EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Media Notes

Published on August 13, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


Game #118 - Road Game #59 - Thursday, August 13, 2009 - 6:35 P.M. Akron Aeros (73-44) at Connecticut Defenders (66-50)

Cleveland Indians San Francisco Giants

Today's Starters: Akron - LHP Eric Berger (0-1, 7.94 ERA)

Connecticut - LHP Madison Bumgarner (7-1, 2.11 ERA)

Upcoming Probables:

Friday: AKR RHP Jeanmar Gomez (10-3, 3.18 ERA) at NBR RHP Deolis Guerra (4-2, 6.48 ERA)

Saturday: AKR RHP Connor Graham (0-1, 4.38 ERA) at NBR RHP Matt Fox (7-8, 3.89 ERA)

Sunday: AKR RHP Josh Tomlin (11-8, 4.19 ERA) at NBR RHP Cole DeVries (7-12, 4.26 ERA)

Monday: OFF DAY

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 second start for Akron this evening after being promoted from Class A Kinston August 5th

- Allowed 13 hits in his first Eastern League start, a season-high for any Aeros pitcher this year

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

- Throws a four-seam fastball between 89-92 mph, plus a curveball and changeup

- Aeros are 0-1 when Berger starts

- Last time out: Took the LOSS in a 9-6 defeat vs. New Britain 8/7 (5.2 IP, 13 H, 8 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 2 GIDP)

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............................................................. 3-2 LONGEST LOSING STREAK.................................... 6 (7/9 - 7/16) LAST 10 GAMES........................................................... 7-3 BEST RECORD.................................................. 73-44 (August 12th) HOME RECORD............................................................ 38-21 WORST RECORD..................................................... 2-1 (April 10th) ROAD RECORD............................................................ 35-23 SEASON vs. CONNECTICUT....................................................... 4-1

Aerodynamics... About Last Night...The Aeros made it two in a row over the best team in the Northern Division last night, leading from wire-to-wire and taking the middle game of this three-game series 7-4 in front of 2,241 fans at Dodd Stadium. Akron set a new season-high with six doubles in the contest, and eight of the club's 14 hits went for extra-bases. 2B Jared Goedert opened the scoring with a two-out RBI double in the top of the second, and the Aeros exploded for four runs in the top of the third thanks to an RBI two-bagger from 1B Beau Mills and a three-run homer from 3B Lonnie Chisenhall to make it 5-0 (his first home run and first three RBIs as an Aero). The Defenders came back to notch the next three runs, but Goedert put the game out of reach with a two-run blast in the top of the eighth. Connecticut mounted one final threat in the bottom of the eighth, but with a run home and the potential tying run at the plate Aeros reliever Zach Putnam snared Mike Mooney's soft liner back to the mound and then flipped to first to double-off Brandon Crawford and end the inning. Josh Judy then turned in an uneventful ninth to close it out.

Great Scott...Akron starter Scott Barnes earned his first Double-A win in what he termed a "weird" atmosphere prior to the game, holding Connecticut to just two runs and four hits in five innings, striking out six and not issuing a walk. The left-hander, who was drafted by San Francisco just 14 months ago and said he knew all of the Defenders personally from his time in the Giants organization, was effectively wild in the first three innings before settling in after surrendering a two-run homer to Eastern League RBI leader Brett Pill in the bottom of the third. Barnes retired Ramon Castro on the next pitch, starting a run of seven straight outs to record his first win in the Indians system (he had three no-decisions for Kinston before coming up).

On Second Thought...With Chisenhall taking over the everyday third base duties, Aeros skipper Mike Sarbaugh gave Goedert his first start of the season at second base. And while Akron's Opening Day third baseman looked understandably rusty in his first action away from the hot corner in over a full calendar year (dating to August 9th of last season with Kinston), he more than made up for it with his bat. Goedert was one of two Aeros to reach base three times last night, and saved his biggest swing for last as his two-run homer in the top of the eighth gave the Aeros some key insurance. The native of Concordia, KS got off to a slow start this season and also spent 17 days on the disabled list, but is hitting .254 with three homers and 24 RBI since June 1st, including a .283 batting average in July. Goedert batted just .198 in the first two months of the season.

Did You Know...Akron's six doubles last night were its most since last July 10th vs. Bowie...RF John Drennen is hitting .333 with 23 RBI and 24 runs scored in 53 games since returning from Class A Kinston (hitting .191 when he was sent down)...RHP Josh Judy has converted his last four save opportunities, with three singles, no walks, and 10 strikeouts in five innings.

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Eastern League Stories from August 13, 2009


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