RubberDucks Game Recap
Akron RubberDucks (31-24) 9, Somerset Patriots (34-20) 2
WP: Xzavion Curry (4-2) LP: Mitch Spence (2-3) Save: None
Summary
Akron right-hander Xzavion Curry struck out a career-high 12 batters in a career-long seven innings, and designated hitter Micah Pries hit two of the RubberDucks’ season-high four homers in a 9-2 victory over the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark Friday night. The win put Akron in a tie with Erie and Richmond (both 31-24) atop the Southwest Division.
Turning Point
The RubberDucks took a first-inning lead against Patriots right-hander Mitch Spence. Second baseman Brayan Rocchio walked, left fielder George Valera grounded a single to left field, and Pries drilled a go-ahead, three-run home run over the right field wall for a 3-0 lead.
Mound Presence
Curry became the first Akron starter to work seven innings in a game this season. He retired the first eight Patriots batters before allowing three straight two-out hits in the third inning, as Somerset right fielder Elijah Dunham’s two-run double trimmed the Akron lead to 4-2. Curry worked around two more hits over the next four innings, and he struck out the final four batters he faced. Right-hander Jared Janczak and left-hander Jaime Árias each pitched scoreless innings.
Duck Tales
Right fielder Jonathan Engelmann hit a third-inning, two-out solo home run to left field, extending the lead to 4-0. In the fourth inning, catcher Bo Naylor and Rocchio hit consecutive one-out singles. A balk by Spence scored Naylor, and Valera hit an RBI single to left-center field to make it 6-2. In the sixth inning, Naylor drew a walk, and Valera hit an RBI double for his third three-hit game and ninth multi-RBI game this season. Naylor added a home run for his season-high third hit in the eighth inning, and Pries hit his second homer of the night (and third in two games) in the ninth inning.
Notebook
The RubberDucks had their first four-homer game since hitting five on Aug. 12, 2021, in Reading…Curry’s 12 strikeouts were second-most by an Akron pitcher this season (Daniel Espino fanned 14 in Bowie April 23)…Pries had his second career multi-homer game and joined Valera as the RubberDucks with multi-homer games this season…Somerset fell 1.5 games behind Hartford (36-19) for first place in the Northeast Division…Game Time: 2:45…Attendance: 8,004.