Schubart and Schlesinger Lead Akron to 7-4 Series Finale Win

RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score

Akron RubberDucks (26-29, 61-62) 7, Somerset Patriots (30-27, 67-59) 4

WP: Rafe Schlesinger (4-4) LP: Bryce Cunningham (0-1) Save: Zach Jacobs (3)

Summary

Nolan Schubart launched two home runs to back seven strikeouts from Rafe Schlesinger as the Akron RubberDucks defeat the Somerset Patriots 7-4 on Sunday afternoon at TD Bank Ballpark to earn a series split.

Turning Point

Somerset looked to rally back against Akron in the bottom of the eighth. With three runs already home in the inning, the Patriots loaded the bases with one out. Akron reliever Izaak Martinez entered the jam and rolled a double play ball to short to escape the threat and keep Akron in front 7-4.

Mound Presence

Schlesinger was dominant on Sunday. The left-hander allowed just two hits and walked one over 5.1 scoreless innings while striking out seven in front of his family (the New York native grew up two hours away from TD Bank Ballpark). Michael Kennedy got the final two outs in the sixth. Jay Driver allowed a run in the seventh. Zane Morehouse allowed three runs (two earned) in his third of an inning before Martinez rolled the inning ending double play. Zach Jacobs tossed a perfect ninth to secure the win.

Duck Tales

Akron jumped ahead on the second batter of the game. Jace LaViolette launched a solo home run to right-center field to make it 1-0 Akron. Akron added another in the second on a two-out RBI single by Jake Fox. Schubart hit his first of two home runs on the day in the fourth when he opened the inning with a solo shot to right. Later in the inning, Fox joined the homer party with a two-run home run to make it 5-0 Akron. After Somerset added a run in the seventh, Akron answered in the eighth. LaViolette worked a walk before scoring on Schubart’s two-run home run to right.

Notebook

All four of Schubart’s hits in the series were home runs (two multi-home run games)…Fox’s home run was his first of the season…Both of LaViolette’s homers in the series were in the first inning off Somerset starter Bryce Cunningham…Akron hit 12 homers in the series (both teams combined for 24 home runs in the series)…Akron split the six-game series and took the season series 7-5…Game Time: 2:31…Attendance: 5,042.

On the Pond

The RubberDucks will have Monday off before returning to Akron to start a six-game series against the Richmond Flying Squirrels. The final homestand of the season at 7 17 Credit Union Park starts on Tuesday, September 1 at 6:35 p.m. The game broadcast is on 640 WHLO, the 640 WHLO iHeartRadio channel, and akronrubberducks.com, and available on Bally Live. Tickets for RubberDucks home games are available at akronrubberducks.com/tickets.