EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Aerodynamics

Published on July 8, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


Hit Parade...Reading took game one of this three-game series at Canal Park last night, winning by the final score of 11-7 in front of 2,831 fans. Six Aeros racked up multi-hit games and every batter had at least one hit, but it was not enough to stop the Phillies from defeating Akron for the sixth time in eight tries this season. A three-run rally from the Aeros in the fourth erased the majority of Reading's early 5-0 lead, but the R-Phils responded by getting all three runs back in the top of the fifth. Akron scored single runs in the sixth and seventh only to have Reading answer both times before LF Nick Weglarz ended the fireworks with his 13th home run of the season with two outs and a runner on in the ninth. With the loss, Akron's lead over the second-place Phillies fell to six games in the Southern Division.

Rocky Start...In his first Eastern League appearance in eight years, new starter Michael Tejera took the loss in his Akron debut last night. He went 4.2 innings allowing nine hits and five walks along with eight runs (seven earned), tied for the most runs allowed by an Aeros pitcher this season. The 32-year-old, who has spent parts of six seasons in the Major Leagues going 11-13 with a 5.14 ERA, was signed by the Indians organization yesterday after pitching in the Mexican League earlier this season. Tejera faced immediate trouble in the first inning, as he threw 29 pitches in allowing the first two runs on the scoreboard. Tejera takes the rotation spot of Hector Rondon, who was promoted to Class AAA Columbus Sunday.

Double Trouble...Akron hit into double plays in five consecutive innings yesterday, short circuiting numerous rallies created by 16 hits and a walk. The five double plays tied a season-high in a single game for the Aeros, as they also had five turned against them May 30th at Erie. The twin-killing just has not been friendly to the team as the pitching staff is last with only 56 induced while the offense has the sixth most by hitting into 69 this season. The average team in the Eastern League has also had 69 double plays all year, equivalent to slightly less than one per game.

Golden Glove...Four errors in the field yesterday contributed to the four multi-run innings for the Phillies, tying a season-high for errors in a game after committing three errors Monday night in Harrisburg. Despite the miscues, the Aeros remain on pace to set a new franchise-record for the fewest errors in a season, as they are set to have 108 on the year and break last season's mark of 111. Akron is currently fourth in the league with a .979 fielding percentage, while the Phillies are first at .982.

Carlos Fantastico...SS Carlos Rivero extended his hitting streak to a season-high five games with a 3-4 performance last night, including a double in the second inning. He is now batting .390 (16-41) over his past 14 games to raise his batting average to .224, the highest it has been for the slick-fielding 21-year-old since the first week of the season in April.

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Eastern League Stories from July 8, 2009


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