EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Notes

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


Game #132 - Road Game #65 - Thursday, August 21, 2008 - 6:35 P.M.

Akron Aeros (74-57) at Connecticut Defenders (65-64)

Cleveland Indians San Francisco Giants

Today's Starters: Akron - RHP Frank Herrmann (9-6, 4.18 ERA)

Connecticut - RHP Dave McKae (7-7, 4.45 ERA)

Upcoming Probables:

Friday: AKR LHP Ryan Edell (6-7, 3.97 ERA) ERA) at NBR RHP Jeff Manship (2-6, 4.93 ERA)

Saturday: AKR RHP Steven Wright (3-3, 4.69 ERA) at NBR LHP Kyle Aselton (5-6, 4.89 ERA)

Sunday: AKR RHP Kevin Dixon (8-10, 4.59 ERA) at NBR RHP Jay Rainville (8-9, 6.22 ERA)

Monday: OFF DAY

The Book on Frank Herrmann...

- High Strikeouts - 8, set 8/10 at Trenton - Most Hits Allowed - 12, set 5/18 at Reading

- Longest Outing - 7.1 IP set 8/10 at Trenton - Most Walks Allowed - 3 (set four times), last 8/5 at ALT

- Shortest Outing - 2.1 IP, set 5/18 at Reading - HR Allowed (Season) - 9

- Has rolled off four straight quality starts, going 1-2 with a 2.13 ERA and 20 strikeouts against seven walks

- Has allowed exactly four hits in each of his last five starts

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

Aeros are 11-10 when Herrmann starts

Last time out: Took the LOSS in a 6-0 defeat vs. New Britain 8/15 (6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR)

UAEROS REGULAR SEASON BREAKDOWN ('08)

CURRENT STREAK...................................................... W1 LONGEST WINNING STREAK............................... 10 (6/4 - 6/14)

LAST 5 GAMES............................................................. 1-4 LONGEST LOSING STREAK.................................. 4 (8/15 - 8/19) LAST 10 GAMES........................................................... 3-7 BEST RECORD....................................................... 61-35 (July 14th)

HOME RECORD............................................................ 37-30 WORST RECORD................................................... 8-13 (April 25th)

ROAD RECORD............................................................ 37-27 SEASON vs. CONNECTICUT....................................................... 2-3

Aerodynamics...

Head of the Class...RF Stephen Head became just the fifth player in franchise history to hit three home runs in a game last night, drilling a two-run homer in the fourth and adding solo blasts in the fifth and seventh innings as the Akron offense awoke from a protracted slumber and held off Connecticut 9-6 to snap a season-high four-game losing streak. Head matched the exploit of teammate Wyatt Toregas from earlier this year, as the catcher hit three home runs July 2nd at Binghamton. Ironically, a three-homer game had only been accomplished three times in franchise history prior to this season: Scott Morgan in 1999, Chan Perry in 1997, and Corey Erickson in 2002. Head hammered a hanging 0-2 curveball from Defenders starter Ben Snyder in the fourth, punished a 1-2 fastball up in the zone from Snyder in the fifth, and then pounded a 2-0 fastball from reliever Josh Sharpless leading off the seventh. Head got a chance to go for his fourth bomb in the ninth, but didn't get anything to hit from reliever Steve Palazzolo and walked. It was the first three-homer game and fifth multi-homer game of Head's career, and his first since June 20th of 2006 with Kinston. He had not homered since August 1st entering play last night.

The Stopper...Although overshadowed by Head's big night, we can't overlook Akron starter J.D. Martin and his five scoreless innings last night. Martin earned his 10th win of the season and has not allowed a run in 15.2 innings this month. He also became the first Aero to notch double-digit victories this year (although Frank Herrmann can match him tonight) and recorded the third double-digit win year of his career (11 wins for Kinston in 2004 and a career-high 14 victories for Columbus in 2002). Martin made some big pitches when he had to last night, stranding a runner in scoring position in four of his five innings and working around a first and second, none out jam in the bottom of the fifth. The native of Ridgecrest, CA has now stopped a three-game losing streak and a four-game losing streak for Akron since moving into the starting rotation full-time last Thursday, filling the spot of the promoted Scott Lewis.

You Look Good, You Feel Good...Say what you want about Head's monster game or Martin's clutch performance, but the superstitious among us will certainly point to the fact that all the Aeros went with the "high socks" look last night to snap their losing streak. It was the first time all season that all the Akron players had gone with their socks up; normally only Martin and fellow pitcher Kevin Dixon are so fashionably daring.

Go Figure...The Aeros scored nine runs last night after scoring a total of nine runs in their previous eight games.

Magic Men...Coupled with Harrisburg's loss to Trenton, Akron dropped its magic number to six to clinch a playoff spot.

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