Aeros Dynamics
July 14, 2003 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
TONIGHT'S CONTEST...Akron wraps up their four-game series at Altoona tonight at 7:05 p.m., their last game before the All-Star break...The Eastern League All-Star game will take place the Wednesday, July 16 in New Britain, CT...RHP FRANCISCO CRUCETA goes for Akron tonight...Over his last three starts, he is 2-1 with a 1.23 ERA (22.0 IP, 13 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 15 SO)...Cruceta has tossed an Eastern League leading four consecutive complete games over his last four starts.
RECENTLY...OF TYLER MINGES had a career-day yesterday, going 3-for-4 with HR & 6 RBI in the Aeros 8-4 win over the Altoona Curve...3B COREY SMITH added two hits, including a 2B & scored 3 R....RHP FERNANDO CABRERA (8-3) picked up the win in relief of starter LHP DERRICK VAN DUSEN.
SATURDAY IN THE PARK...On Saturday, July 12, RHP KYLE DENNEY and RHP CHAD DURBIN were both promoted to Triple A Buffalo and started games 1 and 2 respectively of the Bisons double header at Syracuse...Denney picked up the win in game 1 as the Bisons won 6-3 (5.2 IP, 8 H, 3 R/ER, 2 BB, 3 SO)...Despite pitching a complete game in game 2, Durbin took the loss as Buffalo was defeated, 4-2...Denney has already re-joined the Aeros in Altoona....Durbin is expected to remain with the Bisons.
TRANSACTIONS...OF GRADY SIZEMORE was placed on the Temporarily Inactive List on July 12 to participate in the All-Star Futures game and he was replaced on the Aeros roster by OF NATHAN PANTHER, who was promoted from Class A Lake County...Additionally, the Aeros added LHP IGNACIO MONTANO from Class A Mahoning Valley, who takes the roster spot of RHP CHAD DURBIN, who was sent to Buffalo on July 12.
ALL-STAR FUTURES...Aeros OF GRADY SIZEMORE was given the Larry Doby Award as the Most Valuable Player in Sunday's RadioShack All-Star Futures Game, which ended with the U.S. defeating the World team, 3-2, in a seven-inning affair at U.S. Cellular Field...Sizemore, the Aeros star center-fielder, went 2-for-3 with a homer and two runs batted in...After an RBI single that tied the game in the first inning, Sizemore led off the third by pulling his homer over the right-field fence off Expos prospect Seung Song
WHO'S HOT...OF TYLER MINGES has a hit in 10 of his last 11 games, batting .442 (19-43) over that span with 4 R, 2 3B, HR & 10 RBI...2B JOE INGLETT has reached base safely in 22 straight games...LF LUKE SCOTT has reached base safely in all 14 games since joining the Aeros on June 27...SS HECTOR LUNA has reached base safely in 13 consecutive games...1B ERIC CROZIER is batting .372 (16-43) over his last 14 games, with 12 R, 2 2B, 3B, 4 HR & 8 RBI...Over his last three appearances (1 start), LHP OSCAR ALVAREZ is 0-1 with a 1.86 ERA (9.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, BB, 8 SO)...Over his last eight appearances, RHP JOSE VARGAS is 1-0 with 2 saves & a 0.63 ERA (14.1 IP, 11 H, 1 R/ER, 4 BB, 18 SO)...RHP FRANCISCO CRUCETA has tossed four consecutive complete games over his last four starts..
HOME COOKING...Over their first 13 home games this season, Akron was a dismal 3-10 (.300)...Since then, the Aeros are virtually unbeatable at home, going 25-5 (.833).
E.L. ALL-STARS...Akron is sending four players to the Eastern League All-Star game, which will be played on Wednesday, July 16 in New Britain, CT...RHP FERNANDO CABRERA, RHP KYLE DENNEY, OF GRADY SIZEMORE and INF LUIS GONZALEZ were all elected...Additionally, Aeros MANAGER BRAD KOMMINSK and his staff of PITCHING COACH STEVE LYONS and coach MIKE SARBAUGH will lead the Eastern League's Southern Division squad.
AS A TEAM...The Aeros pitching staff leads the Eastern League in strikeouts (682), saves (32) and have allowed the fewest home runs (41)...They are second in ERA (3.01)...Offensively, the Aeros are second in home runs (80) and hits (853)...Akron is seventh in team batting average (.261).
HOLDING ON...The Aeros are 44-1 this season when leading after the 7th inning.
DRAWING WELL...Through 41 home dates this season, the Aeros have drawn 258,378 fans to Canal Park for an average of 6,302 per game...The Aeros average attendance mark leads the Eastern League.
LEAGUE LEADERS...RHP FERNANDO CABRERA leads the Eastern League in strikeouts (92) and is sixth in ERA (2.85)...RHP KYLE DENNEY is tied for fourth in strikeouts (81) and is third in ERA (2.39)...RHP FRANCISCO CRUCETA leads the league in complete games (4), is tied for fourth in strikeouts (81) and is 10th in ERA (3.06).
UPCOMING GAMES
TUESDAY, JULY 15 & WEDNESDAY, JULY 16
ALL-STAR BREAK
THURSDAY, JULY 17 @ 7:05 P.M.
NEW HAVEN RAVENS vs. AKRON AEROS
FRIDAY, JULY 18 @ 7:05 P.M.
NEW HAVEN RAVENS vs. AKRON AEROS
Promotion: Fireworks, Sponsored by Mike Pruitt Honda
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Eastern League Stories from July 14, 2003
- Eastern League News - EL1
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- EL Recognizes Inglin, Keppel - EL1
- EL All-Star Game Set for Wednesday at New Britain - Reading Fightin Phils
- Aeros Dynamics - Akron RubberDucks
- Epilepsy Run/Walk Set - Harrisburg Senators
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