The Akron RubberDucks (10-12) hit five home runs en route to an 11-2 win over the Bowie Baysox (11-11) in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Prince George’s Stadium.
Making a major league rehab appearance, LHP Zach Britton (1.0 IP, H, K) tossed a scoreless inning in relief for the Baysox. The southpaw threw 11 pitches in the frame and eight strikes.
Yu Chang’s solo shot off of Baysox starter John Means gave Akron an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second. The home run was Chang’s sixth of the season with five of those round-trippers coming against Bowie.
In the top of the third, Greg Allen drew a one-out walk and scored from first on a throwing error by Bowie 1B Aderlin Rodriguez to give the RubberDucks a 2-0 edge.
Bowie cut the lead to 2-1 with a run in the home half of the frame as Adrian Marin led off with a single, took second on a balk, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Glynn Davis’ RBI single.
Akron stretched the lead back to a pair with a run in the fifth as Eric Stamets drew a one-out walk, took second on a wild pitch, went to third on a groundout and scored when Tyler Krieger reached on an error by Marin at second base.
Means (1-1) was charged with the three runs (one earned) on two hits to go along with three walks and six strikeouts in 5.0 IP.
RHP Julian Merryweather (2-1) earned the win for the RubberDucks after allowing one run on four hits to go along with a walk and five strikeouts in six innings of work.
Akron broke the game open with eight runs in the seventh on the strength of four home runs. Dorssys Paulinodelivered a three-run shot, Bobby Bradley followed with a solo shot of his own, while Mike Papi and Eric Haase went back-to-back later in the inning. The runs were charged to RHP Jesus Liranzo (0.1 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 5 ER, BB, K) and LHP Jed Bradley (0.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB).
In the bottom of the eighth, Erick Salcedo led off with a double, advanced to third on a single and scored on DJ Stewart’s sac fly to cut the lead to 11-2 for Bowie.
The Baysox will open a three-game set with the Erie SeaWolves on Monday night at Prince George’s Stadium. First pitch of the series opener is set for 6:35 p.m. as RHP David Hess (2-1, 4.50) gets the ball for Bowie against Erie LHP Tyler Alexander (1-2, 4.58).
