RubberDucks complete sweep for Eastern League title

For the second time in five years, the Double-A Akron RubberDucks are Eastern League champions.

Behind a strong start from Nick Pasquale and a three-hit effort by leadoff man Greg Allen, the RubberDucks edged Trenton, 2-1, to complete a three-game series sweep of the Thunder in the Eastern League finals.

Pasquale, making his second playoff start, scattered four hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked one, with 48 of his 77 pitches going for strikes, while the lone run he allowed came on a Sebastian Valle solo home run in the fifth inning.

The performance capped a strong postseason for the right-hander, who tossed eight scoreless frames of one-hit ball to help Akron defeat Altoona, 1-0, and advance to the Eastern League finals.

Akron pushed across the game’s first run in the top of the third inning. Third baseman Ivan Castillo led off the frame with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Indians’ No. 20 prospect Greg Allen. Shortstop Eric Stamets followed with a single to left field to set the stage for right fielder Jordan Smith, who tallied his fourth RBI of the postseason with a groundout to shortstop.

The RubberDucks threatened to extend their lead in the following frame, as Mike Papi coaxed a leadoff walk and advanced to third base when Trenton right fielder …

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