EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Win Sixth Straight, Defeat Sens 9-7

Published on June 5, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


HARRISBURG, PA - The red-hot Aeros continued their recent dominance Saturday with a 9-7 victory over the host Harrisburg Senators in front of 5,073 fans. A monster seven-run fourth inning brought 11 batters to the plate and powered the Aeros attack while the bullpen held on late for the victory. It was the sixth in a row for Akron (26-30) and the second straight at Metro Bank Park in Harrisburg (28-28).

Michael Martinez of the Senators started his big game with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first inning. Harrisburg continued to pound lefty starter Kelvin De La Cruz early in the game as two doubles and two singles continued the rally. An error by Akron center fielder Tim Fedroff also did not help in leading to a 4-0 Sens edge after one frame.

Harrisburg starter Aaron Thompson also shut down the Aeros offense until the massive retaliation in the fourth. Lonnie Chisenhall tripled to begin the attack before Matt McBride recorded his first of two RBI singles in the inning to make it 4-1. Two straight outs followed but Akron again responded with a hit bit pitch, a two-run double and two more singles.

Thompson then hit Jerad Head with a hit by pitch and Chisenhall drew a bases loaded walk to knock Thompson out of the game and give the Aeros a 5-4 advantage. McBride plated two more runners with another base knock to center but Chisenhall was out on the throw home in finally ending the inning.

Akron never relinquished the lead again and even added to the margin in the top of the sixth. Another pitching change brought Yunior Novoa to the mound with two runners on, but he promptly walked the next two batters and brought the lead to 8-4.

The Senators mounted a brief comeback after that, led by the second baseman Martinez. He tripled to begin the bottom half of the sixth and scored on a groundout to bring the score to 8-5. In the next frame, he delivered a two-run homer to right in cutting the deficit to just a single run. Carlos Rivero then helped the Aeros add a final insurance run in the ninth as the visitors held on for the sixth straight victory.

Reliever Bryan Price (1-2) earned the win for Akron while Thompson permitted seven runs in dropping to 2-8 with the loss. Bryce Stowell was the only pitcher of the game for the Aeros not to allow a run, delivering two shutout innings for his second save. Harrisburg registered 16 hits total after Akron allowed just 19 combined in the previous four wins.

Offense was the story all game for both teams as the seven runs in the fourth was a new season-high for any inning this season for Akron. Meanwhile, McBride and catcher Damaso Espino were the only two batters with two hits and the most impressive hitter played for the losing team. The 27-year-old Martinez had a career night with two home runs along with a triple, three RBI and three runs scored.

The Aeros will look for the series and weeklong sweep Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at Metro Bank Park in Harrisburg. Highly regarded prospect and Aeros left-hander Nick Hagadone (0-0, 6.75 ERA) gets the starting nod against Senators lefty starter Tom Milone (5-1, 3.41 ERA). You can listen to Jim Clark yet again for Sunday game broadcast on Fox Sports 1350 AM and on www.akronaeros.com starting at 1:45 p.m. For more information, please call the Aeros at (330) 253-5151.

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Eastern League Stories from June 5, 2010


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