B-Mets Spoil Opening Night with 2-1 Win over Aeros
April 4, 2013 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
Akron, OH - Canal Park was decked out in grand fashion for the 2013 season opener Thursday night, and a spectacular new video scoreboard and message center greeted 6,273 fans. On the field, however, it was 22-year-old Binghamton Mets righthander Rafael Montero who stole the show.
The young B-Mets pitching prospect was almost as brilliant as the picture on the 1768-square foot HD widescreen in right-center field. Montero used his lively fastball and a devastating slider to notch eight strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings to earn a 2-1 victory over the Aeros.
Montero, ranked 5th among Mets prospects by Baseball America, gave up a two-out single to Carlos Moncrief in the first inning and then retired the next 15 Akron batters in a row. In his first game at the Double-A level, Montero did not issue a walk.
Staked to a 2-0 lead, Montero (1-0) was finally lifted in the bottom of the sixth after giving up a two-out single to Tyler Holt. Binghamton reliever Adam Kolarek entered the game and uncorked a wild pitch, moving Holt to second, and then yielded an RBI single to Jose Ramirez, making it 2-1.
Kolarek pitched a scoreless seventh and then gave way to closer Jeff Walters who tossed scoreless ball the final two innings to notch his first save.
Aeros starter Danny Salazar was equally impressive in his initial outing of the season, going five innings and allowing just two hits and one run. In his fifth and final inning, he allowed a walk and back-to-back singles to load the bases with one out. He induced a sharp grounder to second off the bat of Wilfredo Tovar, but instead of a double play, the ball was dropped by second baseman Jose Ramirez. Ramirez recovered to get the out at first, but a run scored to make it 1-0.
Salazar, who was a perfect 4-0 with the Aeros last year, walked two and struck out five. He showcased his fastball, which touched 95 mph, and a major-league caliber change-up.
The B-Mets made it 2-0 on a solo home run by former Aeros shortstop Josh Rodriguez in the top of the sixth off reliever Cole Cook.
Ramirez, one of two 20-year-olds on the team, was 2-4, with an RBI in his Double-A debut.
The Aeros and Mets will play game two of the series on Friday evening at 6:35. Righthander Cory Mazzoni will start for the Mets, and lefty T.J. House will get the ball for the Aeros. Post-game fireworks will follow the action. All Aeros games are broadcast on Fox Sports 1350 AM and online at www.sportsradio1350.com.
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Eastern League Stories from April 4, 2013
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- B-Mets Spoil Opening Night with 2-1 Win over Aeros - Akron RubberDucks
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