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Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Media Notes

September 2, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


Game #137 - Road Game #72 - Wednesday, September 2, 2009 - 6:35 P.M. Akron Aeros (83-53) at Altoona Curve (60-76)

Cleveland Indians Pittsburgh Pirates

Today's Starters: Akron - LHP Scott Barnes (1-2, 7.20 ERA)

Altoona - RHP Mike Crotta (6-8, 4.95 ERA)

Upcoming Probables:

Thursday: AKR LHP Eric Berger (2-1, 3.18 ERA) at ALT LHP Kyle Bloom (6-8, 3.96 ERA)

Friday: AKR RHP Josh Tomlin (13-9, 4.30 ERA) vs. ERI TBA

Saturday: AKR RHP Jeanmar Gomez (10-4, 3.38 ERA) vs. ERI TBA

Sunday: AKR RHP Connor Graham (1-3, 5.13 ERA) vs. ERI TBA

The Book on Scott Barnes (with Akron, Class A San Jose and Class A Kinston)... - High Strikeouts - 10, set 6/26 vs. Stockton - Most Hits Allowed - 8, set 7/12 at VIS and 7/29 at W-S - Longest Start - 8.0 IP, set 7/18 vs. Modesto - Most Walks Allowed - 4, set 5/10 at MOD and 8/23 at ERI

- Shortest Start - 3.2 IP, set 5/5 at Bakersfield - HR Allowed (Season) - 14

Acquired from San Francisco Giants in exchange for Ryan Garko July 28th Rated by Baseball America as the no.-9 prospect in the Giants organization entering the season Has racked up 127 strikeouts and issued only 43 walks in 130.2 innings this year between Akron, San Jose and Kinston Throws a four-seam fastball between 90-93 mph, as well as a circle-change and a curve Aeros are 2-2 when Barnes starts; San Jose was 14-4 and Kinston was 1-2 Last time out: Took the LOSS in a 3-1 defeat vs. Binghamton 8/28 (4.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HB, 2 WP, 1 GIDP) UAEROS REGULAR SEASON BREAKDOWN ('09)

CURRENT STREAK...................................................... W2 LONGEST WINNING STREAK....... 7 (4/17-4/24 (1) and 7/27 - 8/2)

LAST 5 GAMES............................................................. 3-2 LONGEST LOSING STREAK.................................... 6 (7/9 - 7/16) LAST 10 GAMES........................................................... 6-4 BEST RECORD............................................... 83-53 (September 1st) HOME RECORD............................................................ 42-23 WORST RECORD..................................................... 2-1 (April 10th) ROAD RECORD............................................................ 41-30 SEASON vs. ALTOONA.............................................................. 15-7

Aerodynamics...

Worth the Wait...It took 12 innings last night, but the Aeros finally overcame Altoona 6-3 before 3,948 fans at Blair County Ballpark. 1B Beau Mills delivered the key hit, ripping a two-run double to right-center in the top of the 12th to provide the winning runs. Akron struck early as CF Jose Constanza drew a leadoff walk to open the game before stealing second and third and coming home on Mills' sacrifice fly. RHP Connor Graham was electric at the outset in striking out the first two hitters of the game on three pitches each, but allowed single runs in the second, third, and fifth innings as the Curve rallied to take the lead. Akron answered in the top of the sixth however, as SS Carlos Rivero laced a clutch two-run, two-out double to left to tie the game at 3-3. It remained that way until the 12th, when with one down 2B Josh Rodriguez reached on an infield single and C Carlos Santana walked to set up Mills' big hit.

Management Position...Aeros manager Mike Sarbaugh was honored as the Eastern League Manager of the Year today, a deserving reward for the second-year skipper who has led Akron to a league-best 83-53 record while clinching the regular-season Southern Division title for the first time since 2006. The Aeros also became the first team in the 86-year history of the Eastern League with five consecutive 80-win seasons. Sarbaugh holds a career managerial record of 449-321 (.583), and this is his 20th season as a player, coach, or manager in the Indians system. He has never suffered a losing season in six years as a manager, and has previously won championships with Mahoning Valley in 2004 and Kinston in 2006. He was also named Carolina League Manager of the Year in 2007 and is the fourth Aeros skipper to win the EL award following Tim Bogar (2006), Torey Lovullo (2005) and Brad Komminsk (2002), who also won the award last season with the Bowie Baysox. Connecticut manager Steve Decker was second in the voting for the award and Erie manager Tom Brookens finished in third place in the voting.

Spelling Relief...The Akron bullpen was simply magnificent last night, as relievers Zach Putnam, Neil Wagner, Brian Grening and Josh Judy kept the Aeros in the game until the offense could break through. The quartet combined for seven shutout innings last night, holding Altoona to just a single and two walks while recording nine strikeouts. Putnam and Wagner combined to face just one batter over the minimum from the sixth through ninth innings, Grening earned his first Double-A win with two scoreless frames in the 10th and 11th, and Judy worked a perfect 12th for his 10th save in 11 chances.

Go Speed Racer, Go...CF Jose Constanza entered last night tied with Eider Torres for the single-season stolen base record in Akron franchise history, but wasted little time in making first place his own. The native of Santo Domingo, DR swiped second base in the top of the first to set the new franchise record, and now has 43 bags entering play this evening.

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