EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Media Notes

Published on September 3, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


Playoff Game #1 - Road Game #1 - Wednesday, September 3, 2008 - 7:05 P.M.

Akron Aeros (80-62, 0-0) at Bowie Baysox (84-58, 0-0)

Cleveland Indians Baltimore Orioles

Best-of-Five Series Tied 0-0

Today's Starters: Akron - LHP Scott Lewis (6-2, 2.33 ERA in 13 starts with Akron, 2-2, 2.63 ERA in four starts with Buffalo)

Bowie - RHP Jason Berken (12-4, 3.58 ERA)

Upcoming Probables:

Thursday (SDCS Game 2): AKR RHP J.D. Martin (11-3, 2.55 ERA) at BOW RHP Brad Bergesen (15-6, 3.22 ERA)

Friday (SDCS Game 3): AKR LHP Ryan Edell (7-8, 3.80 ERA) vs. BOW RHP David Hernandez (10-4, 2.68 ERA)

Saturday if nec. (SDCS Game 4): AKR RHP Frank Herrmann (11-6, 4.10 ERA) vs. BOW RHP Chris Tillman (11-4, 3.18 ERA)

Sunday if nec. (SDCS Game 5): AKR RHP Kevin Dixon (9-11, 4.41 ERA) at BOW RHP Zach Clark (4-2, 3.60 ERA)

The Book on Scott Lewis...

1B- High Strikeouts - 10, set 8/4 at Altoona - Most Hits Allowed - 9, set 6/23 vs. BOW and 6/28 vs. REA

- Longest Outing - 7.2 IP, set 8/9 at Trenton - Most Walks Allowed - 2, set 8/4 at Altoona

- Shortest Outing - 3.1 IP, set 6/23 vs. Bowie - HR Allowed (Season) - 2

Promoted to Class AAA Buffalo 8/14 after winning EL Pitcher of the Week honors for the week ending August 10th

Recorded 10 strikeouts August 4th in Altoona, a season-high for an Aeros pitcher

Throws a four-seam fastball between 86-91 mph, as well as a curve, slider, and change

Aeros are 9-4 when Lewis starts

Last start: Took a NO-DECISION in a 3-1 victory at Trenton 8/9 (7.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K)

UAEROS REGULAR SEASON BREAKDOWN ('08)

CURRENT STREAK...................................................... W1 LONGEST WINNING STREAK............................... 10 (6/4 - 6/14)

LAST 5 GAMES............................................................. 3-2 LONGEST LOSING STREAK.................................. 4 (8/15 - 8/19) LAST 10 GAMES........................................................... 5-5 BEST RECORD....................................................... 61-35 (July 14th)

HOME RECORD............................................................ 39-31 WORST RECORD................................................... 8-13 (April 25th)

ROAD RECORD............................................................ 41-31 SEASON vs. BOWIE.................................................................. 13-11

Aerodynamics...

Let's Get it On...The Eastern League playoffs have finally arrived, as the Aeros will battle Bowie here in the Southern Division and the Trenton Thunder take on the Portland Sea Dogs in the Northern Division. Both series are best-of-five and feature a 2-2-1 format, with Bowie and Trenton holding home field advantage. The Baysox are the only newcomer to the post-season from last year, as Trenton defeated Portland in four games and then claimed the league title with a 3-1 series win over Akron. In fact, this is the fourth straight year that Portland and Trenton have met in the Northern Division playoffs (Portland won the series in both 2005 and 2006). Bowie is in the playoffs for the first time since 1997 and just the fourth time since entering the league in 1993. The Aeros, meanwhile, have won the Southern Division crown three straight years and are looking for their third Eastern League championship in six seasons, having previously won it all in 2003 (3-0 over New Haven) and 2005 (3-1 over Portland).

Playoff Experience...Two-thirds of the 24 players on Akron's post-season roster participated in the playoffs last season, with eight playing for the Aeros and eight more experiencing the playoffs in the Carolina League with Class A Kinston. Of the eight who played for Akron, 1B Stephen Head and 2B Brandon Pinckney enjoyed the most success. Head hit .367 (11-30) with three homers and eight RBI in eight games, while Pinckney hit just .143 (5-35) but drove in six runs in eight games. On the hill, LHP Chuck Lofgren was 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two starts and LHP Reid Santos allowed only two runs in 8.2 innings of relief. The K-Tribe lost in the first round to Salem last year, as 3B Wes Hodges hit .333 (3-9) and RHP Frank Herrmann worked seven shutout innings in his only start.

Feat the Turtle Panther...We would be remiss if we didn't mention the post-season exploits of OF Nathan Panther, who after being benched in the Carolina League playoffs in 2004 came back to be named Eastern League Playoff MVP in 2005, leading the Aeros to their second championship in three years. The native of Muscatine, IA hit a blistering .387 (12-31) in the playoffs, while collecting five extra-base hits, scoring seven runs, and driving in five. And while we're at it, don't forget that RHP J.D. Martin clinched the Carolina League title for Kinston in 2004, tossing a complete game with 10 strikeouts.

It's Not How You Start...The Aeros went 13-17 from August 1st on, but did win five of their last seven games. Bowie went 20-9 to erase what had been a 7.5-game deficit in the Southern Division prior to the All-Star break, but dropped three of its final five games.

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