Aerodynamics
Published on July 16, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
The Erie Blues...The Aeros couldn't get any momentum heading into the All-Star break Monday night, dropping the finale of a four-game series against Erie 7-5 at Jerry Uht Park. The defeat marked Akron's season-high fifth straight loss, and it was the first time the club was swept in a four-game series in over four years, dating back to June 20th-23rd, 2005 at Reading. The Aeros opened the scoring Monday on run-scoring hits from 1B Matt McBride and C Armando Camacaro in the first inning, but the SeaWolves responded with five runs in the fifth against starter Josh Tomlin to take the lead for good. Akron battled back with a pair of sacrifice flies in the seventh before McBride socked a solo home run in the ninth to account for the final margin. Erie is now 9-2 against the Aeros this season, and the teams will still play each other another 16 times.
Here Comes McBride...The hottest player on the team, McBride is batting an even .500 (10-20) over his last six games with five doubles, four home runs, and a 1.350 slugging percentage over that stretch. The product of Lehigh University is no stranger to hot streaks this year, as he ranked in the top-five in all of minor league baseball in batting average, hits, doubles, RBI, extra-base hits and total bases when he was promoted to the Aeros on May 12th. McBride is now batting .315 with 13 homers and 70 RBI in 83 games between Akron and Class A Kinston, and his 30 doubles are tied for the fourth most in minor league baseball.
Walk this Way...Leadoff man Jose Constanza had two walks in Monday's contest, and he collected eight free passes in the four-game series against the SeaWolves. The 25-year-old centerfielder had just three walks in his last 19 games entering the road trip, and still has only 37 in 82 games this season. The eight walks in a four-game stretch were by far the most for an Aero this season (Nick Weglarz and Carlos Santana each had six walks in a span of four games).
Go-Go Gomez...RHP Jeanmar Gomez returned to the place of his perfect game on May 21st and continued his streak of dominant baseball in last night's Eastern League All-Star Game, retiring all three batters he faced in the fifth inning and extending his streak to 10 straight perfect innings in Trenton. His efforts, along with those of teammates Carlos Santana, Beau Mills, Nick Weglarz and Carlton Smith helped lead the Southern Division to a 5-3 victory over the North at Waterfront Park. Bowie second baseman Miguel Abreu earned MVP honors with a pair of hits and a pair of runs scored, while Weglarz scored what proved to be the deciding run in the eighth and Smith earned the save in the ninth, getting Futures Game MVP Rene Tosoni of the New Britain Rock Cats on a pop-up for the final out in his home state (Smith is from Piscataway).
Did You Know...At the All-Star Break last season the Aeros commanded a 6.5-game lead in the Southern Division with a 61-35 record but went only 19-27 in the second half before losing to Trenton in the Eastern League Championship Series.
Eastern League Stories from July 16, 2009
- Trenton Comes From Behind to Top Portland - Trenton Thunder
- Bowie Triumphs 13-11 in Slugfest - Akron RubberDucks
- Portland Squanders a 6-0 Lead; Lose 9-6 in Trenton - Portland Sea Dogs
- Petersen's Three-Hit Effort Not Enough in 10-5 Loss to Erie - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Senators Turn Triple Play in 7-1 Loss to Curve - Harrisburg Senators
- Curve Blowout Senators - Altoona Curve
- Defenders Fall 1-0 - Connecticut Defenders
- Fisher Cats Edge Defenders 1-0 on Thursday Night - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- RHP Zach McAllister Placed on the DL - Trenton Thunder
- Senators Make Several Post All-Star Break Moves - Harrisburg Senators
- Aerodynamics - Akron RubberDucks
- Dopirak Promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Curve Family Value Emarks on an Eight Game Homestand Beginning Tonight - Altoona Curve
- Bishop Joseph Adamec to Celebrate Mass at Blair Country Ballpark - Altoona Curve
- Abreu Shines Brightest In Trenton - Chesapeake Baysox
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