September 8: RubberDucks drop shutout in Altoona, 3-0

RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score

Altoona Curve (26-37, 57-75) 3, Akron RubberDucks (31-31, 66-64) 0

WP: Connor Oliver (4-6) LP: Braylon Doughty (2-3) SV: Michael Walsh (4)

Summary

Akron put nine runners on base and stole four bases but went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, and left-hander Connor Oliver and two Altoona relievers combined on a four-hit shutout as the Curve beat the RubberDucks 3-0 in the opener of the teams’ final series of the season at Peoples Natural Gas Field Tuesday night.

Turning Point

The Curve broke through in the fourth inning against right-hander Braylon Doughty. Third baseman Murf Gray singled with one out, first baseman Callan Moss walked, and the two pulled off a double steal. After center fielder Lonnie White Jr. was hit by a pitch to load the bases, designated hitter Ivan Brethowr grounded a two-run single through the left side for a 2-0 lead.

Mound Presence

Doughty allowed eight hits and three runs with two walks and a strikeout in 5 1/3 innings, taking the loss in his 10th Double-A start. He left in the sixth after Moss tripled and White Jr. singled him home. Left-hander Michael Kennedy stranded that runner and worked 1 2/3 hitless innings, picking left fielder Titus Dumitru off first base in the seventh, and right-hander Cam Walty added a scoreless eighth. Oliver struck out four over five scoreless innings, and Landon Tomkins and Mike Walsh each worked two scoreless innings.

Duck Tales

All four Akron hits were singles, and the only RubberDuck to reach third base did so in the fourth, when designated hitter Aaron Walton walked and moved up on third baseman Luke Hill’s two-out single before second baseman Welbyn Francisca struck out looking. Left fielder Jaison Chourio singled and stole his 30th base with Akron in the first, and right fielder Ryan Cesarini singled and swiped his 14th in the third. First baseman Nolan Schubart walked twice and stole a base.

🦆 The first Double-A hit for Welbyn Francisca 🦆 @GuardsInsider pic.twitter.com/Iblx2kagwt

— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) September 8, 2026

Notebook

Akron was shut out for the 10th time, and first since a 1-0 loss to Altoona on July 23, and the RubberDucks had a four-game winning streak snapped…Akron turned three double plays…Altoona pitching struck out 11…The RubberDucks fell to 10-8 against the Curve in 2026 and 4-2 at Peoples Natural Gas Field…Game Time: 2:19…Attendance: 3,577.

On the Pond

The RubberDucks continue the series at Altoona at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Akron right-hander Sean Matson (1-8, 6.00 ERA) is scheduled to face Curve right-hander Dominic Pipkin (2-3, 4.46 ERA). The game broadcast is on 640 WHLO, the 640 WHLO iHeartRadio channel, akronrubberducks.com, and the Bally Sports Live, MiLB and MLB apps. Tickets for RubberDucks home games are available on the MiLB app and akronrubberducks.com/tickets.