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Akron Beacon Journal
RubberDucks vs SeaWolves score | Akron nearly no-hit by Erie in Eastern League playoffs
By Brad Bournival, Akron Beacon Journal,
17 hours ago
The Akron RubberDucks lost 3-0 to reigning Eastern League champion Erie SeaWolves on Tuesday to open the three-game Eastern League's Southwest Division playoff series at Canal Park.
Erie pitching kept the Ducks silent for seven innings before an infield hit by Milan Tolentino handcuffed Gage Workman behind the bag at short to start the eighth. It was the only hit of the night for the RubberDucks.
It would have been the sixth no-hitter in franchise history for Erie and the second no-no against Akron (Thad Webber, 2009)
Here's how the game unfolded through our live updates:
A must-win Game 2 awaits Akron when the series moves to Erie on Thursday where RubberDucks left-hander Parker Messic (4-1, 2.06) faces Erie southpaw Carlos Pena (8-6, 3.49).
Austin Murr launched a two-run double to right-center to plate Brady Allen and Carlos Mendoza and took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the eighth.
Matt Seelinger opened the inning with a walk and Milan Tolentino broke up the no-hitter with a sharp shot behind second base that Gage Workman knocked down. Workman got back to the ball, but didn't have a play. Seelinger still got out of the inning to keep it a three-run lead.
Morehouse opened the top of the seventh with a strikeout and then induced two flyouts to keep it a 1-0 deficit for the Ducks.
The pitch count (96) pushed Austin Bergner from the game. he went six innings of no-hit ball, walked two and struck out nine.
Matt Seelinger replaced Bergner, opened with strikeouts to CJ Kayfus and Kody Huff and made a solid play on a comebacker to the mound of the bat of Kahlil Watson.
Ducks right-hander Austin Peterson finished his outing by going 5 2/3 innings of five-hit ball. He gave up a home run to Gage Workman in the first inning, struck out three but didn't walk any. Zane Morehouse came in to get the final out.
Austin Bergner is two-thirds of his way through a no-hitter for the SeaWolves. The right-hander has thrown 96 pitches. He's allowed two walks and struck out an Erie record nine strikeouts through six.
Ben Malgeri doubled to open up the inning and Max Anderson followed with a single to put runners on the corners for the SeaWolves. It all went for naught when first baseman Kody Huff threw Malgeri out at the plate on a fielder's choice. Brady Allen followed with a 5-4-3 double play to keep things 1-0 Erie.
Austin Bergner's nine strikeouts through five innings ties a SeaWolves record (Reese Olson vs. Richmond, Game 1 2022 Division Series; Ty Madden vs. Richmond Game 2 2023 division series). He's still got a no-hitter, has nine strikeouts and has only allowed walks to Yordys Valdes and Kody Huff.
Gage Workman opened the inning with a single to right but was double up on a line out to right for the Erie SeaWolves. Austin Peterson got Liam Hicks to fly out to center to end the frame. The RubberDucks righty has allowed three hits through four.T
The base hit by Workman made him the first SeaWolves player to have 10 postseason hits. The previous record was nine as Shawn Wooten went 9-of-16 in the 1999 division series.
Bergner still has his no-hit bid intact through and has walked only Kody Huff and Yordys Valdes.
That's nothing new for the right-hander.
Bergman came into the game with 10 starts against the RubberDucks. The right-hander has struck out 42 batters during that time and is 3-0. He's walked 12 in 31 innings and has a 3.77 earned run average.
Austin Peterson gave up a two-out single to Carlos Mendoza, but got Austin Murr to fly out to centerfield. The Eastern League leader in strikeouts ahs thrown 38 pitches and given up just the home run to Gage Workman in the first and base knock to Mendoza in the third.
Austin Bergner gave up a one-out walk to Yordys Valdes, but struck out Dayan Frias, Cooper Ingle and Guy Lipscomb to get out of it. The right-hander still has a no-hitter. He's walked two and struck out seven through three innings.
Peterson has looked great for the Ducks through two with just the one bad pitch in the first inning. The right-hander opened the second with strikeouts to Liam Hicks and Ben Malgeri and then induced a fly out to center field to close out a solid inning.
Kody Huff started the bottom of the frame with a walk, but was left stranded. It's still 1-0 SeaWolves after two.
Gage Workman, who led the Eastern League in home runs this season, sent a no-doubt-about-it home run over the porch in right field to give Erie a 1-0 lead. Austin Bergner sent the Ducks down in order with one ball hit in play.
Workman now has three postseason home runs for the SeaWolves, which is tied for first with Jake Holton. Chris Meyers and Eric Munson are the only other SeaWolves with more than one home run in the playoffs as both have 2.
Tale of the tape between the Akron RubberDucks and Erie Seawolves
Erie won the first half of the Southwest Division with a 38-29 record to edge out the Harrisburg Senators by a game. Akron went 43-26 to win the second-half title and topped the SeaWolves by 3½ games. The Ducks have the best overall record in the Eastern League at 80-58. Erie is second at 77-58. The winner plays the Northeast Division champion next week. That playoff series pits the Hartford Yard Goats (76-60) against the Somerset Patriots (75-62).
Right-hander Austin Peterson (14-4, 2.64 ERA) will start for Akron tonight. Right-hander Austin Bergner (3-4, 4.72) goes for Erie.
Format and how to watch, listen to the Eastern League Southwest Division Championship
The only home game the RubberDucks have in the first round is Tuesday. Wednesday is an off day. the Ducks travel to Erie on Thursday and Friday for the finale. All games will be broadcast on 640-AM and can be seen on MILB.TV or ballylive.com . All games begin at 6:35 p.m.
Eastern League playoff history for the Akron RubberDucks and Erie SeaWolves
Akron first baseman C.J. Kayfus (.263, 10 home runs, 55 RBIs) is ranked fifth in the Guardians organization by MLB.com. Catcher Cooper Ingle (.281, two HRs, 12 RBIs) is ranked 14th. Peterson is one of only four pitchers in minor and major league baseball with more than 130 strikeouts and less than 30 walks. He has 159 strikeouts and 21 walks. The other three pitchers are in the majors.
Erie is led by second baseman Max Anderson (.266, 11 home runs, 76 RBIs between West Michigan and Erie), who is the No. 18 prospect in the Detroit organization. Third baseman Gage Workman leads the Eastern League in RBIs (89) and is third in home runs (18).
Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival
SeaWolves beat reporter Thomas Reisenweber contributed to this story.
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