1, 7.53 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.