EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Win Yet Again, Drop Mets 3-1

Published on June 26, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


AKRON, OH - The best team in professional baseball continued its hot play, as the Aeros defeated the Binghamton Mets by the final score of 3-1 in front of 7,403 fans at Canal Park Friday night. It was the 16th win in 20 games for Akron, as they improved to a season-high 26 games over .500 at 49-23 behind the efforts of Nick Weglarz offensively and starter Hector Rondon on the mound. The B-Mets fell to 6-19 in the month of June and 27-45 overall.

Akron's first run came in the bottom for the fourth inning, as Carlos Santana began the frame by lining a double to the right-center field wall, tying Beau Mills for the team-lead with 17 two-baggers on the season. A groundout from Mills advanced Santana to third base, and a wild pitch from Binghamton starter Eric Brown gave the Aeros the 1-0 lead. Akron manufactured another run in the fifth inning as Jared Goedert drew a leadoff walk and Jose Constanza followed with a sacrifice bunt. Weglarz then drew another free pass with two outs, and Santana's RBI single scored Goedert to make it 2-0 although Weglarz was tagged out between second and third to end the inning.

The Aeros gathered a key insurance run in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Constanza began the frame with a walk before giving way to pinch runner Jerad Head. Cristo Arnal then laid down the second sac bunt of the game, advancing Head just in time for the red-hot Weglarz. The burly Canadian slugger smacked a double down the right field line to make it 3-0, collecting his ninth RBI in four games and his team-leading 52nd on the year. Binghamton responded in the eighth with a one-out RBI single from Ike Davis, but closer Vinnie Pestano recorded the last out while stranding the two tying runs in scoring position and accounting for the final margin of the evening.

Rondon (7-4) delivered 5.2 innings of two-hit baseball for his first win since May 25th, and in his past three starts has now worked 14.1 consecutive scoreless frames with just six hits and three walks while recording 13 strikeouts. Brown (4-7) allowed 10 base runners in 5.1 innings in defeat, and Pestano picked up the final four outs in order for his 21st save, tied for the most saves in either the minor or major leagues. Weglarz finished the night 1-3 with a walk and the RBI double, extending his team-high consecutive game on-base streak to 20 straight games while Arnal walked in the third and reached for the 16th straight game. Santana was the only Aero with more than one hit, finishing 2-4 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI.

This four-game series continues with game two Saturday evening at 7:05 p.m. on the first Scout Day of the season, sponsored by Appalachian Outfitters. Josh Tomlin (7-4, 4.14 ERA) will take the mound for Akron against Binghamton's Brad Holt (0-0, 2.84 ERA). 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 26, 2009


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