Aeros Win 8-2, Sweep Senators Again
Published on May 10, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
AKRON, OH - Starting pitching was the story once again for Akron, as left-hander Chuck Lofgren crafted a quality start and the Aeros completed their second three-game sweep of the Harrisburg Senators this year by the final score of 8-2 Sunday at Canal Park. The California-born Lofgren delivered the third consecutive quality start for Akron pitching as the club improved to 8-0 against Harrisburg this season before 1,852 fans. The Aeros also upped their record to 22-5 overall, the best mark in all of professional baseball, while the last-place Senators fell to 6-21.
The Aeros got on the board in the first inning when back-to-back, two-out singles by Beau Mills and Carlos Santana ignited the rally. Niuman Romero was then plunked by a pitch, and Canadian sensation Nick Weglarz singled home both Mills and Santana to give Akron an early 2-0 advantage.
Harrisburg put up its first run of the day in the top of the third, as an RBI groundout off the bat of Edgardo Baez plated Ofilio Castro. The Aeros responded by manufacturing two more runs in their half of the third however, as a passed ball brought home Mills and a sacrifice fly from Damaso Espino scored Santana, bringing the Akron lead to 4-1.
More run support came around for Akron in the fourth, when Jared Head doubled just past the third base bag leading off. Jose Constanza picked up a beautiful single on a bunt down the third base line, and Harrisburg intentionally walked Mills to load the bases. Senators' reliever Josh Wilkie struck out Santana, but then promptly walked Romero on four pitches to force in the fifth Aeros run of the afternoon.
Akron's final offensive burst came in the bottom of the eighth inning against Harrisburg reliever Dave Williams. The left-hander walked Carlos Rivero, Mills, and Romero to load the bases with one out, and Weglarz then delivered a huge smash yet again, lining a double down the right field line to clear the bases and account for the final margin.
Lofgren (2-0) led the Aeros with six strong innings, allowing only one run on two hits with two walks and a pair of strikeouts. He remained fourth in the Eastern League in ERA, although the number did rise slightly from 1.29 to 1.33. He also tied the now-departed Frank Herrmann with his third quality start of the season in five outings. Zack Segovia (0-2) suffered the loss for the Senators in a spot-start, getting touched for four runs (three earned) and five hits in three innings. Josh Judy stranded a pair of inherited runners in the eighth and went on to record his second save of the season with a pair of scoreless innings. Akron pitching combined to hold the Senators to just 14 hits and six runs in 27 innings during the three-game set. Weglarz was the star for the Akron hitters, finishing 2-4 with five RBI and matching Rivero's team-high, five-RBI effort against Harrisburg April 30th. Mills and Constanza also had stellar afternoons with two hits each, picking up their ninth and 10th multi-hit games of the season, respectively.
This six-game home stand continues on an already sold out Dollar Dog Monday, as the Bowie Baysox come to town for a 7:05 first pitch in game one of a three-game series. Newly minted Akron starter Erik Stiller (1-1, 4.60 ERA) will take on Jake Arrieta (2-1, 3.80 ERA) of the Baysox. The broadcast begins at 6:50 p.m. on SportsRadio 1350 WARF-AM and online at www.akronaeros.com. For more information, please call the Aeros at (330) 253-5151.
Eastern League Stories from May 10, 2009
- SeaWolves Sweep Baysox out of Erie - Chesapeake Baysox
- Aeros Win 8-2, Sweep Senators Again - Akron RubberDucks
- Akron remains perfect against the Sens with an 8-2 win - Harrisburg Senators
- Pair of Trenton Homers Lead to Sweep of B-Mets - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Polanco works 3.2 scoreless innings in 3-0 loss to Defenders - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Defenders Win 3-0 & Series 2-1 - Connecticut Defenders
- Curve lose pitchers duel, 2-1 - Altoona Curve
- Sunday's Sea Dogs Game Postponed - Portland Sea Dogs
- Aeros Media Notes - Akron RubberDucks
- Hovis Promoted From Tampa To Trenton - Trenton Thunder
- Gil's Walk-Off Home Run Lifts Trenton To 4-3 Win Over Binghamton - Trenton Thunder
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