EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Outlast Rain, Nip Curve 7-6

Published on April 14, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


AKRON, OH - Mickey Hall scored the decisive run on an error in the seventh and three relievers managed to keep Altoona off the board for the final three innings as Akron bested the Curve 7-6 before 1,032 fans at soggy Canal Park Monday Night. The Aeros improved to 4-1 while keeping the Curve winless at 0-5. The game took a season-high 3:24 to play and the teams waited through an 86-minute rain delay before the first pitch.

Altoona opened the scoring first, as the game began with a steady rain falling. Jose Tabata's RBI single put the Curve in front, but the Aeros answered on Niuman Romero's run-scoring double play grounder to knot the contest before the clubs traded runs in the third.

Akron went ahead for the first time with two runs in the fourth, as Romero opened the inning with a base hit to right and John Drennen scored him two pitches later with a booming two-run shot to right-center to make it 4-2.

The Curve would tally the next four runs in the back-and-forth affair however, scoring three times in the fifth off reliever Neil Wagner thanks to two hits, three walks, an error and a passed ball. Jamie Romak made it 6-4 in favor of the visitors with a solo home run down the left field line in the sixth, but the bullpen locked down the Altoona offense from there and Akron rallied immediately to tie the game.

Drennen worked a leadoff walk from Eric Krebs to open the bottom of the sixth, and Krebs then grazed Jerad Head with a pitch. Josh Rodriguez followed with a textbook sacrifice bunt to advance both runners, and Drennen covered the final 90 feet on a wild pitch that also moved Head to third. Carlos Rivero then bounced an RBI single to the left side that found its way past the drawn-in infield to score Head and tie the game at 6-6.

The Aeros took the lead for good in the seventh, as Hall walked with one away and moved to second on a wild pitch to start the rally. Romero followed with a single to right as Hall advanced to third, but Romero made too wide a turn at first and was caught in no-man's land. Altoona first baseman Hector Gimenez received the throw from the outfield and saw second baseman Jim Negrych sneaking behind Romero, but in his haste to double-off Romero Gimenez had the ball bounce off his glove and into foul ground as Hall alertly broke for home and scored without a throw.

Randy Newsom (1-0) earned the win with 1.1 scoreless innings, while Krebs (0-2) took the loss with three runs (two earned) in 1.1 innings also. Vinnie Pestano struck out a pair as part of a scoreless ninth to notch his second save. Chuck Lofgren started and made enough pitches to tightrope through four innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and four hits. He walked four, struck out two, and stranded five runners in the first two innings. Rivero became the first Aero to notch a three-hit game this year with his 3-4 effort, while Rodriguez and Romero both had two hits. Drennen finished 1-3 with two runs scored, two RBI, and his first home run of the season.

Game two in this three-game series is slated for 7:05 p.m. Tuesday, as Akron's Hector Rondon (1-0, 1.59 ERA) will take on Curve southpaw Tony Watson (0-0, 12.27 ERA). All tickets are just $6 as part of Aeros Welcome Home Week. The game broadcast begins at 6:50 p.m. on SportsRadio 1350 AM and online at www.akronaeros.com. For more information, please call the Aeros at (330) 253-5151.

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Eastern League Stories from April 14, 2009


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