Aeros Notes
April 26, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
Game #17 - Home Game #11 - Sunday, April 26, 2009 - 1:35 P.M.
Akron Aeros (13-3) vs. Altoona curve (4-12)
Cleveland Indians Pittsburgh Pirates
Today's Starters: Akron - RHP Frank Herrmann (1-1, 2.12 ERA)
Altoona - LHP Tony Watson (0-2, 11.57 ERA)
Upcoming Probables:
Monday: OFF DAY
Tuesday: AKR RHP Hector Rondon (3-0, 1.10 ERA) vs. HAR LHP Justin Jones (1-1, 2.38 ERA)
Wednesday: AKR RHP Josh Tomlin (2-1, 3.38 ERA) vs. HAR LHP Ross Detwiler (0-2, 5.11 ERA)
Thursday: AKR RHP Steven Wright (1-0, 3.00 ERA) vs. HAR LHP Cory VanAllen (0-1, 6.75 ERA)
The Book on Frank Herrmann...
- High Strikeouts - 3, set 4/16 at Bowie - Most Hits Allowed - 5, set 4/9 vs. BOW and 4/22 (2) vs. HAR
- Longest Outing - 7.0 IP, set 4/16 at Bowie - Most Walks Allowed - 1 (three times), last 4/22 (2) vs. HAR
- Shortest Outing - 4.0 IP, set 4/22 (2) at Harrisburg - HR Allowed (Season) - 3
- Worked four innings in his last start by design so he could come back on short rest (three days) this afternoon
Led the Aeros with 11 victories in 2008
Throws a four-seam fastball between 88-92 mph, plus a two-seamer, slider, and changeup
Aeros are 2-1 when Herrmann starts
Last time out: Took a NO-DECISION in a 3-2 victory at Harrisburg 4/22 (2) (4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 2 HR, 2 GIDP)
UAEROS REGULAR SEASON BREAKDOWN ('09)
CURRENT STREAK...................................................... W1 LONGEST WINNING STREAK......................... 7 (4/17 - 4/24 (1))
LAST 5 GAMES............................................................. 4-1 LONGEST LOSING STREAK.................................. 1 (three times) LAST 10 GAMES........................................................... 8-2 BEST RECORD........................................................ 13-3 (April 25th)
HOME RECORD............................................................ 8-2 WORST RECORD..................................................... 2-1 (April 10th)
ROAD RECORD............................................................ 5-1 SEASON vs. ALTOONA................................................................ 5-1
Aerodynamics...
Blue Swede Shoes...Aeros starter Chuck Lofgren continued his dominant early-season performance yesterday, throwing six no-hit innings and retiring the final 16 hitters he faced in Akron's 4-3 win over Altoona. The "Big Swede" allowed a walk and hit a batter with two away in the first, but struck out Jason Delaney on a high fastball to end the inning and start his run. Along the way, Lofgren set a personal season-high with seven strikeouts, which were his most in almost a full calendar year (seven Ks against Altoona May 6th of last year). The left-hander also lowered his ERA to a sparkling 1.13 on the year, good for seventh in the Eastern League and just behind teammate Hector Rondon's 1.10 mark. Yesterday's outing followed Lofgren's start last Sunday in Bowie, in which he retired the first 10 batters of the game and took a no-hitter into the fifth.
Go Speed Racer, Go...CF Jose Constanza was the sparkplug at the top of the order once again yesterday, going 3-3 with a walk and a run scored and finishing a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. The native of Santo Domingo, DR reached on an infield single in the bottom of the first, legged out a triple down the left field line in the fourth, and cracked a double to right-center in the sixth before walking on five pitches in the seventh. It was the second three-hit game in two days for Constanza, who also went 3-4 in game one of Friday night's doubleheader. The hot streak has bumped his average up to a team-high .349 on the year (eighth-best in the Eastern League), and he leads the league with seven stolen bases.
Shaman...C Carlos Santana continues provide the pop in the Akron lineup, crushing a 3-1 fastball from Curve starter Daniel Moskos in the bottom of the fourth for his league-leading fifth home run of the season. Santana is hitting only .220 overall this season, but six of his 11 hits have gone for extra-bases, he's tied for second in the league in RBI with 15, ranks fifth in the league with a .540 slugging percentage, and he has more walks (10) than strikeouts (9).
History...Although this is still a guess in the literal sense, it's a very educated guess so here goes: This is the best start Akron has ever had. While it's still not 100% confirmed (and might not ever be because game-by-game results going back to 1989 are really hard to find), Akron's four highest win totals have been 87 in 2006, 84 in 2005, 88 in 2003, and 93 in 2002. The 2006 and 2005 teams were both just 9-7 through 16 games, the 2003 club was 8-8 through 16 games, and the 2002 squad was 10-6. Taking it one step further, the 1998 Aeros won 81 games en route to a first place finish in the Southern Division, but that team was 7-9 through 16 games. If anyone can shed more light onto our claim we kindly ask that they contact the Aeros Media Relations Department, but if not I feel confident saying that this 2009 team has the mark for best record to start a season all to itself.
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Eastern League Stories from April 26, 2009
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- Defenders Win 20-15 & Series 3-1 - Connecticut Defenders
- Mets rally for 4-3 win over Fisher Cats - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Curve rally for extra inning win - Altoona Curve
- Trenton falls to new Britain 11-3 - Trenton Thunder
- Aeros Notes - Akron RubberDucks
- Ian Desmond to DL and Adrian Alaniz joins Sens - Harrisburg Senators
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