Aeros Media Notes
September 1, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
Game #136 - Road Game #71 - Tuesday, September 1, 2009 - 6:35 P.M. Akron Aeros (82-53) at Altoona Curve (60-75)
Cleveland Indians Pittsburgh Pirates
Today's Starters: Akron - RHP Connor Graham (1-3, 5.08 ERA)
Altoona - LHP Donnie Veal (0-0, 1.00 ERA)
Upcoming Probables:
Wednesday: AKR LHP Scott Barnes (1-2, 7.20 ERA) at ALT RHP Mike Crotta (6-8, 4.95 ERA)
Thursday: AKR LHP Eric Berger (2-1, 3.18 ERA) at ALT LHP Kyle Bloom (6-8, 3.96 ERA)
Friday: AKR RHP Josh Tomlin (13-9, 4.30 ERA) vs. ERI TBA
Saturday: AKR RHP Jeanmar Gomez (10-4, 3.38 ERA) vs. ERI TBA
The Book on Connor Graham... - High Strikeouts - 7, set 8/9 vs. New Britain - Most Hits Allowed - 6, set 8/26 (2) at Bowie - Longest Start - 7.0 IP, set 8/21 at Erie - Most Walks Allowed - 4 (set three times), last 8/26 (2) at Bowie
- Shortest Start - 3.1 IP, set 7/29 vs. Erie - HR Allowed (Season) - 3
- 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
- Power pitcher has recorded 28 strikeouts in 28.1 innings, although he has allowed 17 walks
- Throws a four-seam fastball between 90-95 mph, plus a slider and a changeup
- Aeros are 2-3 when Graham starts; Modesto was 11-5
- Last time out: Took the LOSS in a 5-2 defeat at Bowie 8/26 (2) (4.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, 1 WP)
UAEROS REGULAR SEASON BREAKDOWN ('09)
CURRENT STREAK...................................................... W1 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........................................................... 5-5 BEST RECORD.................................................. 79-49 (August 25th) HOME RECORD............................................................ 42-23 WORST RECORD..................................................... 2-1 (April 10th) ROAD RECORD............................................................ 40-30 SEASON vs. ALTOONA.............................................................. 14-7
Aerodynamics...
Splitsville...It wasn't exactly what the Aeros envisioned when the Binghamton Mets came to town sporting the worst record in the Eastern League, but Akron did manage a split with the B-Mets following last night's wild 10-7 victory. The Aeros blew what had been a 6-0 lead after three innings as Binghamton exploded for five runs in the top of the fourth before evening the score with a run in the sixth, but Akron had enough in the tank to recover. CF Jose Constanza sparked the go-ahead rally with a one-out single in the bottom of the sixth, and after 2B Cristo Arnal bunted his way on All-Star C Carlos Santana drove the next pitch into the right field corner for an RBI double. LF Jerad Head was then hit by a pitch with the bases loaded later in the inning to score Arnal and make it 8-6, and a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly in the seventh gave the Aeros some insurance.
Go Go Gadget Legs...The sixth-inning rally wasn't the only scoring Constanza was involved in last night, as the speedster out of the Dominican Republic created havoc all night. Constanza reached base in all five of his plate appearances yesterday, walking three times, collecting two base hits, and tying a team season-high with four runs scored for the second time in five games. The center fielder now leads the Eastern League with 90 runs scored, and has a chance to match Grady Sizemore's 96 runs scored in 2003 for second place on Akron's single-season list (Omar Ramirez's franchise record of 116 runs scored in 1993 is probably safe). Constanza also reached another milestone last night, as his stolen base in the bottom of the second gave him 41 for the season and tied him with Eider Torres for the team single-season record. The 41 bags are also a career-high for Constanza, as are his 123 games played this year, his 90 runs, his 128 hits, his 15 doubles (tied), his 43 RBI, and his 68 walks.
Head of the Class...Jerad Head had another huge game last night and has been on quite a tear as of late, as the native of Topeka, KS drove in a whopping nine runs in the four-game series with Binghamton, including a pair of four-RBI nights in the victories Saturday and yesterday. Head is batting .351 (11-37) in his last 11 games, and in his last five contests is hitting .500 (9-18) with four doubles, two triples, five runs scored and 11 RBI. His two triples last night tied a franchise record.
Playoff Scenarios...With a week to play the playoff race in both divisions is as jumbled as ever. Four teams in both the Southern and Northern divisions are still mathematically alive, with only 1.5 games separating the top two wild card hopefuls in the South and just one game deciding second place in the North. Reading swept a doubleheader from Bowie yesterday with both games going to extra innings to get some breathing room over third-place Erie, while in the North defending league champion Trenton defeated New Britain to pull within a game of the wild card. In the Indians system, congratulations to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, who have won the New York-Penn League's Pinckney Division.
Eastern League Stories from September 1, 2009
- Mills Delivers in Extras, Aeros Win 6-3 - Akron RubberDucks
- New Faces Neutralize B-Mets - Chesapeake Baysox
- B-Mets Commit Season-Worst Four Errors In 6-1 Loss At Bowie - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Curve Lose In 12 Innings 6-3 - Altoona Curve
- Portland stopped by the Thunder, lose 10-6 - Portland Sea Dogs
- Trenton Holds Off Portland 10-6 - Trenton Thunder
- McCardell Lifts Cats to Shutout Win - New Britain Rock Cats
- Gorneault hits 10th HR, adds 3 RBIs in 5-2 win - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Pill Sets Franchise Record in 5-2 Loss - Connecticut Defenders
- Rock Cats Have Two Late Season Roster Moves - New Britain Rock Cats
- Aeros Media Notes - Akron RubberDucks
- Baysox Announce Roster Moves - Chesapeake Baysox
- Curve Back for the Final Homestand of the 2009 Season - Altoona Curve
- 56th Stryker Brigade to be Honored at Home Finale - Altoona Curve
- Reading's Dan Douglas Named Winner Of The 2009 Eastern League Diamond Pro Sports Field Manager of th - EL1
- Phillies Return Favor, Sweep Douple Dip - Chesapeake Baysox
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