EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Walk Off (Literally) in 4-3 Victory

Published on June 25, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


AKRON, OH - The Aeros won Thursday afternoon against the Trenton Thunder, claiming their fifth consecutive series with a walk off win by the final score of 4-3 in front of 5,555 fans at Canal Park. Akron scored the final four runs of the game to improve to 48-23 and move 25 games over .500 for the second time this season, while the Thunder fell to 37-34. The Aeros also took the season series four games to two.

Trenton started the scoring in the very first inning, getting on the board with one out against Aeros lefty Ryan Edell. After Austin Krum struck out to begin the frame, Reegie Corona reached first base on an infield base hit, the first of four straight singles for the Thunder. Trenton managed just one run in the inning however, as Nick Weglarz threw out Corona at third base and Chris Malec flied out to strand a pair of runners. Edwar Gonzalez then made it 2-0 by smacking a homer to left-center to begin the second frame, and followed that with his third home run in his last four at-bats (dating back to Wednesday night) in the fourth inning against Edell.

Akron started the comeback in the bottom half of the fourth, as white-hot Nick Weglarz matched Gonzalez's solo shot with one of his own, his third in as many days to make it 3-1. The Aeros then manufactured another run in the fifth, as Head singled to begin the inning and advanced to second on a groundout by rehabbing Asdrubal Cabrera. Cristo Arnal then laid down a beautiful bunt for a single bringing Head over to third, and a walk to Weglarz loaded the bases. The Trenton lead then dropped to only one, as reliever Jason Stephens walked in a run by giving a free pass to clean-up hitter Beau Mills.

Cabrera made things happen with his legs while scoring the tying run in the seventh, starting the rally with an infield single and then stealing second base. Arnal struck out, but Mills followed with a groundball to the hole on the right side with Cabrera running on the 1-2 offering. Corona made a great diving stop in shallow right field, but with his focus occupied by the potential out at first he never saw Cabrera barreling around third. Corona's throw to first was in time to get a diving Mills, but by the time Malec received the throw and then fired home it was too late as Cabrera scored standing up.

The Aeros then mounted the winning rally with one out in the bottom of the ninth, as Cabrera scorched a laser into centerfield off Thunder reliever J.B. Cox. The right-hander recovered to strike out pinch-hitter Carlos Santana for the second out, but Cabrera stole second on the third strike and then scrambled to third as the throw skipped past shortstop Eduardo Nunez. Trenton elected to intentionally walk Weglarz and Mills (both left-handed hitters), setting up a righty-righty match-up with Matt McBride. Cox could not recover his control however, issuing three straight balls after the count was 1-1 and forcing in the winning run in anti-climactic fashion.

Josh Judy (3-2) earned his second win of the series while Cox (0-2) suffered his second loss in the three-game set. Edell battled and turned in his fourth quality start yet suffered his seventh no-decision. Cabrera finished 2-5 with two steals and two runs, Weglarz tied a franchise record with four walks in the game, and Arnal went 1-3 with a walk to reach base for the 15th consecutive game.

Akron continues its seven-game home stand Friday night at 7:05 p.m. against Binghamton, and will feature post-game fireworks courtesy of ACME Fresh Markets. Hector Rondon (6-4, 2.83 ERA) gets the nod for Akron against Eric Brown (4-6, 5.72). 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 June 25, 2009


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