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Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Media Notes

August 7, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


Game #113 - Home Game #57 - Friday, August 7, 2009 - 7:05 P.M. Akron Aeros (70-42) vs. New Britain Rock Cats (54-57)

Cleveland Indians Minnesota Twins

Today's Starters: Akron - LHP Eric Berger (Akron debut, went 7-8, 2.45 ERA with Class A Kinston)

New Britain - LHP Ryan Mullins (7-10, 4.54 ERA)

Upcoming Probables:

Saturday: AKR RHP Jeanmar Gomez (9-3, 3.27 ERA) vs. NBR RHP Deolis Guerra (4-1, 4.80 ERA)

Sunday: AKR RHP Connor Graham (0-0, 4.26 ERA) vs. NBR RHP Matt Fox (6-8, 4.05 ERA)

Monday: OFF DAY

Tuesday: AKR RHP Josh Tomlin (10-8, 4.21 ERA) at CON TBA

The Book on Eric Berger (with Class A Kinston)... - High Strikeouts - 11, set 7/25 vs. Wilmington - Most Hits Allowed - 8, set 6/28 vs. MB and 7/31 at MB - Longest Start - 7.0 IP, set 6/20 at Lynchburg - Most Walks Allowed - 4 (set four times), last 7/19 at Potomac

- Shortest Start - 4.0 IP (set three times), last 7/31 at Myrtle Beach - HR Allowed (Season) - 4

- Making his Double-A debut this evening, taking the roster spot of LHP Ryan Edell

- Ranked second in the Carolina League with a 2.45 ERA, while his 100 strikeouts in 110.1 innings pitched were third

- Holding opponents to .194 batting average with runners on base, and allowed two runs or less in 14 of his 21 starts

- Throws a four-seam fastball between 90-93 mph, plus a curveball and changeup

- Kinston was 8-13 when Berger starts this year

- Last time out: Took the LOSS in a 6-2 defeat at Myrtle Beach 7/31 (1) (4.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP)

UAEROS REGULAR SEASON BREAKDOWN ('09)

CURRENT STREAK...................................................... W2 LONGEST WINNING STREAK. 7 (4/17-4/24 (1) and 7/27 - 8/2)

LAST 5 GAMES............................................................. 4-1 LONGEST LOSING STREAK.................................... 6 (7/9 - 7/16) LAST 10 GAMES........................................................... 9-1 BEST RECORD.................................................... 70-42 (August 6th) HOME RECORD............................................................ 37-19 WORST RECORD..................................................... 2-1 (April 10th) ROAD RECORD............................................................ 33-23 SEASON vs. NEW BRITAIN......................................................... 0-0

Aerodynamics...

Walk (Off) This Way...The Aeros won in dramatic fashion for the second game in a row last night, defeating the visiting Connecticut Defenders 2-1 in front of 2,792 roaring fans at Canal Park. DH Matt McBride was the hero, as his one-out double to left-center in the bottom of the ninth scored C Carlos Santana for Akron's second walk-off victory in as many nights against Northern Division-leading Connecticut. The Defenders opened the scoring last night, although four singles off LHP Bobby Livingston in the top of the first netted Connecticut just one run. The Aeros tied it up on back-to-back doubles by SS Carlos Rivero and 3B Jerad Head in the third, while Livingston settled in and retired 13 batters straight and 19 of his final 20 batters to match efficient Connecticut starter Daryl Maday pitch-for-pitch. Santana then began the bottom of the ninth against Defenders reliever Joe Paterson with a walk, and after 1B Beau Mills flied out, McBride delivered the game-winner to left-center before being mobbed by his purple-clad teammates on the base path between second and third.

Here Comes McBride...The 24-year-old native of Bethlehem, PA was the star last night as the Aeros won their third consecutive series and improved to a season-high 28 games over .500. McBride tied a franchise-record with eight RBI last Friday night at Binghamton, but had struggled recently at the friendly confines of Canal Park. In his previous 14 contests at home, the Lehigh University product was batting a measly .170 (9-53) with a home run, two doubles and four walks.

The Price is Wright...Akron RHP Steven Wright earned the win in relief last night, shutting out Connecticut over the final two frames to keep his perfect record intact. A product of the University of Hawaii, Wright has been electric out of the 'pen all season. In 22 relief outings, he is now 9-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 36 strikeouts against 13 walks in 43.1 IP, and the Aeros have an impressive 19-8 record when he appears in a game this season (including five starts).

It's Like Looking in to a Mirror...LHP Eric Berger makes his Double-A debut tonight for the Aeros and the contest will be followed by a post-game fireworks spectacular sponsored by National City Bank. Berger was promoted Wednesday from Class A Kinston to take the rotation spot of LHP Ryan Edell (4-1, 2.32 ERA in 17 games) and the two starters certainly do have a lot in common. Both stand 6'2", both are left-handed, both went to college, and both were drafted in the eighth-round (Edell in 2005 and Berger in 2008). Additionally, both ranked second in their respective leagues in ERA and third in strikeouts at the time of the move (Edell with a 2.32 ERA and 91 strikeouts, while Berger sported a 2.45 ERA and 100 strikeouts).

Did You Know...Akron improved to 21-7 (.750) against Northern Division opponents this year with the win last night, and the Southern Division as a whole is 106-78 (.576) against the North. However, New Britain is 19-12 against the South.

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