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Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Media Notes

September 12, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


Playoff Game #3 - Road Game #1 - Saturday, September 12, 2009 - 7:05 P.M. Akron Leads Best-of-Five Series 2-0

Akron Aeros (2-0, 89-53) vs. Reading Phillies (0-2, 75-67)

Cleveland Indians Philadelphia Phillies

Today's Starters: Akron - LHP Eric Berger (3-1, 2.67 ERA)

Reading - RHP Mike Cisco (2-4, 4.58 ERA)

Upcoming Probables:

Saturday (SDCS Game 4 - if nec.): AKR LHP Scott Barnes (2-2, 5.68 ERA) at REA TBA

Sunday (SDCS Game 5 - if nec.): AKR RHP Connor Graham (1-3, 4.93 ERA) vs. REA TBA

Monday: OFF DAY

Tuesday (ELCS Game 1 - tentative): SDCS Winner at NDCS Winner

The Book on Eric Berger... - High Strikeouts - 7, set 8/19 vs. BOW and 9/3 at ALT - Most Hits Allowed - 13, set 8/7 vs. New Britain - Longest Start - 6.0 IP, set 8/13 at CON and 8/19 vs. BOW - Most Walks Allowed - 4, set 8/24 at Erie

- Shortest Start - 5.0 IP, set 8/24 at Erie - HR Allowed (Season) - 1

- Making his seventh start for Akron this evening after being promoted from Class A Kinston August 5th

- Ranked second in the Carolina League with a 2.45 ERA, while his 100 strikeouts in 110.1 innings pitched were third

- Lost his first Double-A start, but in five starts since has gone 3-0 with a 1.61 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 28.0 innings

- Throws a four-seam fastball between 89-92 mph, plus a curveball and changeup

- Aeros are 4-2 when Berger starts

- Last time out: Earned the WIN in a 4-0 victory at Altoona 9/3 (5.1 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 K)

UAEROS REGULAR SEASON BREAKDOWN ('09)

CURRENT STREAK...................................................... W8 LONGEST WINNING STREAK......................... 8 (8/31 - current)

LAST 5 GAMES............................................................. 5-0 LONGEST LOSING STREAK.................................... 6 (7/9 - 7/16) LAST 10 GAMES........................................................... 9-1 BEST RECORD.............................................. 89-53 (September 7th) HOME RECORD............................................................ 46-23 WORST RECORD..................................................... 2-1 (April 10th) ROAD RECORD............................................................ 43-30 SEASON vs. READING................................................................... 3-7

Aerodynamics...

Home, Sweet Home...The Aeros took a commanding two games to none lead in this best-of-five Southern Division Championship Series Thursday night, never trailing in a 6-2 victory over Reading. Akron successfully protected its home turf in the first two games of this series, and outscored the Phillies 15-6 at Canal Park. C Carlos Santana, who didn't get a ball out of the infield during an 0-4 night in game one Wednesday, opened the scoring Thursday with a first-pitch home run in the bottom of the fourth. The Aeros went on to plate two more runs in the fourth, and put the game out of reach with a three-spot in the sixth to take a 6-0 lead. Reading threatened slightly with single runs in the seventh and eighth, but Akron reliever Carlton Smith got a strikeout and a groundout to end the eighth and strand runners at the corners while keeping the potential tying run in the on-deck circle. Neil Wagner closed it out with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Give Me More Gomez...Aeros starter Jeanmar Gomez was tremendous in Thursday night's victory, as the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year carried a shutout into the seventh before departing. Gomez ended the night allowing a run on six hits in six innings, although he surrendered only two hits through the first five frames. The native of Caracas, VZ closed the regular season with just one quality start in his final six outings before rebounding Thursday.

Head Games...LF Jerad Head had another huge night for the Aeros offensively in game two, finishing 2-4 with a pair of doubles and three more RBI. His first two-bagger came in the bottom of the fourth when he lifted a fly ball down the right field line that Reading's Domonic Brown overran for a run-scoring ground rule double. Then in the bottom of the sixth, Head scorched a two-run double just inside the third base bag before coming home later in the inning. The native of Topeka, KS now has seven RBI in the first two games of this series, batting .429 (3-7) with a sacrifice fly, three doubles, and a run scored in the process. Ironically, Head finished the regular season in a 1-11 slump before busting loose in the playoffs.

Elsewhere...Rain was a constant theme last night, as it not only postponed our game with the Phillies but also washed out game three of the NDCS between Connecticut and New Britain. As a result, everything in this series has been pushed back a day which means game four (if necessary) will be played in Reading Sunday night at 7:05 p.m., and game five (if necessary) will be played in Akron Monday night at 7:05 p.m. Any fans with tickets to the DIVIS 3 game originally scheduled for Sunday at Canal Park may use those tickets for entry to Monday's game if it gets played. Additionally, Lowell and Staten Island were rained out Thursday (yesterday was an off day) so Mahoning Valley is still waiting for an opponent in the NYPL finals.

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