Guardians Baseball Insider

Akron offense propels ‘Ducks to 4-2 series win against the last-place Senators

The eventual winner of the AA Northeast League-Southwest Division will have earned it because in mid-July, there are five teams within 2.5 games of one another. The Akron RubberDucks (38-26) are currently fending off the four other hounds behind them in the standings. Akron returns home after a two-week road spell to face the Richmond Flying Squirrels in a six-game set at Canal Park.

Last week, the RubberDucks started the series in eastern Pennsylvania with three consecutive victories against the Senators. In all three games, Akron scored eight or more runs to take a commanding series lead. Harrisburg bounced back with a Friday win where their bats got hot, scoring 10 runs. Saturday’s game was halted in the second inning, and continued on Sunday where the teams split the make shift doubleheader to close the week.

Day-by-Day:

7/13: W, 8-3 @ Harrisburg; W: Tanner Tully (3-3), L: Mario Sanchez (2-6)

7/14: W, 11-2 @ Harrisburg; W: Skylar Arias (5-0), L: Tim Cate (2-4)

7/15: W, 10-6 @ Harrisburg; W: Ben Krauth (1-0), L: Malvin Pena (0-1)

7/16: L, 4-10 @ Harrisburg; W: Luis Reyes (7-5); L: Adam Scott (0-1)

7/17: L, 5-6 @ Harrisburg (F/11); W: Aaron Barrett (1-1), L: Juan Mota (2-1) *Game suspended (weather) and finished 7/18*

7/18: W, 5-1 @ Harrisburg (F/7); W: Tanner Tully (4-3), L: Cade Cavalli (0-3)

Transactions:

• 7/15: OF Austen Wade released, OF Clark Scolamiero transferred from Lake County to Akron
• 7/16: INF Marcos Gonzalez placed on IL
• 7/17: INF Jose Fermin activated from IL
• 7/18: INF Tyler Freeman activated from IL, C Angel Lopez placed on Development List

Player of the Week:

2B Richie Palacios: 11-25 (.440 BA), 9 R, 4 2Bs, 2 HRs, 10 RBIs, 2 BBs, 3-3 SB, 1.304 OPS

“The Bringer of Swag” Richie Palacios had a week highlighted by a 5-for-5 game on Wednesday and led the RubberDucks with 21 total bases. Two of Palacios’ four doubles came in the 11-2 victory and he has the team lead with 22 doubles in 2021. He drove in eight runs for Akron and came around to score six times in the first three games of the set. In road games this year, the Towson alum has a .905 OPS and has turned it on in the month of July with a .328 batting average.

Who’s Hot:

3B Andruw Monasterio: 11-26 (.423 BA), 8 R, 2B, 3B, HR, 8 RBIs, 2 BBs, 4-5 SB, 1.118 OPS

The Venezuelan Monasterio turned in an elite week as well for the RubberDucks in Harrisburg. He tied Palacios with 11 base knocks, including at least one in all six contests. Monasterio drove in seven runs in Sunday’s doubleheader games, four coming in the series finale. This season, he is second on the team in RBIs with 33. He also showcased his ability to run, with a stolen base in each game. This week alone, he stole four of his six swiped bags on the year.

C Bo Naylor: 3-12 (.250 BA), 4 R, 2 HRs, 5 RBIs, 3 BBs, 1.150 OPS

Naylor continues to up his batting average in every month this season. In July, he is hitting .265 and was invited to the Future’s Game in Colorado last weekend. His most consistent attribute is his ability to defend behind the plate; no one wanted to take a chance on moving up a base with him behind the dish in three games this week. The 2018 First Round selection homered in three straight appearances dating back to last series, showing he is developing pop in his bat, an ingredient that has been missing all year.

SP Tanner Tully: 2-0, 1.80 ERA, 10.0 IP, 12 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 12 Ks

Tully got two starts in the six game stretch and came out on top in both. He went 4.0 innings in the first game, surrendering five hits and a run. He struck out four and allowed one to reach via the walk. His second outing in Sunday’s 7-inning game was one of his best of the season. The former Ohio State Buckeye went six strong innings with seven hits, one run and a season-high eight K’s.

SP Logan T. Allen: 2 G, 1.08 ERA, 8.1 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 Ks

Logan Allen has arrived. His first AA start was pushed due to a rainout on Sunday to Tuesday, which allowed him to make two appearances in the series at Harrisburg. His first start was four shutout innings, allowing just two hits and striking out six. Allen went 4.1 innings on Sunday when he entered the game that was suspended due to weather. In that one, he struck out four and allowed just one run to come across on five hits and a walk.

SP Cody Morris: 1 G, 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 Ks

The University of South Carolina product is making up for lost time on the Injured List in a big way in his two starts on Akron so far. Against the Senators, Morris threw four innings of shutout baseball and struck out six hitters. A different look to his delivery has been key to success, as well as a new aspect of his game: throwing solely out of the stretch. So far, so good for Morris as he gets to make his first start at Canal Park this week.

Who’s Not:

C Mike Rivera: 0-14 (.000 BA), 1 R, 2 BBs

Naylor’s counterpart Mike Rivera has been struggling of late after a hitless week in four outings. He was able to walk twice and score a run, but he is looking for a big bounce back week at home against the Flying Squirrels. Since being returned to the RubberDucks from AAA Columbus, Rivera is 3-for-33 at the plate.

SP Juan Hillman: 1 G, 4.2 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 6 Ks

It was a tough outing for the left-handed throwing Juan Hillman on Thursday, as he allowed six to come across on 10 hits and two walks. Akron came from behind to win the game after a five-run sixth inning for the ‘Ducks. Hillman gave up two homeruns in the game, only the second time that has happened to him all season.

Up Next:

7/20: vs Richmond (6:35 pm)

7/21: vs Richmond (12:05 pm)

7/22: vs Richmond (6:35 pm)

7/23: vs Richmond (7:05 pm)

7/24: vs Richmond (7:05 pm)

7/25: vs Richmond (2:05 pm)