EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Notes

Published on June 29, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


Game #81 - Home Game #44 - Sunday, June 29, 2008 - 2:05 P.M.

Akron Aeros (48-32) vs. Reading Phillies (31-48)

Cleveland Indians Philadelphia Phillies

Today's Starters: Akron - RHP Steven Wright (1-1, 4.22 ERA)

Reading - RHP Tyson Brummett (1-0, 4.30 ERA)

Upcoming Probables:

Monday: AKR TBA at ERI RHP Ben Fritz (2-3, 5.63 ERA)

Tuesday: AKR LHP Ryan Edell (3-5, 4.99 ERA) at ERI LHP Danny Christensen (5-5, 3.50 ERA)

Wednesday: AKR RHP Kevin Dixon (5-5, 4.66 ERA) at ERI LHP Luke French (5-7, 4.50 ERA)

Thursday: AKR LHP Scott Lewis (3-1, 5.63 ERA) at ERI RHP Josh Rainwater (5-3, 4.65 ERA)

The Book on Steven Wright...

1B- High Strikeouts - 8, set 4/12 at Potomac - Most Hits Allowed - 9, set 5/24 vs. WSW and 6/8 vs. MYR

- Longest Outing - 7.0 IP, set 5/29 vs. Frederick - Most Walks Allowed - 3 (three times), last 5/13 vs. Wilmington

- Shortest Outing - 3.0 IP, set 4/4 vs. Winston-Salem - HR Allowed (Season) - 8

- Made four day-game starts for Kinston and was 0-1 with a 1.71 ERA and is making his first day start for Akron today

Carries better than a 3.5:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio (68:18) for the season into this afternoon's contest

Throws a four-seam fastball between 88-92 mph, as well as a two-seamer, curve, slider, and change

Kinston was 7-7 when Wright started; Akron is 1-1 in Wright's starts

Last time out: Took the LOSS in a 5-0 defeat vs. Bowie 6/24 (5.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 1 WP)

UAEROS REGULAR SEASON BREAKDOWN ('08)

CURRENT STREAK - ................................................. L1 LONGEST WINNING STREAK - .......................... 10 (6/4 - 6/14)

LAST 5 GAMES - ......................................................... 2-3 LONGEST LOSING STREAK - 3 (5/2 - 5/4 and 6/24 (1) - 6/25) LAST 10 GAMES - ...................................................... 5-5 BEST RECORD - .................................................. 46-28 (June 23rd)

HOME RECORD - ........................................................ 27-16 WORST RECORD - .............................................. 8-13 (April 25th)

ROAD RECORD - ........................................................ 21-16 SEASON vs. READING - .............................................................. 5-3

Aerodynamics...

Tough Luck...After claiming a 16-6 victory Friday over the Phillies, Reading starter J.D. Durbin halted the Aeros bats last night, limiting them to just two runs in a 7-2 Akron loss. The Aeros managed eight hits on the evening but hit into three double plays, and Reading's defense prevented several other base-knocks as every Akron scorcher seemed to find the glove of a player in powder-blue. Reading staked two runs in the second inning and four runs in the fourth to claim a 6-0 lead off Aeros starter Scott Lewis. RHP Jim Deters shut the Phillies down for the next two innings, but Jeremy Slayden led off the seventh with a homer into the bullpen to make it 7-0. The Aeros put up their first run in the seventh on an RBI single to right by 2B Brandon Pinckney. The Aeros scored the final run of the game in the eighth when CF Jose Constanza led off with a single and moved to second on an error by first baseman Michael Eylward that also allowed LF Trevor Crowe to reach. SS Josh Rodriguez followed by lacing a single to center, scoring Constanza to make it 7-2. But with runners on the corners and no outs, RF Bronson Sardinha smoked a rocket right at the feet of Eylward, who snagged the liner and doubled off Rodriguez. The double play cut the rally short and 3B Wes Hodges struck out to end the inning.

Heating Up...Akron CF Jose Constanza has swung a hot bat over the last two weeks as he has hits in 11 of his last 13 games. Over that span, the left-hander has a .375 batting average (18-48) with 12 runs scored and just four strikeouts to five walks. The Santo Domingo, DR native's overall batting average has lifted from .267 to .287 during his hot spell. SS Josh Rodriguez is on a similar streak, with hits in nine of his last 11 games. Over the 11 games, Rodriguez is hitting .356 (16-45) with a home run, 10 RBI, two doubles, two triples, and seven runs scored. The Houston, TX native has also struck out just seven times in the 11 games with five walks, while raising his batting average from .254 to .269 on the year.

Play Quicker, Guys...As Aeros fans and media may have noticed, the Aeros have played some lengthy games this season. Of their 80 contests, the Aeros have played three hours or more 25 times (31 percent). In the 25 games the Aeros are 12-13, which means when they play in under three hours, they are a healthy 36-19 (.655 winning percentage). Monday, the Aeros played their first four-hour game of the year in an 11-10 win over Bowie, which was played in an efficient 4:17.

All-Star Potential...On Wednesday, the Eastern League will announce its All-Star rosters for the game to be played July 16 in Manchester, NH. Two Aeros with great shots at a selection are 3B Wes Hodges and closer Randy Newsom. Hodges leads the EL with 62 RBI (eight more than Reading's Jeremy Slayden, who is second) and carries a .307 batting average with nine homers. Newsom leads the EL with 22 saves in 25 chances and is 5-0 with a 1.06 ERA.

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Eastern League Stories from June 29, 2008


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