Aeros Media Notes
April 28, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
Today's Starters: Akron - RHP Hector Rondon (3-0, 1.10 ERA)
Harrisburg - LHP Justin Jones (1-1, 2.38 ERA)
Upcoming Probables:
Wednesday: AKR RHP Josh Tomlin (2-1, 3.38 ERA) vs. HAR LHP Ross Detwiler (0-2, 5.11 ERA)
Thursday: AKR RHP Steven Wright (1-0, 3.00 ERA) vs. HAR LHP Cory VanAllen (0-1, 6.75 ERA)
Friday: AKR LHP Chuck Lofgren (1-0, 1.13 ERA) at BOW TBA
Saturday: AKR RHP Frank Herrmann (1-1, 3.00 ERA) at BOW TBA
The Book on Hector Rondon...
- High Strikeouts - 6, set 4/8 vs. Bowie - Most Hits Allowed - 5, set 4/8 vs. Bowie
- Longest Outing - 5.2 IP, set 4/8 vs. Bowie and 4/15 vs. Altoona
- Most Walks Allowed - 1 (set three times), last 4/22 (1) at HAR
- Shortest Outing - 5.0 IP, set 4/22 (1) at Harrisburg - HR Allowed (Season) - 0
- Tied for second in the league in wins (3) and ranks seventh in ERA (1.10)
Rated by Baseball America as the no.-13 prospect in the Cleveland minor league system Throws a four-seam fastball between 92-94 mph, plus a two-seamer, changeup, and slider Aeros are 3-0 when Rondon starts Last time out: Earned the WIN in a 2-0 victory at Harrisburg 4/22 (1) (5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1 GIDP)
Aerodynamics...
Horseshoes and Hand Grenades...It's rare that a team could be disappointed with winning three of five games in a series, but no one could fault the Aeros if that's how they felt following Sunday's 7-6, 10-inning loss to Altoona in the series finale. Akron held a 6-2 lead after seven innings, but starter Frank Herrmann ran out of steam in the eighth as he allowed two singles and a walk to load the bases with none out. The Aeros brought RHP Paolo Espino out of the bullpen for his Eastern League debut, and while Espino made some good pitches the results weren't what Akron was hoping for. Anderson Machado tapped Espino's first pitch back to the mound, but Espino fumbled the ball in his rush to get a force at the plate and all hands were safe as the run scored. Pedro Lopez then hit a slow chopper to short that led to one out, but Aeros 2B Josh Rodriguez's relay throw slipped from his hand and bounced into right field as two runs scored to make it 6-5. Jose Tabata then tied the game with a single to left, and Lopez won it in the 10th with a solo home run off Espino. It was the first time the Aeros had lost a game this year when leading after seven innings (had been 12-0).
Missed Connections...Akron had plenty of chances to really break the game open before the Curve's late rally Sunday, but couldn't connect and allowed Altoona to stay in the game. The Aeros were just 3-12 with runners in scoring position Sunday, and stranded a season-high 12 runners on base. The Aeros left a runner at second in each of the first two innings, and then stranded a runner at third in both of the next two frames. Akron also left men on the corners in the fifth, stranded runners at first and second with one out in the seventh, and then couldn't get anyone into scoring position in the eighth, ninth, or 10th innings despite getting the leadoff man aboard each time.
Bullpen Shuffle...The Aeros made a pair of changes to their relief corps, transferring RHP Paolo Espino to Class A Lake County and promoting RHP Randy Newsom to Class AAA Columbus. Espino was called up to provide coverage since the Aeros found themselves playing two doubleheaders in three days, and the game Sunday marked his only appearance. Newsom departs after doing yeoman's work in the past few games, tossing two innings in back-to-back outings Thursday and Friday (he hadn't gone two innings since July 2 of last year in his AAA debut for Buffalo). The Indians have yet to announce the corresponding roster moves.
Did You Know...CF Jose Constanza has had three-hit performances three times in the last three days (four games total), boosting his average almost 100 points from .273 to .367 in the process. Constanza now sits fourth in the Eastern League in batting average and continues to lead the league with nine stolen bases, including a pair Sunday.
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Eastern League Stories from April 28, 2009
- Relentless Erie Tops Baysox in Extras - Chesapeake Baysox
- Rondon Dominant, Aeros Hang On 3-2 - Akron RubberDucks
- 'Wolves Down Baysox in eleven - Erie SeaWolves
- Altoona drops 3-1 decision Reading - Altoona Curve
- B-Mets Squander Five-run Lead, Lose in Ninth, 9-8 - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Dopirak goes 3-for-5 with 3rd HR in 6-4 loss - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Defenders Fall 2-0 - Connecticut Defenders
- Kontos leads Trenton to 2-0 win over Connecticut - Trenton Thunder
- Bubba leads the Dogs in walk-off win over the B-Mets 9-8! - Portland Sea Dogs
- Senators rally but fall 3-2 to Akron - Harrisburg Senators
- Altoona Curve Statement Regarding Rumored Troy Polamalu Appearance - Altoona Curve
- Altoona Curve Transactions - Altoona Curve
- Aeros Media Notes - Akron RubberDucks
- Akron Aeros Roster Move - Akron RubberDucks
- Sea Dogs Roster Moves - Portland Sea Dogs
- Figueroa to DL, Conley Joins Baysox - Chesapeake Baysox
- Big Phillies Ruiz's status uncertain for game in Reading - Reading Fightin Phils
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