2018 Akron RubberDucks Game Notes New Hampshire Fisher Cats (76-62, 1-0) vs. Akron RubberDuCks (78-62, 0-1) Toronto Blue Jays Cleveland Indians Eastern League Championship Series Game 2 • Wednesday, September 12, 2018 • 6:35 p.m. Canal Park • Akron, OH Radio: WARF 1350 AM • WARF iHeart Channel • TuneIn App | Television: MiLB.TV Today’s Starting PitChers: Wed. 9/12, 6:35 p.m. vs. New Hampshire Akron: RHP Kyle Dowdy (1-0, 2.70) N.H.: RHP Jon Harris (0-0, 0.00) UpComing Games and PitChing Probables (subjeCt to Change): Thu. 9/13—OFF Fri. 9/14, 6:35 p.m. at New Hampshire Akron: RHP Zach Plesac (0-0, 4.15) N.H.: RHP Jordan Romano (1-0, 0.00) Sat. 9/15, 6:35 p.m. at New Hampshire* Akron: LHP Sean Brady (1-0, 0.00) N.H.: RHP Hector Perez (0-0, 8.10) Sun. 9/16, 1:35 p.m. at New Hampshire* Akron: RHP Jake Paulson (0-0, 1.29) N.H.: RHP T.J. Zeuch (0-0, 1.50) * if necessary RubberDuCks News and Notes: Last Time Out New Hampshire’s Forrest Wall stroked a two-run single in the top of the 10th inning, and Travis Bergen notched his second save of the post-season, as the Fisher Cats slipped by the Akron RubberDucks, 3-1, in 10 innings in Game 1 of the Eastern League Championship Series Tuesday night at Canal Park in Akron, Ohio. WelCome to the ELCS The RubberDucks are in the ELCS for the 11th time in franchise history (twice as the Canton-Akron Indians, seven times as the Akron Aeros and now twice as the RubberDucks). Akron has claimed five ELCS titles (’03, ’05, ’09, ’12, ’16), including victories in their last three appearances. In its most recent ELCS action, the RubberDucks swept Trenton, 3-0, in 2016. Akron holds a 23-19 all-time record in the ELCS. Akron and New Hampshire are meeting in the finals for the first time. The RubberDucks… -hit .248 and outsCored Altoona, 21-11, in the ELDS. -qualified for the EL playoffs for the 17th time in franchise history (30 seasons). -were 3-3 vs. the Fisher Cats in the regular season, with the visiting team winning two of three in the opponent’s ballpark. -were 38-32 at Canal Park during the regular season and are 2-1 at home in the post-season, so far. -ranked 2nd in the EL in runs (665), 2nd in ERA (3.59), T-6th in batting (.250), 3rd in steals (132) and T-4th in defense (.978). Playoff Performers -RHP Jake Paulson has thrown 14 innings and allowed two runs in his two playoff appearances. -1B Nellie Rodriguez is hitting .263 (5-19), including a walk-off, solo homer in the 10th inning to win Game 2 over the Curve, 2-1. -OF Andrew CaliCa has driven in a team-high five RBI in the post-season, including three in Game 4 on Saturday at Altoona. About the Opposition New Hampshire is the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. The Fisher Cats are managed by EL Manager of the Year John Schneider. The franchise began in 2004, after relocating from New Haven, Connecticut, and won the EL championship in a three-game sweep of Altoona in its first season. The Cats won their second title in 2011, besting Richmond, three games to one. Notable alumni of the franchise include Yan Gomes, Kevin Pillar, Ryan Goins, Marcus Stroman, and Anthony Alford. On DeCk The RubberDucks and Fisher Cats will play Game 3 of the ELCS on Friday night at 6:35 at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. Akron Baseball: A Winning Tradition This is the 30th season of Double-A baseball in Northeast Ohio, and the 22nd in downtown Akron. The franchise began as the Canton-Akron Indians in 1989, and then moved to Canal Park in Akron as the Aeros in 1997. Known as the RubberDuCks since 2014, Akron has qualified for the Eastern League playoffs 17 times overall, and 11 of the last 17 years. The team has captured five Eastern League titles—2003, 2005, 2009, 2012 and 2016. Notable alumni of the franchise include Jaret Wright, Victor Martinez, CC Sabathia, Grady Sizemore, Charles Nagy, Cliff Lee, Jhonny Peralta, Danny Salazar, Jose Ramirez, Roberto Perez, Francisco Lindor, Giovanny Urshela, Tyler Naquin and Bradley Zimmer. Last Game ReCap Fisher Cats 3 RubberDuCks 1 (10)…Tuesday, 9/11/18 Summary New Hampshire’s Forrest Wall stroked a two-run single in the top of the 10th inning, and Travis Bergen notched his second save of the post-season, as the Fisher Cats slipped by the Akron RubberDucks, 3-1, in 10 innings in Game 1 of the Eastern League Championship Series Tuesday night at Canal Park in Akron, Ohio. Turning Point The Fisher Cats (1-0) loaded the bases with one out in the 10th inning on a single and two walks from Jordan Milbrath (0-1). Akron chose to bring in lefty Rob Kaminsky to face Wall, a left-handed batter. After getting ahead in the count, 2-0, Wall slapped a fastball into right field, scoring Andrew Guillotte and Santiago Espinal to give the Cats a 3-1 lead. It was Wall’s second hit of the night. Mound Presence In a matchup of the two top-scoring teams in the Eastern League, a pitcher’s duel broke out in Game 1 of the finals. Akron’s Jake Paulson (7.0 IP) and New Hampshire’s T.J. Zeuch (6.0) each allowed one run in his respective outing. Paulson scattered three hits, walked none and fanned four, while Zeuch tiptoed around four walks and four hits. DuCk Tales The Ducks jumped on the board in the first inning on a pair of walks by Zeuch and an RBI single by Nellie Rodriguez. The Cats tied it in the fourth on a run-scoring base hit by Josh Palacios. Akron got a pair of runners on in the eighth inning, but Kirby Snead (1-0) recorded a strikeout to strand both and then pitched a scoreless ninth. Bergen retired the side in order in the 10th, two via strikeout, to notch the save. Notebook The Ducks bounced into three double plays...Paulson has worked 14 innings and allowed two runs in the playoffs...The Ducks were 1-7 with runners in scoring position...EL MVP Cavan Biggio was 0-3, with a walk...The Fisher Cats are a perfect 4-0 in the playoffs and now hold a 1-0 lead in the best-of- five ELCS…Time of game: 2:59…Attendance: 3,012. RubberDuCks 2018 Field Staff #6 Tony Mansolino, Manager—Former minor league infielder Tony Mansolino is in his first season as manager of the Akron RubberDucks. Mansolino, 35, was named the 17th manager in franchise history on January 17, 2018. He replaces Mark Budzinski, who was promoted to the major league staff after managing the RubberDucks last season. This season marks Mansolinoi’s third as a manager in the Indians minor league system. A native of Newport Beach, California, and now a resident of Nashville, Tennessee, Mansolino managed the Class-A Lynchburg Hillcats last season. He was named Carolina League “Manager of the Year” after guiding the Hillcats to a stellar 87-42 overall record and a Carolina League co-championship. Mansolino made his managerial debut with the Lake County Captains in 2016. Drafted by the Pirates in the 26th round of the 2005 draft out of Vanderbilt University, Mansolino played professionally for six years in the minor leagues and was a career .231 hitter with 19 homers and 173 RBI. In addition to the Pirates organization, he also played in the Phillies minor league system and with three independent clubs before moving into coaching in 2011. He served as the RubberDucks hitting coach in 2015. Mansolino played four years for head coach Tim Corbin at Vandy, including an NCAA tournament appearance in 2004. Mansolino’s father, Doug, is the minor league field coordinator for the Phillies. #47 Rigo Beltran, Pitching Coach—After spending the past three seasons as pitching coach at Class-A Lynchburg, former major league left-hander Rigo Beltran will serve as the RubberDucks pitching coach in 2018. Beltran, 48, joined the Indians in 2014, following seven years as a pitching coach in the Reds organization. After being selected in the 26th round of the 1991 draft by the St. Louis Cardinals out of the University of Wyoming, Beltran went on to pitch professionally for 16 seasons. He appeared in 78 major league games with the Cardinals, Mets, Rockies and Expos, going a combined 2-3, with a 4.40 ERA. Born in Tijuana, Mexico, and now a resident of Delray Beach, Florida, Beltran served as the pitching coach for Mexico in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. #25 Kevin Howard, Hitting Coach—RubberDucks hitters will have the luxury of getting advice from a College World Series champion this season, as former University of Miami star Kevin Howard will serve as the RubberDucks hitting coach. This will be his fourth season as a hitting coach in the Indians organization. Howard, 36, was a sophomore infielder when the Hurricanes defeated Stanford to win the 2001 college baseball title. The following summer, he was drafted in the 5th round by the Reds and went on to play professionally for 10 seasons. Howard slugged 93 homers and drove in 540 runs during his minor league career. He was born in Hinsdale, Illinois, attended high school in Westlake Village, California, and now makes his off-season home in Miami Beach.