Aeros Polish off Sweep with 3-2 Win
Published on August 2, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
BINGHAMTON, NY - Jeanmar Gomez tied a season-high with eight strikeouts and Akron used a pair of sacrifice flies to squeak past Binghamton 3-2 before 2,250 fans at NYSEG Stadium Sunday night. The Aeros improved to 68-41 with the victory, tying a season-high with their seventh straight win and also getting back to their high-water mark of the season at 27 games over the .500 mark. Akron also notched its second straight series sweep and moved seven games ahead of second-place Reading in the Southern Division. The B-Mets dropped to 40-66.
The Aeros struck for two runs in the top of the first off Mets starter Brad Holt, as Jose Constanza opened the contest with a base hit and promptly swiped second base. Holt then walked Jerad Head and Nick Weglarz to load the bases, and Carlos Santana worked another free pass to force in a run. Beau Mills then followed with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 2-0.
Gomez rolled through the first four innings, finding minor trouble in the second and fourth but stranding a runner at second base in both frames. Binghamton then mounted a major threat in the fifth, as a walk, a single, and another walk loaded the bases for the Mets with only one away. Gomez recovered however, inducing a crucial 4-6-3 double play from Jose Coronado to end the inning.
Akron manufactured the deciding run in the sixth, as Mills walked with one down and Matt McBride doubled him to third. The Mets then elected to pitch to John Drennen with first base open, and the Aeros right fielder delivered with a sac fly to right to make it 3-0.
Steven Wright came out of the bullpen in the sixth and struck out D.J. Wabick to strand a runner at second, but Binghamton did get to the right-hander for two runs in the seventh. Salvador Paniagua opened the frame with a single and Mark Kiger walked, and Jonathan Malo advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Emmanuel Garcia then got the Mets on the board with a sacrifice fly, and Coronado followed with an RBI double to cut the margin to 3-2. Wright stopped the bleeding there however, getting Ike Davis on a fly ball to center to end the inning.
Josh Judy came on for the bottom of the eighth and surrendered a leadoff single to Lucas Duda before striking out the next three hitters, and then allowed another leadoff single in the ninth only to retire the next three men in order to preserve the win.
Gomez (9-3) worked into the sixth inning for his second straight victory, allowing just four hits and two walks in 5.2 shutout frames. He recorded eight strikeouts for the second straight start and fourth time this year. Holt (2-5) turned in a quality start in the defeat for Binghamton, allowing three runs and three hits in six innings. He walked six and struck out two. Judy recorded his fifth save, striking out four batters over two scoreless innings. McBride went 2-4 with a pair of doubles and was the only Aero with a multiple-hit night, although Santana extended his season-high hitting streak to 11 games with an infield single in the eighth.
The Aeros will enjoy an off day Monday before returning to action at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday night at Canal Park against the Connecticut Defenders, the first-place team in the Northern Division. Akron is expected to send newcomer Connor Graham (0-0, 2.70 ERA) to the mound against Connecticut's Geivy Garcia (0-3, 5.65 ERA). 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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