The Ducks get an “Obi-Win” in Canal on Star Wars Night

The force was with the Rubber Ducks on Star Wars night at Canal Park on a cold rainy Thursday in Akron. The Ducks opened their four game home series against the Altoona Curve, an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Altoona’s starting pitcher Brandon Waddell had the Ducks off balance early and often piling up six strikeouts in only three innings of work. Akron didn’t register a hit until the fourth inning when Bobby Bradley banged a triple off of the left field wall. It was a bullpen night for the Curve, and kept the Ducks at bay for the majority of the middle innings until the seventh when Akron’s catcher Eric Haase ripped a two RBI triple to give Akron the lead. Cameron Hill relieved Luis Lugo and pitched 2 and 2/3’s of scoreless ball to maintain the lead for the Ducks. Akron gave up the lead in the top of the ninth via sacrifice fly to even the nights proceedings at two a piece, and there was a collective groan from the fans that stuck around as the precipitation picked up in Canal. Rubber Duck’s designated hitter Joe Sever played the role of Luke Skywalker and saved the day for Akron, sending the fans home happy when he blasted a ball into the right center field gap for a walk off win. The Rubber Ducks improve to 11-14 on the season and play the Curve (15-10) again tomorrow night in Canal Park at 6:35pm.