EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Media Notes

Published on August 20, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


Game #124 - Home Game #62 - Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 7:05 P.M. Akron Aeros (76-47) vs. Bowie Baysox (63-59)

Cleveland Indians Baltimore Orioles

Today's Starters: Akron - RHP Connor Graham (0-2, 5.19 ERA)

Bowie - RHP Steve Johnson (0-1, 3.00 ERA)

Upcoming Probables:

Friday: AKR RHP Jeanmar Gomez (10-3, 3.06 ERA) at ERI RHP Jonah Nickerson (8-10, 5.05 ERA)

Saturday: AHR RHP Josh Tomlin (12-8, 4.10 ERA) at ERI RHP Thad Weber (6-3, 4.50 ERA)

Sunday: AKR LHP Scott Barnes (1-0, 4.35 ERA) at ERI LHP Ramon Garcia (2-3, 5.73 ERA)

Monday: AKR LHP Eric Berger (1-1, 3.57 ERA) at ERI LHP Jon Kibler (6-8, 4.17 ERA)

The Book on Connor Graham... - High Strikeouts - 7, set 8/9 vs. New Britain - Most Hits Allowed - 5, set 8/9 vs. New Britain - Longest Outing - 6.0 IP, set 8/9 vs. New Britain - Most Walks Allowed - 4, set 8/4 vs. CON and 8/9 vs. NBR

- Shortest Outing - 3.0 IP (relief), set 8/4 vs. Connecticut - HR Allowed (Season) - 2

- Acquired from the Colorado Rockies July 23rd in exchange for RHP Rafael Betancourt

- Native of Bowling Green and was originally drafted by the Rockies in the fifth-round out of Miami (OH) in 2007

- Surrendered a first-inning grand slam in his last start, but allowed only a single over his final four innings

- Throws a four-seam fastball between 90-95 mph, plus a slider and a changeup

- Aeros are 1-2 when Graham starts; Modesto was 11-5

- Last time out: Took the LOSS in a 4-1 defeat at New Britain 8/15 (5.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 1 WP)

UAEROS REGULAR SEASON BREAKDOWN ('09)

CURRENT STREAK...................................................... W3 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........................................................... 6-4 BEST RECORD.................................................. 76-47 (August 19th) HOME RECORD............................................................ 40-21 WORST RECORD..................................................... 2-1 (April 10th) ROAD RECORD............................................................ 36-26 SEASON vs. BOWIE..................................................................... 16-8

Aerodynamics...

One Hit Wonders...The Aeros' pitching thoroughly shut down Bowie hitting last night, as the triumvirate of Scott Barnes, Erik Stiller, and Josh Judy allowed just an infield single in Akron's 3-0 win before 3,534 fans at Canal Park. The left-hander Berger started and delivered six dominant frames before right-handers Stiller and Judy combined to record the final nine outs in order out of the bullpen. The Aeros didn't get much offensively as Baysox starter Tim Bascom turned in his own quality start despite losing his seventh straight decision, but a two-run homer by 3B Lonnie Chisenhall in the second provided all the runs Akron would need (C Carlos Santana brought home a key insurance run with a two-out RBI single in the sixth). Bowie managed only three base runners all night, and none made it past first base.

Berger and Fries...Berger was fantastic for the second straight start last night, allowing a hit and two walks while notching seven strikeouts in six scoreless frames. The performance marked his second straight quality start and first victory as an Aero, and Danny Figueroa's infield single in the sixth inning snapped a run of 11.2 consecutive hitless innings for the left-hander. Berger has now allowed two runs and three hits while striking out 11 batters in 12 innings over his last two starts, and both runs scored on a two-run homer. To illustrate the point further, Berger has allowed one hit to the last 42 hitters he has faced.

Magic Kingdom...Around the league last night, Erie lost both the conclusion of Tuesday's suspended game and the scheduled seven-inning contest at Waterfront Park in Trenton, while Reading squeaked past Portland 19-1. Thus, Akron's magic number to clinch the Southern Division title is 11 over the R-Phils, while the magic number to clinch a playoff spot is eight over Erie and seven over Bowie. We include both Erie and Bowie since only a half-game separates those clubs in the standings, and it's entirely possible they could flip-flop multiple times in the wild card race by the end of the season.

Around the System...Despite being two-games under the .500 mark at 25-27 in the second half, the Class A Kinston Indians now control their own destiny for the final playoff spot in the Carolina League. The K-Tribe trails Winston-Salem by one game in the second-half standings, but since Winston-Salem won the first-half title the wild card spot goes to the second place team in the second half, and Kinston enters play tonight with a one-game lead over the Salem Red Sox. Elsewhere, short-season Mahoning Valley has opened up a four-game lead on Williamsport in the Pinckney Division of the New York-Penn League.

Did You Know...SS Carlos Rivero finished 0-3 last night, but is still hitting .291 (51-175) with 19 walks, 10 doubles, six homers, 22 runs scored and 24 RBI in his last 49 games dating to June 26th and continues to lead all Eastern League shortstops with a .970 fielding percentage.

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Eastern League Stories from August 20, 2009


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