Akron RubberDucks one game from clinching Class AA Northeast championship

After defeating the Bowie Baysox in Game 2 of the Class AA Northeast Championship series, the Akron RubberDucks are one game from clinching the title.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Akron RubberDucks will look to haul out the brooms Friday as they hope to sweep the Bowie Baysox in the Class AA Northeast Championship series. Akron defeated Bowie, 8-5, in Prince George’s Stadium on Wednesday.

The potential title-clinching Game 3 is Friday, Sept. 24, at Canal Park in Akron.

Xzavion Curry’s first Double-A win came at a good time for the Ducks. Curry started the season with Lynchburg, was promoted to Lake County, and brought up to Akron on Sept. 14. Wednesday, he went five innings and allowed two hits and one run while striking out eight.

Bowie (parent club: Baltimore Orioles) had Grayson Rodriguez on the mound Wednesday. The 2018 first-round pick, 11th overall, is the top-rated pitching prospect by MLB.com and Baseball America. This season, he is 0-2 against Akron and 9-0 against all other teams in High A and Class AA.

The Ducks jumped all over the snakebitten Rodriguez, who allowed six runs – five earned – in 2 and 2/3 innings. Akron scored two in the first and never looked back. Five RubberDucks had two hits apiece in the game, marred by an hourlong rain delay.

Aaron Pinto, one of four relievers used by the RubberDucks, went two-thirds of an inning for the save.

Akron took the first game Tuesday, 5-1, and now returns for Game 3 at 6:35 p.m. Friday at Canal Park. Left-handers will face off: Konnor Pilkington (3-2, 2.33 ERA) goes for Akron against Drew Rom (3-1, 3.83 ERA). Broadcast is on Fox Sports 1350 The Gambler, iHeartRadio app, NEOSportsRadio.com and akronrubberducks.com, and on MiLB.TV. For tickets, go online.

The Somerset Patriots, who lost Sunday in Akron and were eliminated from the playoffs in a three-team race that went to the regular season’s final game, will have a vested interest in the games at Canal Park. Wednesday, the RubberDucks announced they will donate $1 of each walkup playoff ticket sold to the Somerset County, New Jersey, community. The area was ravaged by flooding from the recent effects of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Ida.

The Somerset Patriots Children’s Educational and Sportsmanship Foundation will be the beneficiary of the donation, the RubberDucks announced.

Fans also will have the opportunity to make donations during the game or games at Canal Park.

Today is a travel day. If needed, Games 4 and 5 are scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 25-26, with Canal Park gates opening at 5:05 p.m. Weather cancelations will push the schedule forward one day.

Related coverage

Akron RubberDucks jump to 1-0 lead in Class AA Northeast championship series vs. Bowie

Minor league baseball came back. Would fans care? Akron gives a clue – Terry Pluto

Akron RubberDucks begin playoff run tonight – schedule, times, info

Shane Bieber makes rehab start in Akron as RubberDucks clinch playoff berth

I am on cleveland.com’s life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. If you want to see my stories, here’s a directory on cleveland.com. Bill Wills of WTAM-1100 and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursday morning. And tune in at 7 a.m. Wednesdays for “Beer with Bona and Much, Much More” with Munch Bishop on 1350-AM The Gambler. Twitter: @mbona30.

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