EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Notes

Published on April 18, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


Game #9 - Road Game #3 - Saturday, April 18, 2009 - 7:05 P.M.

Akron Aeros (6-2) at Bowie Baysox (5-4)

Cleveland Indians Baltimore Orioles

Today's Starters: Akron - RHP Steven Wright (1-0, 3.60 ERA)

Bowie - LHP Bobby Livingston (1-0, 3.00 ERA)

Upcoming Probables:

Sunday: AKR LHP Chuck Lofgren (0-0, 2.25 ERA) at BOW RHP Jason Berken (1-1, 5.63 ERA)

Monday: AKR RHP Hector Rondon (2-0, 1.59 ERA) at HAR LHP Mike O'Connor (0-0, 3.00 ERA)

Tuesday: AKR RHP Frank Herrmann (1-1, 1.38 ERA) at HAR LHP Justin Jones (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

Wednesday: AKR RHP Josh Tomlin (1-1, 1.64 ERA) at HAR LHP Ross Detwiler (0-1, 5.87 ERA)

The Book on Steven Wright...

- High Strikeouts - 4, set 4/11 vs. Bowie - Most Hits Allowed - 7, set 4/11 vs. Bowie

- Longest Outing - 5.0 IP, set 4/11 vs. Bowie - Most Walks Allowed - 1, set 4/11 vs. Bowie

- Shortest Outing - - HR Allowed (Season) - 0

- Began last season in Kinston and went 2-4 with a 2.99 ERA in 14 starts to earn a mid-season promotion to Akron

Went winless at Canal Park in 2008 (0-3, 5.62 ERA in eight home starts; 4-0, 2.67 ERA in six road starts)

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

Aeros are 1-0 when Wright starts

Last time out: Earned the WIN in a 12-2 victory vs. Bowie 4/11 (5.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K)

UAEROS REGULAR SEASON BREAKDOWN ('09)

CURRENT STREAK................................ W1 LONGEST WINNING STREAK....... 3 (4/11 - 4/15)

LAST 5 GAMES............................................................. 4-1 LONGEST LOSING STREAK.............................. 1 (4/10 and 4/16) LAST 10 GAMES........................................................... 6-2 BEST RECORD.......................................................... 5-1 (April 15th)

HOME RECORD............................................................ 5-1 WORST RECORD..................................................... 2-1 (April 10th)

ROAD RECORD...................................... 1-1 SEASON vs. BOWIE............................................. 4-2

Aerodynamics...

Tomcat...Aeros starter Josh Tomlin was terrific yesterday, turning in his first quality start of the season in Akron's 3-1 win over Bowie. Tomlin held the Baysox to just one run and only four hits over six innings, walking one and striking out one. The native of Whitehouse, TX faced just one batter over the minimum in his final four innings, and allowed only one runner to reach scoring position over that span as well. Tomlin's efforts lowered the collective ERA for Aeros starters to a miniscule 1.83 through eight starts. Akron's team ERA of 2.15 is currently tied for second-best in the Eastern League with the Connecticut Defenders, with the clubs trailing only New Hampshire's 2.00 team ERA.

Somehow, Someway...That the Aeros pulled out a victory last night is all the more impressive when you take a closer look at the stats. For example, Akron tied a season-low with just three hits in the game, while also tying a season-high with a dozen strikeouts on the night. The Aeros went in order five times in nine innings, and didn't get a base runner until the fourth inning. As in the first game of the series, the bottom of the Akron order had trouble offensively as the 5-9 spots in the lineup went a combined 1-17 with two walks and eight strikeouts. Half of those eight strikeouts came from LF Mickey Hall, who became the second Aero in three games to punch out four times (Nick Weglarz also did it Wednesday morning vs. Altoona). Hall and Jerad Head have served as the ninth-place hitters in the first two games of this series and have struck out in all seven at-bats.

That's a Relief...RHP Scott Roehl and closer Vinnie Pestano combined to shut the door on Bowie in the final three innings, with Wisconsin-native Roehl allowing just one hit over two shutout innings in the seventh and eighth and Pestano surviving a double, a passed ball, and a walk in the ninth while converting his fourth straight save opportunity to begin the season. Pestano is tied with Binghamton's Roy Merritt for the league lead in saves.

Carlos in Charge...C Carlos Santana provided yet another clutch hit for the Aeros yesterday, lofting a two-run homer down the right field line in the top of the fourth inning to put Akron ahead to stay. It was fortuitous that Santana even had a chance to hit in that inning, as Bowie starter Brandon Erbe had retired the first 11 hitters of the game and was on his way to making it an even dozen before Brandon Snyder flubbed Beau Mills' roller to first to extend the inning. Santana is second in the league with three home runs and leads the league with 12 RBI.

Did You Know...The Aeros have scored the second-most runs in the league at 37, yet have the fewest hits (48) and the lowest team batting average (.203). Akron has also drawn the most walks in the league with 45.

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Eastern League Stories from April 18, 2009


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