Aeros Pound Curve, 9-5
April 23, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
AKRON, OH - Josh Tomlin set a season-high with eight strikeouts and the Aeros erupted for all nine runs in the span of three innings, defeating Altoona 9-5 before 1,323 fans at Canal Park Thursday night. Akron improved to a league-best 11-2 while the Curve dropped to 3-10 and remained winless on the road.
Altoona led the game by a 3-0 score early, getting an RBI groundout from Jim Negrych in the first and a two-run single from Jason Delaney in the third to claim the early advantage. The Aeros would get on the board in the bottom of the third, loading the bases with no outs for Jose Constanza. The Akron leadoff man hit a bouncer to second that had the makings of a double play, but shortstop Pedro Lopez sent the relay throw wide of first as Josh Rodriguez and John Drennen both motored home to make it 3-2.
The Aeros broke the game wide open in the fourth, and were helped again by Altoona miscues. Carlos Santana opened the frame with a solid single to left, and Niuman Romero then put a sacrifice bunt attempt up the third base line. Angel Gonzalez charged in and gloved the ball cleanly, but his throw to first skipped past Delaney as the runners advanced to second and third. Nick Weglarz followed with a grounder to second with the infield back, but Negrych committed his second throwing error as both runs scored to put Akron ahead for the first time at 4-3. A pair of walks sandwiched around a fly ball loaded the bases with one gone, and Constanza then delivered the big blow with a three-run double to left-center to make it 7-3.
Lopez led off the top of the fifth with a solo home run off Tomlin, but Akron answered back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. Romero walked with one away and stole second with two gone, and Rodriguez scored him with an RBI single. Then it was Rodriguez's turn to swipe second, and Drennen capitalized with a knock of his own to make it 9-4. Altoona plated an unearned run in the ninth to account for the final margin.
Tomlin (2-1) earned the win, battling through five innings while allowing four runs on eight hits. He helped his cause by not walking anyone, and the eight punch-outs were his most since July 11th of last season, when he struck out eight Lynchburg Hillcats while pitching for Class A Kinston (Lynchburg, like Altoona, is a Pittsburgh affiliate). Curve starter Jared Hughes (0-2) suffered the loss thanks in large part to the blunders behind him, allowing seven unearned runs in 3.2 innings. He surrendered five hits and four walks and did not have a strikeout. Constanza led the charge offensively, reaching base three times and driving in four runs. Rodriguez went 3-3 with a walk and three runs scored, while Mickey Hall went 2-3 with a walk for his first multi-hit game of the year.
Games two and three in this five-game series are set for 6:05 p.m. Friday, as the clubs will battle in a doubleheader consisting of two seven-inning games. Steven Wright (1-0, 4.00 ERA) will go for the Aeros in game one against Altoona's Mike Crotta (1-0, 1.59 ERA), while game two will feature Yoslan Herrera (0-0, 6.00 ERA) for Altoona against a yet to be determined Akron starter. The game broadcast begins at 5:50 p.m. on SportsRadio 1350 WARF-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 23, 2009
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- Aeros Pound Curve, 9-5 - Akron RubberDucks
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- Altoona Curve Game Notes - Altoona Curve
- Akron Aeros Media Notes - Akron RubberDucks
- Jorge Vasquez promoted from Tampa to Trenton - Trenton Thunder
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- Baysox Make Three Moves - Chesapeake Baysox
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