Aeros Fall for Second Straight Night
Published on May 12, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
Akron, OH - Harrisburg shortstop Jose Lozada went 3-4, and drove in a key insurance run with an RBI single in the eighth inning Saturday night to help the Senators defeat the Akron Aeros, 6-5, at Canal Park.
With the game knotted 3-3, entering the fourth inning, the Senators (19-16) rallied against Akron starter Brett Brach (0-1) to take the lead for good. After Brach gave up back-to-back singles to lead off the inning, Harrisburg's Eury Perez moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Jeff Kobernus followed Perez, and smacked a sacrifice fly to right to break the tie for a 4-3 lead. One batter later, Jesus Valdez hit an RBI single to increase the Harrisburg lead to 5-3. With Lozada's RBI single, the Senators added a pivotal insurance run in the eighth inning that proved to be the game winner.
Harrisburg's Kevin Pucetas (2-1) tossed four scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win. Pucetas allowed just one baserunner and lowered his ERA to 2.14. Chrisitan Garcia came on in relief of Pucetas and allowed one unearned run to pick up his fourth save of the season.
The Aeros (22-11) lost for the second straight night, just the second time this season that they have lost back-to-back games. With the loss, the Aeros now hold a four-game lead in the Eastern League Western Division. Harrisburg remains in second-place with the win and maintains a 1.5 game lead over third-place Richmond.
Catcher Michel Hernandez turned in a 1-4, 4 RBI performance for the Aeros. In the process, Hernandez doubled his season RBI total to eight. Jared Goedert, who entered the game ranked second in the league in hitting, went 2-4, to raise his average to .380. Thomas Neal summoned a perfect 3-3 night to raise his average to .287.
Brach took the loss in his Aeros season debut, going 3 2/3 innings and giving up five runs. Bryan Price relieved Brach and pitched 2 1/3 innings of one-hit shutout ball. Kyle Landis closed out the game for the Aeros, not allowing a hit and lowering his ERA to 0.48.
Hernandez's three-run RBI double in the second inning gave the Aeros a 3-1 lead at the time. After the Senators took a 5-3 lead in the fourth, Chun Chen added an RBI single in the fifth to narrow the gap to 5-4. Akron added another run courtesy of an RBI groundout by Hernandez in the bottom of the ninth to come within one run of Harrisburg, yet could not manage another scoring opportunity.
The Aeros and Senators will meet in the final of their four-game series Sunday afternoon at 1:05. Tomorrow's game will also conclude the Aeros current seven-game homestand. LHP T.J. House (1-0, 2.25) goes for Akron against LHP Mike Ballard (1-2, 2.67) of Harrisburg. The game will also feature Kids Run the Show Day/Kids Club Day #2, Kids Club members in attendance will be randomly selected to help the Aeros staff run the show. Sunday is another Family FUNday: which features pregame catch on field, player autograph table next to the entrance of Infield Outfitters, kids entertainers, in game kids stampede on field, and post game kids run the bases, all sponsored by Smith Dairy. All Aeros games are broadcast on Fox Sports 1350 AM and online at www.akronaeros.com. For more information, please call the Aeros at 330-253-5151.
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