EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Notes

Published on May 5, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


Game #30 - Home Game #14 - Monday, May 5, 2008 - 7:05 P.M.

Akron Aeros (12-17) vs. Altoona Curve (12-17)

Cleveland Indians Pittsburgh Pirates

Today's Starters: Akron - RHP Kevin Dixon (0-3, 6.31 ERA)

Altoona - RHP Yoslan Herrera (1-3, 3.96 ERA)

Upcoming Probables:

Tuesday: AKR LHP Chuck Lofgren (1-2, 6.85 ERA) vs. ALT RHP Josh Hill (2-2, 3.33 ERA)

Wednesday: AKR LHP David Huff (1-1, 2.78 ERA) vs. ALT LHP Corey Hamman (0-4, 5.28 ERA)

Thursday: AKR RHP Frank Herrmann (3-2, 4.28 ERA) vs. ALT RHP Jimmy Barthmaier (2-0, 5.83 ERA)

Friday: AKR LHP Ryan Edell (1-2, 4.50 ERA) vs. TRE TBA

2BThe Book on Kevin Dixon...

1B- High Strikeouts - 5, set 4/30 vs. Erie - Most Hits Allowed - 9, set 4/30 vs. Erie

- Longest Outing - 6.2 IP, set 4/30 vs. Erie - Most Walks Allowed - 5, set 4/19 at Bowie

- Shortest Outing - 2.1 IP, set 4/24 vs. Harrisburg - HR Allowed (Season) - 3

- Turned in his first quality start of the season in his last start

Holding left-handers to a .250 batting average (13-52), but right-handers are hitting .404 against him (21-52)

Throws a four-seam fastball between 87-92 mph, as well as a sinker (two-seamer), changeup, slider and splitter

Aeros are 2-3 when Dixon starts

Last time out: Took a NO-DECISION in an 8-4 victory vs. Erie 4/30 (6.2 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 2 HB)

UAEROS REGULAR SEASON BREAKDOWN ('08)

CURRENT STREAK - ............................ L3 LONGEST WINNING STREAK - 2 (3x, last 4/30 - 5/1)

LAST 5 GAMES - ......................................................... 2-3 LONGEST LOSING STREAK - ............................. 4 (4/18 - 4/22)

LAST 10 GAMES - ...................................................... 4-6 BEST RECORD - ...................................................... 6-7 (April 17th)

HOME RECORD - ........................................................ 7-6 WORST RECORD - .............................................. 7-13 (April 26th)

ROAD RECORD - .................................. 5-11 SEASON VS. ALTOONA - .................................. 1-2

3BAerodynamics...

Bedknobs and Broomsticks...The Aeros were swept out of Bowie yesterday, falling 8-5 in the matinee finale. 3B Wes Hodges gave Akron a short-lived 3-2 lead with a home run in the top of the fourth, but Bowie got all three runs right back in the bottom half of the innings. The Aeros later cut the deficit to a single run at 6-5 but the Baysox answered again, striking for a pair of two-out insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. Akron did mount a small rally in the top of the ninth, brining the tying run to the plate with only one out against Bowie closer Julio Manon, but 2B Chris de la Cruz flied out and SS Josh Rodriguez struck out to end the game.

Power Surge...Hodges's home run yesterday was his seventh of the year, tops on the club and tied with Harrisburg's Luke Montz for second in the league behind Luke Hughes of the New Britain Rock Cats. The power stroke has been a pleasant surprise for the former Georgia Tech star, as Hodges finished last season with 15 home runs in 393 at-bats for Kinston (one every 26.2 at-bats). This year Hodges has hit his seven bombs in just 111 at-bats, or one every 15.9 at-bats. At his current rate Hodges would hit 25 home runs if he equals his number of at-bats from 2007. The franchise record for home runs in a single season is 27, set by Rod McCall in 1996 and equaled by Jonathan van Every in 2005.

The Waiting is the Hardest Part...Aeros closer Randy Newsom didn't see any action over the weekend in Bowie, meaning he remains tied with Mike Soper for the franchise record for career saves. Soper notched his 24 saves over 67 appearances in 1990, 1992 and 1993, including 19 in 1992. Newsom, who made the All-Star team last year, has picked up his 24 saves in just 57 appearances (18 saves in 46 appearances last year, six saves in 11 appearances this season). When Newsom does record his next save it will mark the first franchise record set since 2004, when Scott Pratt took over first place in seven separate offensive categories and Brian Tallet moved into the top spot in career winning percentage.

Heating Up...SS Josh Rodriguez has slowly but surely brought his batting average up to a season-high entering play tonight. The native of Houston, TX was hitting a meager .154 two weeks into the year, but since then has hit in 12 of 15 games to raise his average to .264 following a three-hit performance yesterday. Rodriguez is hitting .362 (21-58) over his last 15 games, including six multi-hit games (three three-hit games and three two-hit games). The former Rice University standout has hit four of his five doubles over that span, and has also picked up eight of his 11 RBI and scored eight of his 15 runs. He currently ranks third on the team with eight multi-hit games on the year (Wes Hodges and Matt Whitney have 10 each).

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