EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Take Southern Division Title with Win

Published on September 6, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


AKRON, OH - Indians rehabber Travis Hafner and Matt LaPorta each powered home runs and Frank Herrmann worked seven excellent innings as the Aeros took Game 4 of the Southern Division Championship Series at Canal Park Saturday night, 5-1 over the Bowie Baysox. The Aeros claimed their fourth straight Southern Division pennant, and will face the Trenton Thunder in the Eastern League Championship Series for the second straight year.

For the second consecutive night, Hafner's bat jolted the Akron offense early. Matt LaPorta worked a full count, fouling off several pitches before drawing a walk with two away in the bottom of the first. Hafner then blasted a Chris Tillman offering into the bleachers in right to give Akron a 2-0 lead.

In the third inning, Brandon Chaves drew a walk to lead off and Josh Rodriguez singled to put runners on first and second. LaPorta then loaded the bases with a single off the forearm of Bowie starter Chris Tillman, who was immediately pulled from the game. Ryan Keefer came on and hit Hafner with his first pitch to bring in a run, and a wild pitch allowed another run to score to make it 4-0. Akron's final run came on a one-out, solo blast by LaPorta in the fifth for his third home run of the series.

Herrmann did not need that much support as he dominated the Baysox over seven innings. The right-hander did not allow a run until the seventh inning when Carlos Rojas led off with a double, moved to third on a fly out, and scored on a Matt Weiters grounder, but by that point the Aeros were happy to trade runs for outs.

Herrmann (1-0) was the winner, allowing just three hits with no walks and one strikeout. Tillman (0-1) took the loss, surrendering four runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 2.1 innings. Reid Santos and Randy Newsom each tossed scoreless innings of relief to close the game and the Southern Division pennant. LaPorta was 2-3 with a homer, a walk and two runs, and Hafner drove in three with a homer.

The Aeros now advance to the Eastern League Championship Series for a rematch of the 2007 series against the Trenton Thunder, a series the Thunder won in four games. Game one in the best-of-five series is set for 7:05 p.m. Tuesday night at Canal Park, and starting pitchers have yet to be announced for the contest. 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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Eastern League Stories from September 6, 2008


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