Aeros Push Ahead Early, Hang on Late to Win, 4-3
Published on June 8, 2013 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
kron, OH- The homestand beat goes on for the Akron Aeros. This time the good guys hung on in the late innings on Saturday night to win, 4-3 over the Portland SeaDogs to extend their winning streak to a season-high of five and reach the .500 mark for the first time since May 13 at 19-19.
Akron held a 4-0 for the majority of the game, but Portland threatened late with a run in the seventh inning and two runs in the eighth inning to make the score 4-3 before closer Jose Flores slammed the door with a four-out save that included striking out the side in order in the ninth inning.
Flores wasn't the only dominant Akron pitcher on Saturday. Starting pitcher Jordan Cooper was stellar from the jump, tossing six shutout innings, allowing his only hit to the first batter of the game, while striking out three and walking three. Following Saturday's win, Akron's pitching staff has not allowed more than three runs in seven of their past 10 games.
Offensively, Akron picked up right where they left off on Friday night, getting to Portland's hard-throwing starter Matt Barnes immediately, scoring two runs off two-out Carlos Moncrief single to center to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Moncrief has three straight multi-hit games and is hitting Moncrief, who is hitting a torrid .464 (13-for-28) in seven June games.
The steady beat continued for the Aeros in the following inning, as first baseman Jesus Aguilar clubbed a two-run, RBI-double to center, stretching the Akron lead to 4-0. It was RBI numbers 48 and 49 for Aguilar on the season, which is tops in the Eastern League. Aguilar has torn the cover off the ball during this current homestand, with eight hits and eight runs batted in, including Thursday night's 12th-inning, game-ending base knock.
Barnes, the former 2011 Boston Red Sox first-round pick, went four innings, yielding four runs off five hits, while punching out eight and walking one.
Taking over for Cooper in the seventh was reliever Bryce Stowell, who ran into some adversity in his two innings of relief, allowing three runs on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Stowell left the game after J.C. Linares' two-run double brought Portland within a run, but Flores saved the day by inducing Tony Thomas to groundout to short.
Flores continues to shine as of late, hurling six straight scoreless outings (9 IP, 12 K).
Eastern League Stories from June 8, 2013
- Aeros Push Ahead Early, Hang on Late to Win, 4-3 - Akron RubberDucks
- Long Balls Lift Cats over 'Wolves - Erie SeaWolves
- Sea Dogs rally just short, fall 4-3 in Akron - Portland Sea Dogs
- Squirrels Sweep into First Place, Take Two from Thunder - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Nolin, Fisher Cats Blast Erie 6-2 - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Montero, B-Mets Steamroll Curve, 9-3 - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Erie SeaWolves vs. New Hampshire Fisher Cats - Game Notes - Erie SeaWolves
- Altoona Curve Game Infomation: June 8, 2013 - Altoona Curve
- Sea Dogs Game Notes June 8 at Akron - Portland Sea Dogs
- B-Mets Game Notes: Game #63 Binghamton Mets (36-25) at Altoona Curve (25-35) - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
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