EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Notes

July 4, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


Game #86 - Road Game #42 - Friday, July 4, 2008 - 7:05 P.M.

Akron Aeros (52-33) at Binghamton Mets (48-37)

Cleveland Indians New York Mets

Today's Starters: Akron - RHP Steven Wright (1-1, 5.06 ERA)

Binghamton - RHP Tobi Stoner (0-2, 6.98 ERA)

Upcoming Probables:

Saturday: AKR RHP Frank Herrmann (8-3, 5.04 ERA) at BIN RHP Bobby Parnell (8-4, 4.04 ERA)

Sunday: AKR LHP Ryan Edell (4-5, 4.75 ERA) at BIN RHP Jose Sanchez (8-4, 3.86 ERA)

Monday: AKR RHP Kevin Dixon (6-5, 4.42 ERA) at BIN LHP Jonathon Niese (5-6, 3.13 ERA)

Tuesday: AKR LHP Scott Lewis (3-2, 5.28 ERA) vs. BOW RHP Chorye Spoone (3-3, 4.57 ERA)

The Book on Steven Wright...

1B- High Strikeouts - 5, set 6/24 vs. Bowie - Most Hits Allowed - 8, set 6/24 vs. Bowie

- Longest Outing - 5.2 IP, set 6/19 at Bowie - Most Walks Allowed - 3, set 6/29 vs. Reading

- Shortest Outing - 5.0 IP, set 6/24 vs. Bowie - HR Allowed (Season) - 3

- Opened the year with Class A Kinston and went 2-4 with a 2.99 ERA in 14 starts before being promoted June 19th

Named to the Carolina League All-Star team this year but could not participate because of his promotion

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

Aeros are 2-1 when Wright starts

Last time out: Took a NO-DECISION in a 7-6 victory vs. Reading 6/29 (5.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 1 HB)

UAEROS REGULAR SEASON BREAKDOWN ('08)

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

LAST 5 GAMES - ......................................................... 4-1 LONGEST LOSING STREAK - 3 (5/2 - 5/4 and 6/24 (1) - 6/25) LAST 10 GAMES - ...................................................... 6-4 BEST RECORD - ..................................................... 52-32 (July 2nd)

HOME RECORD - ........................................................ 28-16 WORST RECORD - .............................................. 8-13 (April 25th)

ROAD RECORD - ........................................................ 24-17 SEASON vs. BINGHAMTON - .................................................... 2-4

Aerodynamics...

Can't Win 'Em All...After hanging 25 runs on Erie pitching in the first three games of the series and socking seven home runs in Wednesday's victory (one shy of tying the single-game franchise record), the Aeros managed next to nothing against SeaWolves starter Josh Rainwater in last night's 2-0 loss. The defeat marked the fourth time Akron has been shutout this season (the Aeros have posted six shutouts), although Akron maintained its 4.5 game cushion over Bowie in the Southern Division. RF Stephen Head led the way offensively, finishing 2-4 for his 19th multi-hit game of the year while also accounting for half of Akron's four hits on the night. The native of Raymond, MS also extended his hitting streak to 10 games, and is hitting .381 (16-42) with four doubles, four homers, nine runs scored and nine RBI over that stretch.

The Future is Now...Aeros 3B Wes Hodges received a nice honor yesterday, being named to the U.S. roster for the 10th Annual XM Satellite Radio All-Star Futures Games on July 13th at Yankee Stadium as part of Taco Bell All-Star Sunday. Hitting .303 with nine home runs and a league-leading 64 RBI, Hodges is one of eight players who will participate in both the Futures Game and the Eastern League All-Star Game. The former Georgia Tech standout is also one of 60 players being considered for the 24-man United States Olympic Team that will be selected July 16th. Kinston RHP Hector Rondon is the only other Cleveland minor league participating in the Futures Game; the native of Guatire, VZ is 6-3 with a 3.31 ERA in 16 starts for the K-Tribe this season. Rondon ranks in the top-10 in the Carolina League in ERA, in the top-five in strikeouts (89 in 81.2 innings), has won four straight starts, and has not lost May 9th against Potomac.

Fantastic Four...Four Aeros will represent the Southern Division in the Eastern League All-Star game this year, as infielders Wes Hodges and Josh Rodriguez, and relievers J.D. Martin and Scott Roehl were honored for their first-half accomplishments. Hodges leads the league with 64 RBI in 83 games and ranks second in the league with 94 hits, and Rodriguez is hitting .271 with four homers and 37 RBI, is second in the league with 54 walks, and is tied for fifth with 51 runs scored. On the hill, Martin is 7-3 this season with a 3.26 ERA in 21 appearances. He has not allowed an earned run in his last 15.1 innings, allowing just eight hits and four walks in that span while striking out 20. Roehl, a late addition to the roster after closer Randy Newsom was promoted to Class AAA Buffalo, is 1-2 with a 2.86 ERA on the year and has been lights-out over his last seven appearances. The native of Kenosha, WI has worked 11.2 consecutive scoreless innings, including 1.2 shutout frames last night. Roehl has racked up 14 strikeouts in those 11.2 innings, and opponents are hitting an anemic .105 (4-38) against him.

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Eastern League Stories from July 4, 2008


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