EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Notes

Published on May 21, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


Game #42 - Home Game #22 - Wednesday, May 21, 2008 - 7:05 P.M.

Akron Aeros (20-21) vs. Altoona Curve (15-26)

Cleveland Indians Pittsburgh Pirates

Today's Starters: Akron - LHP David Huff (3-1, 2.14 ERA)

Altoona - RHP Yoslan Herrera (3-3, 2.57 ERA)

Upcoming Probables:

Thursday: AKR LHP Chuck Lofgren (1-3, 5.59 ERA) vs. ALT RHP Josh Hill (3-4, 4.42 ERA)

Friday: AKR RHP Jake Westbrook (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. ERI LHP Jon Connolly (0-3, 7.07 ERA)

Saturday: AKR RHP Frank Herrmann (4-3, 5.23 ERA) vs. ERI RHP Luis Marte (0-1, 3.65 ERA)

Sunday: AKR LHP Ryan Edell (1-3, 5.57 ERA) vs. ERI LHP Luke French (2-4, 4.15 ERA)

2BThe Book on David Huff...

1B- High Strikeouts - 8, set three times, last 5/7 vs. Altoona - Most Hits Allowed - 6, set 4/10 vs. Bowie

- Longest Outing - 7.0 IP, set three times, last 5/15 at Altoona - Most Walks Allowed - 3, set 4/26 vs. Harrisburg

- Shortest Outing - 4.0 IP, set 4/5 at Harrisburg - HR Allowed (Season) - 4

- Allowed seven earned runs in his first two starts, but just four in his last six outings (0.95 ERA and .140 BAA in last 38.0 IP)

* Named Bank of America Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for his two-hit shutout of Altoona last Thursday

* Throws a four-seam fastball between 86-90 mph, plus a two-seamer, curve, slider and circle change

* Aeros are 4-4 when Huff pitches

* Last time out: Earned the WIN in a 3-0 victory at Altoona 5/15 (7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 CG, 1 SHO)

UAEROS REGULAR SEASON BREAKDOWN ('08)

CURRENT STREAK - ................................................. W2 LONGEST WINNING STREAK - ....... 2 (6x, last 5/19 - current)

LAST 5 GAMES - ......................................................... 3-2 LONGEST LOSING STREAK - .................................. 3 (5/2 - 5/4) LAST 10 GAMES - ...................................................... 7-3 BEST RECORD - .................................................... 20-21 (May 21st)

HOME RECORD - ........................................................ 13-8 WORST RECORD - .............................................. 8-13 (April 25th)

ROAD RECORD - ........................................................ 7-13 SEASON vs. ALTOONA - ............................................................ 7-4

3BAerodynamics...

* Whistlin' Dixie...Akron starter Kevin Dixon was phenomenal last night, blanking Altoona for eight innings as the Aeros took game two of this four-game series, 3-0. Dixon surrendered just two singles on the night, did not walk a man, allowed only one runner to get past first base, faced just two hitters over the minimum, retired the final 13 hitters he faced, tied Akron's season-high by working eight innings, and did it all in a tidy 99-pitch effort. He also lowered his ERA by almost a full run from 5.26 to 4.34 while turning his team-leading fourth straight quality start. Over that four-start span Dixon is 2-0 with a 2.36 ERA, with 23 strikeouts against only seven walks in 26.2 innings of work.

* Shutout City...Dixon teamed up with closer Randy Newsom to notch Akron's fourth shutout of the year last night, tied for third-most in the Eastern League. It was the second shutout in less than a week for the Aeros, following David Huff's effort Thursday morning in Altoona. Akron pitching has also turned in 17.1 consecutive scoreless innings in this series, as the Aeros rebounded from three first-inning runs in the series opener Monday to shutout the Curve over the final eight frames. This is the longest shutout streak for Akron since the club tossed back-to-back shutouts in Binghamton April 25th and 26th of 2006 (won 8-0 on the 25th and 4-0 on the 26th).

* The Road Back Part 1...The Aeros will receive their first Major League rehab assignment today, as Cleveland closer Joe Borowski will be in uniform and is scheduled to pitch the 8th inning. Borowski went on the disabled list April 15th with a strained right triceps after leading the American League in saves last year. Signed as a free agent December 6th of 2006, Borowski converted 45 of 53 save opportunities (84.9%) and finished just one save shy of tying Jose Mesa's club record of 46 saves set in 1995. Borowski was originally drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 32nd round in 1989, and made his big league debut with Baltimore in 1995. He has also appeared at the Major League level with the Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and Florida Marlins and has 127 career saves in 410 big league games.

* The Road Back Part 2...Another key component to Cleveland's plans in 2008 will be at Canal Park Friday evening, as RHP Jake Westbrook will make a rehab start against Erie. Westbrook, who went 6-9 with a 4.32 ERA for the Indians last year, landed on the disabled list April 22nd (retroactive to April 20th) with a strained left intercostal muscle and worked 3.2 innings for Lake County in his first rehab start Sunday before the game was interrupted by rain. He opened the year strongly for Cleveland, going 1-2 with a 2.73 ERA and turning in a quality start in each of his first four outings.

* Roster Move...Akron sent RHP T.J. Burton to Mahoning Valley today and received RHP Bubbie Buzachero from Buffalo.

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Eastern League Stories from May 21, 2008


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