Akron Wins Game 1, but Trenton Earns DH Split

(Akron, Ohio) April 16, 2014 - The Akron RubberDucks split Wednesday's doubleheader with the Trenton Thunder at Canal Park, winning the first game 4-3 with the help of some timely hits and solid bullpen work. In the second game, Trenton starter Zach Nuding held Akron to two hits in a 1-0 win, allowing Trenton to take the three-game series, two games to one.

Game 1 Recap - Akron 4, Trenton 3

Akron fell behind in the top of the third inning when Trenton outfielder Mason Williams led off the inning off RubberDucks' starter Cody Anderson (3.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K) with a single and stolen base before scoring on designated hitter Ben Gamel's single to left. The RubberDucks responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Outfielder Tyler Naquin dropped a bunt single, followed by a Francisco Lindor walk before an RBI double to right field by infielder Joe Wendle scored Naquin and sent Lindor to third. A sacrifice fly by designated hitter Bryson Myles scored Lindor to give Akron the 2-1 lead off Trenton starter Jeremy Bleich (loss, 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K).

Trenton tied it in the fourth on and RBI single by Williams, but Akron regained the lead 3-2 on a sharp Lindor single, which scored outfielder Jordan Smith who reached on a throwing error by Trenton 1B Kyle Roller. Akron made it 4-2 in the fifth when first baseman Jake Lowery knocked in Giovanny Urshela on a sacrifice fly.

Trenton cut the lead to 4-3 in the top of the seventh when Williams scored on catcher Gary Sanchez's ball to right field that Smith lost in the sun. However, Giovanni Soto picked up his second professional save, and first of the season, by getting Roller to ground out to second. Soto fired two scoreless innings with a hit, two walks and a strikeout. Francisco Valera picked up the win despite allowing a run during his two relief innings.

Game 2 Recap - Trenton 1, Akron 0

Trenton's Rob Refsnyder launched a first-pitch homer to left field in the top of the 2nd to score the lone run of the game that would hand the Thunder a 1-0 victory.

Trenton starter RHP Zach Nuding (1-0) recorded his first win of the season after retiring 10 straight batters over the last four innings. During his full seven innings of work, Nuding gave up two hits and one walk while striking out five batters. He threw a total of 94 pitches, 62 of which were strikes.

RHP Joe Colon (0-2) started on the mound for Akron and gave up five hits and a solo homer. In six innings pitched, he also allowed four walks and had four strikeouts before lefty Kyle Crockett threw a scoreless seventh inning.

Akron's two hits in the game came from a pair of singles courtesy of Naquin and Alex Lavisky. Cleveland Indian Jason Giambi ended the game going 0-2 with one walk and one strikeout.

The RubberDucks will open a three-game series against the Bowie Baysox on Thursday evening at 6:35 p.m. in Bowie, Maryland. RHP Will Roberts (1-1, 4.09) will start for Akron while LHP Tim Berry (0-0, 0.75) will start for Bowie.

The Akron RubberDucks are the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The 2014 season the 18th since moving to Canal Park and its first since becoming the RubberDucks. For more information and merchandise featuring the Akron RubberDucks, go to www.AkronRubberDucks.com or call 330-253-5151. The Akron RubberDucks are on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AkronRubberDucks and Twitter at @AkronRubberDuck.