EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Run Win Streak to Seven, Nip Squirrels, 4-3

Published on July 19, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


Richmond, VA - Akron's Matt Packer made a successful return to the Aeros rotation, and closer Preston Guilmet posted his 16th save Thursday night, as the Akron Aeros slipped by the Richmond Flying Squirrels, 4-3, in the opener of a four-game series at The Diamond.

Packer (1-0) made his first Double-A start since last September and went six innings, holding the Squirrels to five hits and two unearned runs. He did not walk any hitters and struck out seven. Packer sat out the first three months of the season while rehabing a shoulder injury.

The Aeros (59-39) extended their winning streak to seven straight games, and ran their division lead to 9 =C21/2 games ahead of the second-place Squirrels (50-49). Akron has won nine of its last 10 games.

If they Aeros were groggy from the seven-hour bus trip to Richmond, it didn't show. The Aeros scored all their runs in the top of the first inning off starter Chris Gloor (2-2). Thomas Neal, the hero in Wednesday's walk-off win over Harrisburg, delivered an RBI single, and Ryan Rohlinger clubbed an RBI double. An error on Richmond first baseman Mark Minicozzi then allowed two more runs to come in for a 4-0 lead.

Added to the Aeros on Thursday from Class-A Carolina, where he made two tune-up appearances, Packer threw 86 pitches, 52 of which were strikes. His only mistake came in the second inning when he allowed a two-run triple to Richmond's Juan Ciriaco after the inning was extended by an Akron fielding error. Ciriaco's three-bagger made it 4-2.

The Squirrels made things interesting with a run off Kyle Landis in the eighth to pull to within one, but Guilmet came on in the ninth to close things out. He needed only four pitches to douse any hope of a Richmond comeback. After a one-out bunt single by Juan Perez, Guilmet induced a fly ball to right and Perez was doubled off first by right fielder Jordan Henry to end the game. For Guilmet it was save number 16.

Neal was 1-4, and recorded his sixth stolen base. Rohlinger was 2-4 on the night. The Aeros have won their last six games by one run.

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Eastern League Stories from July 19, 2012


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