EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Notes

Published on August 16, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


Game #128 - Home Game #66 - Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 7:05 P.M.

Akron Aeros (73-54) vs. New Britain Rock Cats (52-72)

Cleveland Indians Minnesota Twins

Today's Starters: Akron - LHP Ryan Edell (6-6, 3.93 ERA)

New Britain - RHP Jeff Manship (1-6, 5.04 ERA)

Upcoming Probables:

Sunday: AKR RHP Steven Wright (3-2, 4.47 ERA) vs. NBR LHP Kyle Asleton (4-6, 5.13 ERA)

Monday: OFF DAY

Tuesday: AKR RHP Kevin Dixon (8-9, 4.34 ERA) at CT TBA

Wednesday: AKR RHP J.D. Martin (9-3, 2.84 ERA) at CT TBA

The Book on Ryan Edell...

- High Strikeouts - 8, set 7/28 vs. Erie - Most Hits Allowed - 12, set 6/10 vs. New Hampshire

- Longest Outing - 8.0 IP, set 4/23 at Altoona - Most Walks Allowed - 3, set 4/18 at Bowie

- Shortest Outing - 1.2 IP, set 6/15 vs. Portland - HR Allowed (Season) - 11

- Has gone 3-1 with a 2.13 ERA in his last nine starts (eight quality starts), with 40 strikeouts and just six walks in 55 innings

- Command pitcher allowed five walks in his first 16.1 innings but just 15 free passes in his last 112 innings

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

Aeros are 13-10 when Edell starts

Last time out: Took a NO-DECISION in a 5-4 defeat at Trenton 8/7 (6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 HR, 1 HB)

UAEROS REGULAR SEASON BREAKDOWN ('08)

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

LAST 5 GAMES............................................................. 1-4 LONGEST LOSING STREAK............. 3 (set 4x, last 8/10 - 8/13) LAST 10 GAMES........................................................... 4-6 BEST RECORD....................................................... 61-35 (July 14th)

HOME RECORD............................................................ 37-28 WORST RECORD................................................... 8-13 (April 25th)

ROAD RECORD............................................................ 36-26 SEASON vs. NEW BRITAIN......................................................... 0-1

Aerodynamics...

Failure to Launch...Rock Cats starter Yohan Pina limited the Aeros to just one hit over eight innings as the Rock Cats blanked Akron 6-0 before a sellout crowd of 9,027 at Canal Park last night. CF Nathan Panther was the only Aero to get a hit off the right-hander, as he doubled to left field with one out in the fourth. Akron's next hits did not come until back-to-back singles by LF Bronson Sardinha and 2B Josh Rodriguez in the ninth off reliever Robert Delaney.

High Quality...Frank Herrmann kept Akron in the game last night, going six innings and allowing three runs on four hits for his fourth straight quality start. Herrmann retired the first seven men to start the game before the Rock Cats tallied the only run they would need in the third inning on a pair of doubles. The right-hander then held New Britain in check until the sixth, when David Winfree's two-run home run made it 3-0. Herrmann, who was undrafted out of Harvard in 2005, walked one with one strikeout in his six innings, and is tied for the team lead with nine wins on the year.

Major League Rehabbers...Indians C Victor Martinez made his first rehab start for the Aeros last night as the designated hitter, batting third in the lineup. He grounded out in the first inning, drew a walk in the fourth, and struck out looking in the sixth before receiving treatment on his right elbow. The 2002 Eastern League MVP should return Sunday for four at-bats as the DH after a workout in Cleveland today. Tribe 2B Josh Barfield is back in the lineup and leading off for Akron tonight as he recovers from a torn tendon in his left middle finger. He played three innings and went 0-2 Thursday.

Olympic Update...Team USA overcame a 4-0 deficit to beat Team Canada 5-4 early this morning in a key matchup in Olympic pool play. The Americans improved to 2-2 and are in the hunt to advance to the medal round, while Canada has ground to make up after falling to 1-3. The game featured two Aeros facing off against one another, as Matt LaPorta drew a walk for Team USA against Aeros RHP T.J. Burton of Canada in the eighth inning. LaPorta finished 0-2 with a hit by pitch, a walk, and a strikeout, while Burton surrendered two hits and two walks, but induced a double play in a scoreless eighth inning. Burton has worked two scoreless innings in the Games while LaPorta is 1-14 (.071) with a home run.

Something's Missing...Akron pitching has been nearly lights-out in August, but it's been the bats that have not caught up as the Aeros are 6-9 in the month, despite a league-leading 2.86 staff ERA. The Aeros are 12-19 since the All-Star break, and have scored just 3.5 runs per game (they scored 4.7 per game in the first half). Akron also hasn't tallied double-digit runs since July 10th and has strung together consecutive wins only twice since the break.

Steady Climb...With Harrisburg's loss to Portland last night, Akron's magic number to clinch a playoff spot dropped to 11.

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Eastern League Stories from August 16, 2008


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