Aeros Notes
Published on April 14, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
Game #6 - Home Game #6 - Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 7:05 P.M.
Akron Aeros (4-1) vs. Altoona Curve (0-5)
Cleveland Indians Pittsburgh Pirates
Today's Starters: Akron - RHP Hector Rondon (1-0, 1.59 ERA)
Altoona - LHP Tony Watson (0-0, 12.27 ERA)
Upcoming Probables:
Wednesday: AKR RHP Frank Herrmann (1-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. ALT RHP Brad Lincoln (0-0, 6.75 ERA)
Thursday: AKR RHP Josh Tomlin (0-1, 1.80 ERA) at BOW LHP Troy Patton (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
Friday: AKR RHP Steven Wright (1-0, 3.60 ERA) at BOW RHP Brandon Erbe (0-1, 3.00 ERA)
Saturday: AKR LHP Chuck Lofgren (0-0, 2.25 ERA) at BOW LHP Bobby Livingston (1-0, 3.00 ERA)
The Book on Hector Rondon...
- High Strikeouts - 6, set 4/8 vs. Bowie - Most Hits Allowed - 5, set 4/8 vs. Bowie
- Longest Outing - 5.2 IP, set 4/8 vs. Bowie - Most Walks Allowed - 1, set 4/8 vs. Bowie
- Shortest Outing - - HR Allowed (Season) - 0
- Ranked second in the Carolina League in strikeouts (145), fourth in wins (11) and eighth in ERA (3.60) in 2008
Rated by Baseball America as the no.-13 prospect in the Cleveland minor league system
Throws a four-seam fastball between 92-94 mph, plus a two-seamer, changeup, and slider
Aeros are 1-0 when Rondon starts
Last time out: Earned the WIN in a 9-5 victory vs. Bowie 4/8 (5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 GIDP)
UAEROS REGULAR SEASON BREAKDOWN ('09)
CURRENT STREAK................................ W2 LONGEST WINNING STREAK.. 2 (4/11 - current)
LAST 5 GAMES............................................................. 3-2 LONGEST LOSING STREAK.............................................. 1 (4/10) LAST 10 GAMES........................................................... 3-2 BEST RECORD.......................................................... 4-1 (April 13th)
HOME RECORD............................................................ 3-2 WORST RECORD..................................................... 2-1 (April 10th)
ROAD RECORD...................................... SEASON vs. ALTOONA....................................... 1-0
Aerodynamics...
Worth the Wait...Akron and Altoona waited out an 86-minute rain delay prior to the first pitch and then a lengthy 3:24 contest once the game got started, but when the 27th out was at last recorded the Aeros had their fourth win in five games to start the season following a 7-6 victory over the Curve. RF Mickey Hall scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh on a missed catch error by Curve 1B Hector Gimenez, and the side-winding duo of RHPs Randy Newsom and Vinnie Pestano didn't allow a runner past first base in the final two innings. Altoona remained the only winless team in the Eastern League with the loss.
The Big Swede...Aeros LHP Chuck Lofgren made his first start of the year following a difficult 2008 campaign both on and off the field and fared well in the tough conditions. Not only did Lofgren have to adjust his pre-game routine thanks to the rain delay, but a steady rain also fell for the majority of his outing. Still, the native of Northern California held the Curve to just two runs (one earned), despite allowing four hits and four walks in his four innings of work. Lofgren escaped a bases-loaded jam in the second and stranded five runners on base in the first two innings alone, while also limiting Altoona to just a 1-6 mark with runners in scoring position.
Cry Me a Rivero...Akron SS Carlos Rivero had a big night at the plate yesterday, stroking three base hits in four at-bats and adding a nice sacrifice bunt in the eighth inning. Rivero became the first Aero to notch a three-hit game this year, and did an excellent job using the whole field as evidenced by his opposite-field singles in both the third and fourth innings. His biggest hit came in the sixth however, as the Aeros trailed 6-5 with a runner at third and one out. Altoona brought the infield in only to see Rivero spoil the strategy by finding a sliver of daylight on the left side of the infield and bouncing the RBI single through the hole to plate the tying run. Akron went on to take the lead for good the next inning.
Roster Move...The Aeros made a move today to fill the hole created by LHP Ryan Edell's promotion to Class AAA Buffalo, activating RHP Carlton Smith from the disabled list. Smith spent all of 2008 in Kinston, going 12-6 with a 4.37 ERA and tying for the Carolina League lead in wins. He had been sidelined with a right shoulder impingement.
Bald is Beautiful...Frustrated with their slow starts, Akron 1B Beau Mills and LF Nick Weglarz both shaved their heads following last night's game in an effort to reverse their mojo. Mills is hitting .143 (3-21) through five games while Weglarz is batting just .133 (2-15), although he has drawn seven walks for an excellent .409 on-base percentage. Whether the move will work as desired is yet to be seen, but at the very least both players should be able to cut down on wind resistance.
Eastern League Stories from April 14, 2009
- Offense On Display In Erie - Chesapeake Baysox
- Gonzalez twirls 8.2 scoreless innings in 2-0 loss to Defenders - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Defenders Win 2-0/ Lead Series 2-0 - Connecticut Defenders
- Portland wins their third straight, look for the series sweep on Wednesday - Portland Sea Dogs
- Home opener features free food, fundraising, fun - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Thunder game postponed - Trenton Thunder
- Curve/Aeros postponed - Altoona Curve
- Aeros Rained Out - Akron RubberDucks
- R-Phils and B-Mets postponed on April 14 - Reading Fightin Phils
- B-Mets And Phillies Postponed, Rescheduled For August 15 - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Aeros Notes - Akron RubberDucks
- Rock Cats Set For 2009 Home Opener - New Britain Rock Cats
- Lawson Placed on the D.L., Hedrick Added to Roster - Portland Sea Dogs
- Curve Closer but Still Winless - Altoona Curve
- Aeros Outlast Rain, Nip Curve 7-6 - Akron RubberDucks
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