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EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Aeros take eighth in a row

June 12, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


AKRON, OH - The Aeros drilled four home runs and Scott Lewis worked into the seventh inning as Akron won its eighth straight game, completing a sweep over New Hampshire in a 13-6 drubbing of the Fisher Cats before 3,574 fans at Canal Park Thursday night. The Aeros improved to 37-26, while the Cats fell to 23-42.

Akron struck first (for the first time since Friday) in the second inning when Wes Hodges doubled off the wall in center and Bronson Sardinha and Matt Whitney followed with singles, the latter scoring Hodges to give Akron a 1-0 lead. New Hampshire tied the game in top of the third with a run-scoring groundout.

The Aeros took the lead for good with four runs in the bottom of the third. Trevor Crowe led off with a walk, and Josh Rodriguez took his place at first on a fielder's choice. Chris Gimenez followed with a single, and Wes Hodges then launched a rocket over the wall in left to give the Aeros a 4-1 lead. Bronson Sardinha yanked Scott Richmond's next pitch into the bleachers in right pushing the lead to 5-1. It was the first time the Aeros have hit back-to-back homers since July 26th, 2006.

Ryan Goleski added on for Akron with a solo home run to left-center in the sixth - his third in as many games. An RBI double by New Hampshire's Eric Nielsen made it 6-2 in the seventh, but the Aeros put the game away after stretch time. Gimenez cracked a line drive into the hitter-friendly breeze to left-center that just cleared the fence to lead off the inning. A Hodges walk and Sardinha double put two runners in scoring position with no out, and Matt Whitney then hit a sacrifice to the warning track in right, scoring Hodges and moving Sardinha to third. After a Goleski walk, Brandon Chaves ripped an infield single off pitcher Jared Gothreaux, scoring Sardinha to give the Aeros a 9-2 lead.

New Hampshire put up three runs in the eighth on a three-run, opposite-field home run by Blue Jays top prospect Travis Snider, but the Aeros kept any thoughts of a comeback on the backburner as they scored four times in the bottom of the eighth on two hits and four walks. Gimenez roped an RBI double off the wall in center, Goleski drew an RBI walk, and Chaves drove in two runs on a lined single to right, pushing Akron's lead to 13-5. The Cats added one more in the ninth for the final margin.

Lewis (2-0) picked up the win, going 6.2 innings and allowing two runs on five hits, while striking out five and walking none for the second straight start. Richmond (4-7) took the loss, surrendering six runs on a season-high 11 hits. He walked one, struck out six, and allowed three of Akron's season-high tying four homers. Gimenez, Hodges, and Sardinha each had a double and a homer and Gimenez collected four hits (while also extending his hitting streak to nine games), becoming the third Aero in three games to record a four-hit game after no one had done it in the first 60 games of the season. Chaves drove in three runs on three hits, and Hodges was 2-3 with two walks, four runs scored (a season-high for an Akron hitter), and three RBI.

The Aeros will look to continue their winning ways as Portland comes to town for a weekend series beginning at 7:05 p.m. Friday night at Canal Park, as Akron sends left-hander Chuck Lofgren (1-3, 6.04 ERA) to the hill against Michael Bowden (5-3, 2.30 ERA). Friday is Fireworks Night at Canal Park, sponsored by CenturyTel. 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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