EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Rally, Walk off in 6-5 Win Over Reading

Published on July 29, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


AKRON, OH - The Aeros tied the score in the eighth inning before winning in the ninth, defeating the visiting Reading Phillies 6-5 in front of a rowdy Canal Park crowd Thursday night. Catcher Miguel Perez scored first baseman Beau Mills with the walk-off sacrifice fly to left field, providing the dramatic victory for Akron's 3,838 Thirsty Thursday fans. The win improved the third-place Aeros to 55-48 this season, only 4.5 games behind the division-leading Altoona Curve, while the Phillies fell to 51-52 with the loss.

Cleveland Indians closer Kerry Wood started the game on his rehab assignment, quickly retiring all three batters he faced in the top of the first inning. Third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall then provided a one-out RBI triple in the bottom half of the inning to plate center fielder Jordan Henry and give Akron an early 1-0 advantage.

The Phillies responded with four unearned runs against usual Aeros starting pitcher Alex White in the second. A throwing error by shortstop Carlos Rivero scored the first run, an RBI bunt single and a two-run triple presented a three-run deficit for the host team.

Reading's lead was short-lived as second baseman Jason Kipnis lined a two-run triple to right in the fourth inning and Chisenhall followed with a groundout to tie the score at 4-4.

Flande and White battled in the ensuing frames while the latter permitted the visiting team to retake the lead in the seventh. Harold Garcia collected an RBI single to right but reliever Nick Hagadone escaped a bases loaded jam to prevent any further damage.

The comeback then began the in the eighth inning as Perez again started with a single. Newcomer Lucas Montero drew a walk, Henry laid down a sacrifice bunt and Kipnis walked before Chisenhall tied the game with a clutch sacrifice fly to center.

Mills initiated the final rally in the ninth against reliever James Anderson with a leadoff double and advanced to third on a Rivero groundout. Anderson intentionally walked John Drennen to face Perez, who ended the game with his sac fly before the Akron bench mobbed him near home plate to celebrate the series-opening victory.

Closer Omar Aguilar (2-3) earned the victory for the Aeros with a perfect ninth inning, striking out one batter. Anderson (0-3) took the loss in allowing the deciding tally while fellow Reading reliever Matt German blew the save in the eighth. Wood threw only eight pitches in his rehab outing and White followed with 5.1 innings pitched, permitting five runs (one earned) on seven hits with a career-high eight strikeouts.

Chisenhall led the Akron offense as he finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and one of three combined triples tonight. Mills and Perez each had two hits and Montero was 0-for-2 but drew a pair of walks after earning the promotion from Class A Kinston earlier in the day.

This four-game series continues tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. with a Friday Fireworks spectacular and Kids Cancer Survivors Celebration Night at Canal Park. Lefty Kelvin De La Cruz (3-5, 5.16 ERA) will start for the surging Aeros against Reading's Ty Taubenheim (3-1, 5.14 ERA). Friday's radio broadcast begins at 6:50 p.m. on Fox Sports 1350 AM and at www.akronaeros.com. For more information, please call the Aeros at (330) 253-5151.

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Eastern League Stories from July 29, 2010


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