EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Outlast Rain, Pummel Baysox 12-3

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


AKRON, OH - It was a tale of two ballgames Tuesday evening at Canal Park, but after a 50-minute rain delay in the bottom of the sixth the Aeros went on to score the final eight runs of the contest and cruised to a 12-3 win over Bowie in front of 3,788 fans. Akron improved to 75-47 with the win and lowered its magic numbers to 11 to clinch the Southern Division title and 10 to clinch a playoff spot, while the Baysox slipped to 63-58.

Bowie struck first in the top of the first, as the first three hitters all reached against Aeros starter Scott Barnes to load the bases with no outs. Barnes recovered beautifully however, allowing only one run to come home on Steve Torrealba's double play grounder to short. Akron then got the run back immediately in the bottom of the inning, as Jose Constanza drew a leadoff walk, stole second, and raced to third when the throw caromed into center field. Carlos Santana plated him with an RBI single to right to tie the game, and Santana later scored on Josh Bell's fielding error at third base.

Both sides missed out on opportunities in the following innings, but none was more glaring than Torrealba's base running gaffe for Bowie in the fourth. Stationed at third with one down, Torrealba left the base too early on Ambiorix Concepcion's fly to right and was called out on the appeal when his run would have tied the game. The Aeros extended the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth on Carlos Rivero's sac fly, but Bell drilled a two-run homer in the top of the sixth to tie the affair at 3-3.

Things turned in the bottom of the sixth however, as John Drennen singled off reliever James Hoey to start the inning and Jared Goedert drew a five-pitch walk. Constanza then beat out a sacrifice bunt attempt to load the bases, and with the rain intensifying Hoey walked Cristo Arnal on four pitches to force in the go-ahead run.

The game was halted at that point while the tarp went on the field, but when the inning resumed Beau Mills drove a two-run double to right-center off Fredy Deza to make the margin 6-3. The Aeros then teed off on Baysox lefty Ryan Rodriguez in the eighth, sending 10 men to the plate as Goedert's two-run double finished the scoring and capped a six-run outburst.

Zach Putnam (3-2) earned the win out of the bullpen, allowing one hit in two-thirds of an inning in relief of Barnes. Hoey (2-5) allowed four runs (three earned) in one inning for the loss. Barnes allowed three runs and six hits in 5.1 innings, while Carlton Smith and Neil Wagner combined to record the final nine outs in order. Every Aero finished with a hit with the exception of Josh Rodriguez, although he only played three innings in his return to the field following a hamstring injury that sidelined him for 101 games. Mills led the way with three hits and three RBI, while Lonnie Chisenhall picked up two knocks and Goedert collected two RBI. Constanza reached base three times and stole two bases and Santana went 1-4 with an RBI, and both remain on pace to break the club's single-season records for steals and runs batted in, respectively.

Game two in this quick three-game series is set for 7:05 p.m. Wednesday night, as Akron sends southpaw Eric Berger (0-1, 5.40 ERA) to the hill opposite Bowie's Tim Bascom (2-6, 4.24 ERA). It will also be another Family Pack Wednesday at the Canal Park, with four tickets, four hot dogs, four drinks and four bags of chips available for just $48. 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 August 18, 2009


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