EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Dynamics

Published on August 7, 2003 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


TONIGHT'S CONTEST...Akron goes for the sweep tonight against Erie, first pitch at 7:05 p.m...RHP KYLE EVANS makes his 24th appearance and 15th start of the year for Akron...Over his last two starts, Evans is 0-1 with a 6.55ERA (11.0 IP, 15 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 4 BB, 5 SO).

RECENTLY...With their 9-4 win over Erie last night, Akron has now won four-in-a-row and are currently 30 games over .500...Last night, CF GRADY SIZEMORE was 2-for-4 with 2 HR, 3 R & 4 RBI...3B COREY SMITH was 3-for-4 with 2 2B & 1 RBI...Smith is now 6 for his last 8 with 5 2B & 3 RBI.

WHO'S HOT...Over his last three starts, RHP FRANCISCO CRUCETA is 3-0 with a 1.08 ERA (25.0 IP, 14 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 6 BB, 26 SO)...CF GRADY SIZEMORE has hit in nine straight games, batting .475 (19-40) with 12 R, 4 2B, 1 3B, 9 RBI & 2 SB...2B JOE INGLETT has reached base safely in 41 straight games and over his last 11 games, he is batting .467 (21-45) with 10 R, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR & 7 RBI...3B COREY SMITH currently has a 10-game hitting streak, batting .439 (18-41) with 7 R, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR & 10 RBI.

ROSTER MOVE...Prior to last night's game, Akron placed RHP JAKE ROBBINS on the Disabled List with right elbow bursitis (retro to 8/4)...Today, the Aeros received RHP TODD PENNINGTON from Class A Lake County...With the Captains, Pennington was 2-1 with 20 saves & a 0.72 ERA (36 G, 37.1 IP, 14 H, 3 R/ER, 17 BB, 65 SO).

OBEYING THE LAW...The Aeros lineup tonight will feature OF MATT LAWTON, who will be DH for Akron as part of his Major League rehabilitation assignment...Lawton was placed on the Indians 15-day disabled list on July 12 after dislocating the middle finger on his right hand on July 11...Lawton will wear #46...With Cleveland this season, Lawton was hitting .248 (80-323) in 85 games with 49 R, 18 2B, 15 HR, 47 RBI & 8 SB.

WAKING THE BATS...Over their last 11 games, Akron is batting .314 (122-388) as a team, scoring a total of 73 runs for an average of 6.6 runs per game.

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 37-10 (.787).

AS A TEAM...The Aeros pitching staff leads the Eastern League in ERA (3.10), strikeouts (820), has allowed the fewest home runs (50) and have recorded the most saves (39)...Offensively, Akron is second in home runs (93), are third in hits (1,060), third in runs (559) and are fourth in batting average (.267).

HOLDING ON...The Aeros are 55-3 this season when leading after the 7th inning.

DRAWING WELL...Through 58 home openings this season, the Aeros have drawn 375,080 fans to Canal Park for an average of 6,467 fans per game.

LEAGUE LEADERS...RHP FRANCISCO CRUCETA leads the Eastern League in strikeouts (116) and complete games (5) and is fifth in innings pitched (131.0)...RHP FERNANDO CABRERA is third in strikeouts (104) and is seventh in ERA (2.94)...RHP KYLE DENNEY is second in ERA (2.52)...CF GRADY SIZEMORE is tied for second in triples (7), third in runs scored (80) and is fifth in total hits (128).

RAY OF LIGHT...On Sunday (8/3), Akron received RHP KENNY RAYBORN after the Indians signed him to a minor league contract...Rayborn, 28, had been pitching for the Jackson Senators of the Independent Central League...With the Senators, Rayborn was 10-2 with a 2.27 ERA in 14 starts (95.1 IP, 86 H, 34 R, 24 ER, 21 BB, 84 SO)...This is the first time Rayborn has pitched affiliated baseball since the 2001 season when he was with San Antonio of the Texas League (Seattle "AA")...He spent the 2002 campaign with the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the Independent Northern League...In six years as a pro, he is 27-23 with 1 SV & a 4.13 ERA (115 G, 57 GS, 448.2 IP, 491 H, 257 R, 206 ER, 148 BB, 310 SO)...He was originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 17th round of the June, 1997 draft out of the University of South Alabama.

BOXING AT THE BALLPARK...On Friday, August 8, the Akron Aeros, in conjunction with Pound for Pound promotions, will host the first "Boxing at the Ballpark" event...The event features some of Northeast Ohio's top professional fighters...The card features six bouts...Gates open at 5:30 p.m., the first fight is at 7:00 p.m...Vonda Ward will be on-hand to meet boxing fans and do color commentary...Tickets are available on-line at www.akronaeros.com or charge by phone at (330) 253-5153 or TOLL FREE 800-97-AEROS.

UPCOMING GAMES

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8 @ 7:05 P.M.

AKRON AEROS @ READING PHILLIES

LHP DERRICK VAN DUSEN (9-6, 4.04 ERA) vs. RHP WILLIE GLEN (3-3, 3.68 ERA)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9 @ 7:05 P.M.

AKRON AEROS @ READING PHILLIES

RHP FRANCISCO CRUCETA (10-8, 3.37 ERA) vs. RHP LAYNE DAWSON (1-5, 7.13 ERA)

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10 @ 1:05 P.M.

AKRON AEROS @ READING PHILLIES

RHP KENNY RAYBORN (1-0, 1.59 ERA) vs. RHP TAYLOR BUCHHOLZ (8-9, 3.11 ERA)

Check out the Akron RubberDucks Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Eastern League Stories from August 7, 2003


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central