The RubberDucks’ slide continues in Eastern League play, as the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians has played the opposite of their parent club, putting together an 8-22 month of June after Thursday’s 1-0 loss in Erie.
Somehow, despite the abysmal month, Akron is still right in the thick of things at the top of the Eastern League’s Western Division at 44-37, just a game and a half behind Altoona.
In other RubberDucks news and notes…
SIX ‘DUCKS MAKE ALL-STAR TEAM
Akron will be well represented at their All-Star Game, taking place later this month from the RubberDucks’ Canal Park.
Starting pitcher Shawn Morimando, reliever Perci Garner, catcher Jeremy Lucas, first baseman Nellie Rodriguez, and top prospect outfielders Clint Frazier and Bradley Zimmer were selected to represent the Eastern League’s Western Division in the 2016 midseason exhibition.
They will be coached on the squad by their very own coaching staff, including manager Dave Wallace, pitching coach Tony Arnold, hitting coach Tim Laker, and coach Luke Carlin.
KAMINSKY WITH ANOTHER QUALITY START
Left-handed pitching prospect Rob Kaminsky, acquired last season from the St. Louis Cardinals organization, has put together three straight good starts for Akron.
The 21-year-old southpaw allowed one run on five hits over six innings in a no-decision against New Hampshire on June 19. He followed it up with a win on June 24 against Trenton after allowing two runs on seven hits in five innings. In his last outing on Wednesday in Richmond, he took the loss despite allowing just two runs on two hits over seven innings. He struck out a season-high seven batters and walked one.
NEW FACES
Last weekend brought about a massive roster shuffle for three of the Indians minor league affiliates, with Akron a focal point of the changes. The club added three players from the roster of the High-A Lynchburg Hillcats, including two Carolina League All-Stars from earlier this month.
Starting pitcher Julian Merryweather was promoted on Sunday. He was 8-2 with a 1.03 ERA in eleven starts for Lynchburg prior to his move to Akron and was a member of the Carolina League All-Star team. He was hit hard in his first start for the RubberDucks, allowing nine runs on ten hits in four innings against Richmond on Sunday.
Catcher and fellow All-Star Daniel Salters joined his batterymate in heading north in a move made official on Monday. He has four hits in his first ten at bats at the Double-A level, with a double, run scored, and one RBI.
Claudio Bautista, who had spent the season playing second and third base for the Hillcats, has filled the same role for the RubberDucks in his first three games. He hit .263 with eight doubles, three homers, and 27 RBI in 58 games for Lynchburg in his second partial season at the High-A level.
ON THE MOVE
The RubberDucks also sent some players packing as a result of the roster transactions.
Nick Pasquale, who had just joined the Akron roster on June 18, was transferred back to High-A on Sunday. He made a pair of starts for the RubberDucks prior to the move, posting a 1-1 record with a 4.35 ERA while limiting the opposition to a .194 average. He was 2-1 with a 2.03 ERA in eight games (five starts) for the Hillcats after joining the club at the beginning of May.
Catcher Alex Monsalve, who had been used sparingly by the RubberDucks so far this season, also joined the Hillcats. He had played in 17 games for Akron in 2016, hitting .283 with two doubles, a triple, one home run, and seven runs batted in. He also missed a week of action on the disabled list in the third week of the month.
Infielder Angel Miguel, who had made his professional debut at the beginning of the month at the Double-A level, was shifted to Single-A Lake County.
BIG WEEK AT CANAL PARK
The RubberDucks have plenty of special events planned for the coming week of play at Canal Park as the team inches closer to hosting the All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 13.
A 5:35 PM Fourth of July start against Altoona will feature an Independence Day celebration and will be capped off by city of Akron fireworks.
On July 5 at 7:05 PM, the team’s special Two for Tuesday game will feature the cult movie classic “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”. July 6 is the Bark in the Park event, so bring your four-legged canine friends down to the park for some baseball. The final home game of the first half on Thursday is Country Music Night and Thirsty Thursday, featuring $1 draft beers and fountain sodas.
Photo: Mark Olson/MiLB.com
