EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Notes

Published on April 9, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


Game #6 - Road Game #6 - Wednesday, April 9, 2008 - 6:35 P.M.

Akron Aeros (2-3) at Binghamton Mets (3-3)

Cleveland Indians New York Mets

Today's Starters: Akron - LHP Chuck Lofgren (0-0, 5.40 ERA)

Binghamton - RHP Jose Sanchez (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

Upcoming Probables:

Thursday: AKR LHP David Huff (0-0, 6.75 ERA) vs. BOW RHP David Hernandez (0-0, 1.93 ERA)

Friday: AKR RHP Frank Herrmann (1-0, 11.12 ERA) vs. BOW RHP Jason Berken (0-1, 3.60 ERA)

Saturday: AKR LHP Ryan Edell (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. BOW RHP Chris Tillman (0-0, 9.00 ERA)

Sunday: AKR RHP Kevin Dixon (0-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. BOW LHP Chris Waters (1-0, 1.13 ERA)

The Book on Chuck Lofgren...

- High Strikeouts - 1, set 4/3 at Harrisburg - Most Hits Allowed - 7, set 4/3 at Harrisburg

- Longest Outing - 3.1 IP, set 4/3 at Harrisburg - Most Walks Allowed - 5, set 4/3 at Harrisburg

- Shortest Outing - 3.1 IP, set 4/3 at Harrisburg - HR Allowed (Season) - 1

- Paced the Aeros with a 12-7 record last year, and his dozen victories tied for third-most in the league

- Tabbed by Baseball America as the no.-2 prospect in the Cleveland organization

Throws a four-seam fastball between 88-94 mph, plus a two-seamer, curve, slider and change

Aeros are 0-1 when Lofgren starts

Last time out: Took a NO-DECISION in an 8-5 (10) defeat at Harrisburg 4/3 (3.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 2 WP)

AEROS REGULAR SEASON BREAKDOWN ('08)

CURRENT STREAK - ............................ W1 LONGEST WINNING STREAK - . 1 (2x, last 4/8 - current)

LAST 5 GAMES - ......................................................... 2-3 LONGEST LOSING STREAK - .................................. 2 (4/3 - 4/5)

LAST 10 GAMES - ...................................................... 2-3 BEST RECORD - ........................................................ 2-3 (April 8th)

HOME RECORD - ........................................................ 0-0 WORST RECORD - ................................................... 0-2 (April 5th)

ROAD RECORD - .................................. 2-3 SEASON VS. BINGHAMTON - ......................... 1-1

Aerodynamics...

Chicks Dig the Long Ball...Akron evened its three-game series with Binghamton with a 3-2 victory last night, highlighted by solo home runs from 1B Matt Whitney, 3B Wes Hodges, and C Chris Gimenez. Whitney got Akron on the board in the top of the fourth with his second bomb of the year, yet the Aeros still found themselves trailing by a run after six complete. That changed in a hurry in the top of the seventh however, as Binghamton called on reliever Edgar Alfonzo. DH Michael Aubrey grounded out to start the frame, but Hodges followed with his second dinger of the season to tie the game at 2-2. Two batters later Gimenez put the Aeros ahead to stay, going the opposite way to right field with his first homer of the year. From there the Akron bullpen hung on, as RHP J.D. Martin worked around a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh, RHP Bubbie Buzachero stranded runners at second and third to close the eighth, and RHP Randy Newsom survived a one-out double in the bottom of the ninth for his first save.

Double Trouble Part 1...Credit the Aeros hurlers for making big pitches when they needed to, as they induced three double plays from B-Mets hitters. Akron starter Kevin Dixon got the first twin killing in the bottom of the fourth, and J.D. Martin got double plays in both the sixth and seventh innings. In the bottom of the sixth Martin inherited runners at first and second with nobody out, but helped his cause by fielding Salomon Manriquez's come-backer and starting a 1-6-3 double play. The next inning Martin allowed a leadoff single to Jose Coronado, but rebounded and got Ambiorix Concepcion to roll into a 5-4-3 double play. It was Concepcion's league-leading third GIDP of the year.

Double Trouble Part 2...Binghamton finished with six doubles last night, with four coming off Dixon in his five-plus innings of work. The half-dozen two-baggers are the most in an Eastern League game this season.

Slow to Warm...With regular leadoff man Trevor Crowe out for the third straight game last night with back tightness, CF Jose Constanza got the call in the top spot in the order once again. Unfortunately, neither Constanza nor no.-2 hitter SS Josh Rodriguez have been able to generate many RBI opportunities for the heart of the order in the early going. Constanza is still without a hit to open the season, going 0-4 last night and now sitting at 0-19 through the first five games. Rodriguez, meanwhile, is mired in an 0-15 slump and is hitting just .048 (1-21) on the year.

Did You Know...Aeros hitters have struck out just 26 times this year (fewest in the league), but the pitchers have recorded just 26 punch-outs of their own (second-fewest in the league).

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Eastern League Stories from April 9, 2008


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