Aeros Media Notes
September 3, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
Game #138 - Road Game #73 - Thursday, September 3, 2009 - 6:35 P.M. Akron Aeros (84-53) at Altoona Curve (60-77)
Cleveland Indians Pittsburgh Pirates
Today's Starters: Akron - LHP Eric Berger (2-1, 3.18 ERA)
Altoona - LHP Kyle Bloom (6-8, 3.96 ERA)
Upcoming Probables:
Friday: AKR RHP Josh Tomlin (13-9, 4.30 ERA) vs. ERI RHP Jared Gayhart (1-0, 4.76 ERA)
Saturday: AKR RHP Jeanmar Gomez (10-4, 3.38 ERA) vs. ERI RHP L.J. Gagnier (1-0, 2.84 ERA)
Sunday: AKR RHP Connor Graham (1-3, 5.13 ERA) vs. ERI RHP Jonah Nickerson (8-12, 5.37 ERA)
Monday: AKR LHP Scott Barnes (1-2, 6.66 ERA) vs. ERI LHP Ramon Garcia (4-3, 5.76 ERA)
The Book on Eric Berger... - High Strikeouts - 7, set 8/19 vs. Bowie - Most Hits Allowed - 13, set 8/7 vs. New Britain - Longest Start - 6.0 IP, set 8/13 at CON and 8/19 vs. BOW - Most Walks Allowed - 4, set 8/24 at Erie
- Shortest Start - 5.0 IP, set 8/24 at Erie - HR Allowed (Season) - 1
- Making his sixth start for Akron this evening after being promoted from Class A Kinston August 5th
- Ranked second in the Carolina League with a 2.45 ERA, while his 100 strikeouts in 110.1 innings pitched were third
- Allowed 13 hits in his first Akron start, but just 13 hits in his last four starts (spanning 22.2 innings)
- Throws a four-seam fastball between 89-92 mph, plus a curveball and changeup
- Aeros are 3-2 when Berger starts
- Last time out: Earned the WIN in a 13-3 victory vs. Binghamton 8/29 (5.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 GIDP)
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............................................................. 4-1 LONGEST LOSING STREAK.................................... 6 (7/9 - 7/16) LAST 10 GAMES........................................................... 6-4 BEST RECORD.............................................. 84-53 (September 2nd) HOME RECORD............................................................ 42-23 WORST RECORD..................................................... 2-1 (April 10th) ROAD RECORD............................................................ 42-30 SEASON vs. ALTOONA.............................................................. 16-7
Aerodynamics...
Too Much, Too Late...Akron and Altoona battled back and forth for the first half of the ballgame last night, but a four-run rally in the top of the seventh put the Aeros ahead to stay en route to a 9-6 victory before 3,827 fans at Blair County Ballpark. Akron trailed by a run at the end of five innings, but Curve reliever Jared Hughes uncorked a wild pitch with two down in the top of the sixth to score Carlos Rivero and tie the game at 4-4. The Aeros then got to Hughes for all four runs in the seventh, as CF Jose Constanza sparked the winning rally by drawing a leadoff walk and stealing second base. He came home to score on a fielder's choice by 1B Beau Mills, LF Matt McBride added an RBI double, and Rivero had a huge hit for the second straight night, driving a two-run, two-out single to make it 8-4. Altoona tried to come back with single runs in the eighth and ninth, but was unable to get the potential tying run to the plate before RHP Erik Stiller recorded the final out.
Give Me More Gomez...Aeros pitcher Jeanmar Gomez was honored for his phenomenal season today, being named Eastern League Pitcher of the Year. Gomez is just the second Akron pitcher to win the award, following Adam Miller in 2006. Gomez began 2009 with Class A Kinston and went 2-2 with a 2.63 ERA before joining the Aeros April 29th. The right-hander reeled off four straight wins in his first four Double-A starts, capped by the first perfect game and individual no-hitter in franchise history May 21st at Trenton. Gomez needed just 87 pitches to complete his masterpiece, and it was only the second nine-inning perfect game in the 86-year history of the Eastern League. The gem also provided the bulk of another rare feat for Gomez, as he retired 36 consecutive batters over three starts between May 14th and 26th. Overall this season, Gomez has gone 10-4 with a 3.38 ERA in 21 starts for Akron. He is tied for fourth in the league in wins, ranks third in ERA, second in WHIP (1.24) and sixth with 105 strikeouts in 117.1 innings. The native of Caracas, VZ won the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week award for the week ending May 24th, pitched a perfect inning in the All-Star game at Waterfront Park in Trenton, and was named as the right-handed starter on the season ending All-Star team.
Playoff Craziness...In the Eastern League, Erie and Reading are currently tied for the wild card lead in the Southern Division with Bowie just two games back with five to play...In the Carolina League, Kinston is currently in a three-way tie for first place but will need to finish ahead of Salem outright to avoid a one-game playoff Tuesday...Mahoning Valley has clinched the Pinckney Division title in the New York-Penn League.
Did You Know...Aeros 3B Lonnie Chisenhall has been named to the Carolina League season ending All-Star team. Chisenhall hit .276 with 18 homers and 79 RBI in 99 games for Kinston, and still ranks in the top-five in the league in dingers and RBI.
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Eastern League Stories from September 3, 2009
- Power Surge Propels Baysox To Victory - Chesapeake Baysox
- Connecticut beats New Hampshire, 6-5, in 13 innings - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Wabick Homers, B-Mets Blow Early Lead, Lose 6-4 - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Defenders Win 6-5 in 13 - Connecticut Defenders
- Aeros Complete Sweep, Blank Curve 4-0 - Akron RubberDucks
- Curve Lose fifth Game - Altoona Curve
- Rock Cats Fall Short - New Britain Rock Cats
- Johnson has Strong Outing but âDogs Lose 5-2 - Portland Sea Dogs
- Trenton Picks Up Big Win - Trenton Thunder
- Alvarez named M.V.P., Herrera Pitcher of the Year - Altoona Curve
- Aeros Media Notes - Akron RubberDucks
- Erie SeaWolves at Harrisburg Senators - Erie SeaWolves
- Jeanmar Gomez of the Akron Aeros is named the 2009 Eastern League Pitcher of the Year - EL1
- Gomez Named EL Pitcher of the Year - Akron RubberDucks
- Sea Dogs to Return to Teal on "1994 Night" - Portland Sea Dogs
- Scheduled Events for Season Finale at BCB - Altoona Curve
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