Akron Aeros Media Notes
April 23, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
Aerodynamics...
Worth the Wait...Usually a two-day, three-night vacation is enjoyed in Aruba or Hawaii, but Mother Nature and the Eastern League schedule decreed that the Aeros would spend that time in lovely and scenic Harrisburg, PA while waiting out persistent rain showers that drenched the capital city. The tide finally turned yesterday morning however, and the Aeros got timely hitting and great pitching in both games en route to sweeping a doubleheader from the Senators by final scores of 2-0 in game one and 3-2 in game two. It was Akron's first doubleheader sweep since last June 21st, when the Aeros took a pair from the Reading Phillies in Reading. The Aeros have now won five straight games (the best streak in the league) and improved to 5-0 in day games.
Game One...Aeros starter Hector Rondon and Senators starter Mike O'Connor matched each other pitch for pitch in game one yesterday, but Akron eventually broke through for single runs in the final two innings to notch a 2-0 victory. CF Jose Constanza was the catalyst, reaching on a fielder's choice in the sixth before stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch with two away. 1B Beau Mills then did well to make contact against an O'Connor curveball, and beat out the ensuing roller to score Constanza. The Aeros got another two-out run in the seventh, as LF Jerad Head (who saved a run with a magnificent tumbling catch in the third inning) laced an RBI single to right to score Niuman Romero. Rondon claimed his league-leading third win of the year, tossing five scoreless innings. Closer Vinnie Pestano improved to a perfect six-for-six in save chances with a perfect seventh, and remained tied with Binghamton's Roy Merritt for the league lead.
Game Two...RHP Carlton Smith tossed three scoreless innings for his first Eastern League win and C Damaso Espino drove in the deciding run with an RBI single in the seventh as Akron completed the sweep. The clubs were even after three frames, with the Aeros scoring twice in the top of third on RBIs from 2B Josh Rodriguez and SS Carlos Rivero and Harrisburg getting solo home runs from Bill Rhinehart in the second and Leonard Davis in the third. 3B Niuman Romero led off the top of the seventh with a single to center however, and the Aeros caught a break when Senators second baseman Jemel Spearman bobbled a grounder from Nick Weglarz and could only get the out at first. That set the stage for Espino, who hammered an 0-1 fastball from reliever Zach Segovia into center field for the deciding run.
Judge Judy...The Aeros made a roster move today, receiving RHP Josh Judy from Class A Kinston to fill the bullpen vacancy created by Wisconsin native Scott Roehl's promotion to Class AAA Columbus on Tuesday. Judy will wear #10.
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