Akron Aeros Game Notes 5-06-08
Published on May 6, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
Game #31 - Home Game #15 - Tuesday, May 6, 2008 - 7:05 P.M.
Akron Aeros (13-17) vs. Altoona Curve (12-18)
Cleveland Indians Pittsburgh Pirates
Today's Starters: Akron - LHP Chuck Lofgren (1-2, 6.85 ERA)
Altoona - RHP Josh Hill (2-2, 3.33 ERA)
Upcoming Probables:
Wednesday: AKR LHP David Huff (1-1, 2.78 ERA) vs. ALT LHP Corey Hamman (0-4, 5.28 ERA)
Thursday: AKR RHP Frank Herrmann (3-2, 4.28 ERA) vs. ALT RHP Jimmy Barthmaier (2-0, 5.83 ERA)
Friday: AKR LHP Ryan Edell (1-2, 4.50 ERA) vs. TRE LHP Chase Wright (4-1, 2.95 ERA)
Saturday: AKR RHP Kevin Dixon (0-3, 5.97 ERA) vs. TRE RHP George Kontos (1-3, 3.79 ERA)
The Book on Chuck Lofgren...
- High Strikeouts - 9, set 5/1 vs. Erie - Most Hits Allowed - 7, set 4/3 at HAR & 4/15 vs. BIN
- Longest Outing - 6.0 IP, set 4/9 at BIN & 5/1 vs. ERI - Most Walks Allowed - 5, set 4/3 at Harrisburg
- Shortest Outing - 2.0 IP, set 4/20 at BOW - HR Allowed (Season) - 5
- Struck out nine hitters in his last start, just one off his career high of 10 (set August 3rd, 2006 for Kinston vs. Lynchburg)
Made a mechanical adjustment prior to his last start, focusing on slowing down his delivery
Throws a four-seam fastball between 88-94 mph, plus a two-seamer, curve, slider and change
Aeros are 3-3 when Lofgren starts
Last time out: Earned the WIN in a 6-2 victory vs. Erie 5/1 (6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 9 K)
Aerodynamics...
Crazy Eights...The Aeros stopped their three-game losing streak in abrupt fashion last night, breaking loose for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth to turn a 4-2 deficit into a 9-4 final. Akron sent 11 men to the plate in the inning and scored the runs courtesy of five hits, three walks and a passed ball. The outburst marked the third time already this year that the Aeros have scored seven runs in an inning.
The Constanza Gardener...CF Jose Constanza was the primary catalyst in the big eighth inning last night, starting the rally with a single and a stolen base and then putting an exclamation point on the proceedings with a two-run triple to left-center later in the frame. In the process, Constanza became the first Aero in almost a decade to collect two hits in an inning; Heath Hayes had two hits in an inning back on May 25th, 1999 vs. New Britain. Constanza finished the night 3-4 with a walk, boosting his average to a season-best .262 entering play tonight. The native of Santo Domingo, DR has hit in 10 of his last 11 games, batting .457 (21-46) with seven extra-base hits and seven multi-hit games over that span. Being on base has also meant more opportunities to run for the speedster, and he's taken advantage by swiping five bags in six attempts in his last nine games. Constanza has averaged 31.4 stolen bases over his first five seasons in the Cleveland organization, including a career-high 39 for Kinston last year, and is on pace for 33 steals this year.
A Whitty Retort...1B Matt Whitney went 1-4 last night, but his lone hit was a towering solo home run down the left field line, his first bomb in almost a month. Whitney officially went 24 games and 85 at-bats between home runs after getting off to a hot start in the power department with two home runs in the first five games of the year. The Aeros currently rank third in the Eastern League with 27 home runs this year, but 19 of those shots (70%) have come with the bases empty (including all three of Whitney's).
The Waiting is (Still) the Hardest Part...Aeros closer Randy Newsom did get in the game last night, but thanks to those seven runs in the eighth it wasn't a save opportunity so the native of Cincinnati remained tied with Mike Soper for the career franchise record with 24 saves.
Did You Know...Last night's victory marked he first time all year the Aeros have come back to win a game when trailing after seven innings. Akron had been 0-12 before erasing a two-run deficit after seven innings last night. Conversely, the Aeros are 11-2 when leading after seven innings.
Eastern League Stories from May 6, 2008
- Lofgren Outstanding, but Aeros Fall 3-1 - Akron RubberDucks
- Hill Dominates Akron In 3-1 Curve Win Tuesday Night - Altoona Curve
- Rock Cats Scratch Baysox Again - Chesapeake Baysox
- Stewart's Longball Wins It In Extras - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- SeaWolves Drop Two Straight - Erie SeaWolves
- McCutchen sharp as Trenton defeats Erie 5-2 - Trenton Thunder
- UCP auction raises $40,000 - Harrisburg Senators
- Senators Help Donate $2,730 To Good Causes - Harrisburg Senators
- Smith becomes all-time leader in 2B, RBI in 14-3 loss - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Rock Cats take eighth straight - New Britain Rock Cats
- Bates And The Sea Dogs Have A Grand Ole Time, Beat Fisher Cats 14-3 - Portland Sea Dogs
- Defenders Switch Roles With Senators In Game 2 For A 5-2 Win - Connecticut Defenders
- Zimmermann Pitches Well, Senators Lose 5-2 - Harrisburg Senators
- Akron Aeros Game Notes 5-06-08 - Akron RubberDucks
- Thirteen Former Senators On All-Star Ballot - Harrisburg Senators
- Luke Hughes of the New Britain Rock Cats is named the Eastern League's Player of the Month for April - EL1
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