September 11: Schlesinger stellar, but Curve slam downs Ducks, 4-2
RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score Altoona Curve (30-37, 61-75) 4, Akron RubberDucks (31-35, 66-68) 2 WP: Michael Walsh (1-3) LP: Michael Kennedy (1-2) Save: None Summary RubberDucks left-hander Rafe Schlesinger threw a career-long 6 1/3 scoreless innings in his final start of the season and Akron collected 11 hits,
RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score
Altoona Curve (30-37, 61-75) 4, Akron RubberDucks (31-35, 66-68) 2
WP: Michael Walsh (1-3) LP: Michael Kennedy (1-2) Save: None
Summary
RubberDucks left-hander Rafe Schlesinger threw a career-long 6 1/3 scoreless innings in his final start of the season and Akron collected 11 hits, but Altoona first baseman Callan Moss’s two-out grand slam in the eighth lifted the Curve to a 4-2 win and fifth straight victory over Akron at Peoples Natural Gas Field Friday night.
✨A dazzling start by @SlushSlinger
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) September 11, 2026
6.1 scoreless innings, 4 hits, 2 walks, 5⃣ strikeouts@GuardsInsider @MLBPipeline pic.twitter.com/er6LewIR38
Turning Point
Altoona designated hitter Will Taylor and shortstop Keiner Delgado singled with one out in the eighth against left-hander Michael Kennedy. Kennedy struck out left fielder Jesus Castillo for the second out before walking third baseman Murf Gray to load the bases. Moss then drove an 0-2 pitch to left field for his 11th home run – his second grand slam – and a 4-2 lead. It was the third straight game the Curve scored the winning runs on a homer.
Mound Presence
Schlesinger gave up four hits and two walks with five strikeouts, lowering his Eastern League ERA to 3.98. He finished the season with three straight scoreless starts, totaling 16 innings. He left with one out in the seventh and Kennedy stranded two runners to finish the inning. Kennedy was charged with four runs on three hits in 1 2/3 innings and took the loss. Curve right-hander Matt Ager scattered nine hits over seven innings and allowed two runs, and right-hander Mike Walsh worked the final two scoreless innings for the win.
A web gem of a catch by @JaceLaViolette2! pic.twitter.com/swdxGUIwGm
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) September 12, 2026
Duck Tales
Catcher Bennett Thompson matched his career high with four hits. Akron broke a scoreless tie in the sixth, when center fielder Aaron Walton singled, stole second and scored on shortstop Welbyn Francisca’s single. Right fielder Jace LaViolette tripled home Thompson with two outs in the seventh. The RubberDucks went 4-for-14 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base, and Thompson was thrown out at the plate on a ninth-inning fielder’s choice.
Welbyn Francisca gives us the lead and extends a 4-game hitting streak to begin his Double-A career!
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) September 11, 2026
TOP 6 | Akron 1 | Altoona 0 pic.twitter.com/20MN8dSd7S
A "Lord Tubbington" RBI triple - his first in Double-A - by @JaceLaViolette2!
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) September 11, 2026
TOP 7 | Akron 2 | Altoona 0 pic.twitter.com/jgXbfzMMiN
Notebook
Schlesinger finished the season with 130 strikeouts, second-most in the Guardians organization…LaViolette’s triple was his first in Double-A…Akron outhit Altoona, 11-7…The Curve have won a season-high six straight games and six straight in the season series…Akron fell to 10-12 against Altoona in 2026 and 4-6 at Peoples Natural Gas Field…Game Time: 2:12…Attendance: 4,326.
On the Pond
The RubberDucks continue the series at Altoona at 6:00 p.m. Saturday at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Akron right-hander Ryan Degges (0-0, 3.33 ERA) is scheduled to face Curve right-hander Yonleg Gaetano in his Double-A debut. The game broadcast is on 99.7 Canton’s New Country, the 99.7 Canton’s New Country iHeartRadio channel, akronrubberducks.com, and the Bally Sports Live, MiLB and MLB apps. Tickets for RubberDucks home games are available on the MiLB app and akronrubberducks.com/tickets.