RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score
Akron RubberDucks (33-35, 68-68) 11, Altoona Curve (30-39, 61-77) 7
WP: Magnus Ellerts (2-0) LP: Tyler Owens (5-3) Save: None
Summary
Four RubberDucks homered, and right-hander Braylon Doughty matched a career high with nine strikeouts, as Akron won the season finale, 11-7, over the Altoona Curve at Peoples Natural Gas Field Sunday afternoon. With their first season-ending win since 2022, the RubberDucks finished 2026 at exactly .500 (68-68). Dean Curley, Jace LaViolette and Nolan Schubart all homered, and Welbyn Francisca added his first Double-A homer in the ninth.
Turning Point
Altoona erased a 6-2 deficit with three runs in the sixth and one in the seventh to tie it at 6-6, setting up a decisive eighth. Center fielder Aaron Walton reached on a strikeout by right-hander Tyler Owens and a throwing error by Altoona catcher Easton Carmichael, Francisca singled, Curley walked, and second baseman Luke Hill hit a two-run single up the middle to put the RubberDucks back in front, 8-6. Sacrifice flies from catcher Bennett Thompson and right fielder Jaison Chourio scored two more, extending a 10-6 lead the Curve never threatened again.
Mound Presence
Doughty worked 5 1/3 innings in his final start of the season, striking out nine but allowing five runs on a leadoff homer by Altoona shortstop Keiner Delgado and three straight hits in the sixth. He finished 2026 tied with Caden Favors for the second-most starts (25) in the organization, fifth in innings (109 2/3) and sixth in strikeouts (123). Right-hander Magnus Ellerts blew a one-run lead in the seventh but worked around it to pick up the win, and right-hander Carter Rustad allowed a run in the ninth before a double play and strikeout to end it.
Duck Tales
Curley hit a two-run homer to tie it in the second off left-hander Connor Oliver, and LaViolette hit a go-ahead homer in the third. First baseman Nolan Schubart hit his 15th Eastern League homer – and Guardians organization-leading 35th of the year – in the fifth. Francisca added a two-out solo shot in the ninth.
Notebook
Aaron Walton, the only Guardians farmhand to reach 100 runs scored entering the day, crossed twice more to finish with 102…Jaison Chourio ended the year with 42 steals, one shy of Tommy Hawke for outright second in the organization…Schubart drew a walk to finish with 103…Akron scored 767 runs this season, one shy of the franchise record (768) by Canton-Akron in 1996…The RubberDucks and Curve finished the season series even at 12-12, including 6-6 at Peoples Natural Gas Field…Game Time: 2:46…Attendance: 5,028.
On the Pond
Akron opens 2027 at home against the Erie SeaWolves on Friday, April 2, at 717 Credit Union Park. Tickets for RubberDucks home games are available on the MiLB app and akronrubberducks.com/tickets.