RubberDucks Game RecapRubberDucks 3 Curve 2WP: Neil Holland (1-0) LP: Miguel Rosario (0-1) Save: None SummaryOn Star Wars Night, Infielder Joe Sever used the "Force" to mash a walk-off double, breaking the tie to defeat the Evil Empire of Altoona 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning at Canal Park
RubberDucks Game Recap<o:p>
RubberDucks 3 Curve 2<o:p>
WP: Neil Holland (1-0) LP: Miguel Rosario (0-1) Save: None <o:p>
Summary<o:p>
On Star Wars Night, Infielder Joe Sever used the "Force" to mash a walk-off double, breaking the tie to defeat the Evil Empire of Altoona 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning at Canal Park Thursday.
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Turning Point<o:p>
Altoona rallied to tie the ballgame at two a piece in the top of the ninth. In the bottom half, Curve reliever Miguel Rosario walked leadoff hitter Mike Papi and proceeded the hit the next batter, Mark Mathias. With the winning run on base, Joe Sever stroked a double to deep center scoring Papi the winning run.
Winging It<o:p>
RubberDucks starter Luis Lugo tossed 5.1 innings allowing only one run on only three hits. Lugo struck out five but also walked four batters on the evening. Altoona starter Brandon Waddell went three innings allowing no hits and striking out six in his first start coming off the DL. Altoona pitchers combined to strikeout nine RubberDuck hitters. Cameron Hill came on in the sixth for Lugo and went 2.2 innings of hitless and scoreless baseball with three strikeouts. Hill now has thrown 9.1 consecutive scoreless innings in his last three appearances. Side-armer Neil Holland worked the ninth picking up his first win on the season with the RubberDucks.
Duck Tales<o:p>
Joe Sever delivered his second walk-off hit of the season, both coming against Altoona. Heading into the seventh inning the Akron offensive had one hit. In the seventh, the bats broke through with a leadoff infield single by Dorssys Paulino followed by a single into right by Mike Papi. With two runners on and no one out, catcher Eric Haase delivered a mammoth triple to deep center, which scored both runners. First baseman Bobby Bradley also tripled in the game in the fourth inning to left that ricocheted off the wall away from Altoona left fielder Jordan Luplow.
Notebook<o:p>
"May the fourth be with you"…The RubberDucks celebrated Star Wars Night at Canal Park on Thursday… Eric Haase's two RBI triple in the seventh broke a stretch of 18 consecutive scoreless innings for the Akron offense… The walk-off win was the second for Akron this season, both against Altoona and both were walk-offs by Joe Sever… Time of Game: 2:38…Attendance: 2,148.
On Deck<o:p>
The RubberDucks and Curve will continue the series on Friday night at 6:35. Right-hander D.J. Brown (0-1, 9.00) is scheduled to take the mound against Altoona's Yeudy Garcia (0-2, 6.43). The game will be broadcast on News-Talk WHLO 640 AM, the WHLO iHeart channel, and the TuneIn Radio App.
