Degges, Ducks Beat Curve and Rain, 3-2 in 6 Innings

RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score

Akron RubberDucks (32-35, 67-68) 3, Altoona Curve (30-38, 61-76) 2 (6 innings)

WP: Ryan Degges (1-0) LP: Jarod Bayless (2-2) SV: Dylan DeLucia (1)

Summary

RubberDucks right-hander Ryan Degges earned his first win of 2026 in his final start of the season, and Akron scored three times in the fifth inning to beat Altoona, 3-2, in a game shortened to six innings by rain at Peoples Natural Gas Field Saturday night. Akron’s victory snapped its five-game losing streak and Altoona’s season-long six-game winning streak.

Turning Point

Akron trailed 2-0 in the fifth, when shortstop Alex Mooney walked, moved up on a balk, and second baseman Christian Knapczyk walked to chase Curve right-hander Yonleg Gaetano in his Double-A debut. Catcher Kevin Rivas grounded out to advance both runners. Center fielder Jaison Chourio singled home Mooney against right-hander Jarod Bayless, and after Chourio stole second base, left fielder Aaron Waltonfollowed with a two-out, two-run single for a 3-2 lead.

Mound Presence

Degges retired the first nine batters of the night and allowed two hits and two runs with four strikeouts and two walks over five innings. The only damage was Altoona designated hitter Murf Gray’s two-run homer in the fourth. Right-hander Dylan DeLucia worked around a leadoff double in a scoreless sixth for his first save. Gaetano gave up two hits and walked four in four innings in his Double-A debut, and Bayless was charged with the go-ahead run.

Duck Tales

Walton finished 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Chourio singled, drove in a run and stole his 32nd base with Akron. First baseman Jake Fox and Mooney added singles, and the RubberDucks drew four walks. Akron managed five hits and went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Akron held the lead with great defensive catches. Chourio made a sliding catch to end the fifth inning on a line drive by shortstop Keiner Delgado with runners at first and third, and Mooney snared a liner by left fielder Titus Dumitru with the tying run at third base to end the sixth, before rain halted play.

Notebook

In the last four games, Walton is 6-for-14, including four doubles and four RBIs…The win was Degges’s first of 2026 and his first with the Guardians organization…Akron improved to 11-12 against the Curve in 2026 and 5-6 at Peoples Natural Gas Field…Game Time: 1:55 (:29 delay)…Attendance: 5,076.

On the Pond

The RubberDucks close the season at Altoona at 1:00 p.m. Sunday at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Akron right-hander Braylon Doughty (2-3, 5.04 ERA) is scheduled to face Curve left-hander Connor Oliver (4-6, 5.69 ERA). The game broadcast is on 640 WHLO, the 640 WHLO 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.