Aeros Notes
August 12, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
Game #124 - Home Game #62 - Tuesday, August 12, 2008 - 7:05 P.M.
Akron Aeros (72-51) vs. Connecticut Defenders (61-60)
Cleveland Indians San Francisco Giants
Today's Starters: Akron - RHP Steven Wright (3-1, 4.33 ERA)
Connecticut - RHP Joey Martinez (7-9, 2.65 ERA)
Upcoming Probables:
Wednesday: AKR LHP Ryan Edell (6-6, 3.93 ERA) vs. CT RHP Garrett Broshuis (12-8, 3.88 ERA)
Thursday: AKR RHP Kevin Dixon (8-8, 4.40 ERA) vs. CT LHP Ben Snyder (1-4, 6.92 ERA)
Friday: AKR LHP Scott Lewis (6-2, 2.33 ERA) vs. NB TBA
Saturday: AKR RHP Frank Herrmann (9-5, 4.17 ERA) vs. NB TBA
The Book on Steven Wright...
1B- High Strikeouts - 7, set 7/10 vs. Bowie - Most Hits Allowed - 8, set 6/24 vs. BOW & 7/17 vs. ERI
- Longest Outing - 7.0 IP, set 8/1 vs. HAR & 8/6 at ALT - Most Walks Allowed - 3, set 6/29 vs. REA & 7/10 vs. BOW
- Shortest Outing - 4.0 IP, set 7/4 at BIN & 7/10 vs. BOW - HR Allowed (Season) - 9
- Has pitched well in five starts since the All-Star break, going 2-0 with a 2.40 ERA
Is very tough against left-handers, who are hitting just .218 (19-87) off him with 18 strikeouts in 87 at-bats (righties hit .288)
Throws a four-seam fastball between 88-92 mph, as well as a two-seamer, curve, slider, and change
Aeros are 7-3 when Wright starts
Last time out: Earned the WIN in a 6-3 victory at Altoona 8/6 (7.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR)
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 (set 3x, last 7/20 - 7/21 (2)) LAST 10 GAMES - ...................................................... 5-5 BEST RECORD - ................................................... 61-35 (July 14th)
HOME RECORD - ........................................................ 36-25 WORST RECORD - .............................................. 8-13 (April 25th)
ROAD RECORD - ........................................................ 36-26 SEASON vs. CONNECTICUT - ................................................... 0-0
Aerodynamics...
Ninth Inning Stumble...RHP Frank Herrmann shone Sunday afternoon, holding the Thunder lineup to just four hits and two walks in 7.1 innings while striking out a season-high eight (he struck out 10 with Class AAA Buffalo on July 10th vs. Louisville). LHP Reid Santos lost Akron's 2-0 lead though, as Edwar Gonzalez socked a three-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to send the Thunder to a 3-2 win and close out a 4-4 road trip for the Aeros. CF Jose Constanza got Akron on the board almost by himself in the third inning. He led off with a single and promptly stole second and third bases before 2B Josh Rodriguez hit an RBI ground out for a 1-0 lead. The Aeros added another run in the fourth inning as LF Nathan Panther drew a walk to lead off, stole second, and moved to third on a wild pitch by Trenton starter Steven White. White retired the next two batters before SS Brandon Chaves tripled to right, scoring Panther. Herrmann left the game with one out and two on in the eighth, but Santos struck out the next two batters to end the inning. The ninth started harmlessly enough with a runner on and two down, but a walk to P.J. Pilittere set the stage for Gonzalez.
Uncharacteristic Loss...Sunday's loss was the first for the Aeros when they led going into the ninth inning. They are now 56-1 in such games, mostly because of the performance of closer Randy Newsom, who is 26 for 29 in save opportunities this season. RHP Scott Roehl, who became the closer during Newsom's one-month stint with Buffalo, is 5 for 7 in save opportunities and overall the Aeros have 36 saves, the second-highest total in the Eastern League behind Connecticut.
Grand Larceny...The Aeros stole six bases in eight attempts in the series finale Sunday, both season-highs. CF Jose Constanza stole three bases in four attempts, tying a franchise record, and pushing his season total to 23, which ties for third in the Eastern League. 2B Josh Rodriguez made his 11th swipe of the season, LF Nathan Panther stole his fourth base of the year, and DH Bronson Sardinha stole his third. The Aeros have 72 stolen bases in 100 attempts this year.
Defending Home Field...Tonight is the first meeting of the year between Akron and Connecticut. Last season, the Aeros went 4-1 against the Defenders, who are currently in fourth place in the Northern Division and just two games out of a playoff spot. Connecticut is second in the Eastern League in pitching with a 3.41 ERA while surrendering the second-fewest walks (375) in the league behind the Aeros (345). Tonight's starter Joey Martinez is has the fourth-best ERA in the league at 2.65. The Defenders enter the series with the second-lowest batting average (.254) and the third-lowest run output (532) in the Eastern League. CF Antoan Richardson leads the league with 29 stolen bases on the year.
Did You Know...Akron's magic number to clinch a playoff spot is 15.
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Eastern League Stories from August 12, 2008
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