Akron Aeros
Published on April 21, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
Today's Starters: Akron - RHP Hector Rondon (2-0, 1.59 ERA)
Harrisburg - LHP Mike O'Connor (0-0, 3.00 ERA)
Upcoming Probables:
Wednesday: AKR RHP Frank Herrmann (1-1, 1.38 ERA) at HAR LHP Justin Jones (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
Thursday: AKR RHP Josh Tomlin (1-1, 1.64 ERA) vs. ALT RHP Jared Hughes (0-1, 4.05 ERA)
Friday: AKR RHP Steven Wright (1-0, 4.00 ERA) vs. ALT RHP Mike Crotta (1-0, 1.59 ERA)
Saturday: AKR LHP Chuck Lofgren (1-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. ALT LHP Daniel Moskos (1-0, 6.10 ERA)
The Book on Hector Rondon... - High Strikeouts - 6, set 4/8 vs. Bowie - Most Hits Allowed - 5, set 4/8 vs. Bowie - Longest Outing - 5.2 IP, set 4/8 vs. Bowie and 4/15 vs. Altoona - Most Walks Allowed - 1, set 4/8 vs. Bowie and 4/15 vs. Altoona
- Shortest Outing - - HR Allowed (Season) - 0
- Has won both his starts this season, notching 11 strikeouts in 11.1 innings in the process
Rated by Baseball America as the no.-13 prospect in the Cleveland minor league system Throws a four-seam fastball between 92-94 mph, plus a two-seamer, changeup, and slider Aeros are 2-0 when Rondon starts Last time out: Earned the WIN in a 4-1 victory vs. Altoona 4/15 (5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HB)
Aerodynamics...
Almost Perfect...Aeros southpaw Chuck Lofgren was dominant in the series finale against Bowie Sunday, taking a perfect game into the fourth and a no-hitter into the fifth as Akron doubled-up the Sox 6-3, taking three of four games in the series. Lofgren retired the first 10 batters of the game before walking Melvin Dorta in the fourth, and by the time Bowie got on the board with Ambiorix Concepcion's solo home run in the fifth (also the first hit for the Baysox) Akron had a 6-0 lead. Lofgren went on to toss six innings of two-hit baseball, and earned his first win as a starter since May 1st of 2008 (he also won a game in relief August 9th of last year). It was his first quality start since May 6th last season. Big Red...One of the biggest developments in Sunday's win was the performance of LF Nick Weglarz, who broke out of a season-long slump with a sacrifice fly in the third and a two-run homer in the fifth. It was the first home run and the first three RBI of the year for the Canadian, who came into yesterday's contest hitting just .077 (2-26) with 11 strikeouts and was without an extra-base hit through his first eight games.
The Little Things Mean So Much...The Aeros did all the little things while plating a pair of runs in the top of the third inning Sunday. SS Carlos Rivero opened the frame with a base hit up the middle, and 1B Beau Mills followed with a ringing opposite-field double over Jonathan Tucker's head in left to put runners on second and third. C Carlos Santana then took advantage of the infield playing back by delivering an RBI groundout to second for his league-leading 14th RBI, and when the Baysox brought the infield in for the next hitter, LF Nick Weglarz lofted a sacrifice fly to left to score Mills. What a Difference a Year Makes...With the Aeros currently holding the best record in the league at 8-2, let's take a look at how they stack up compared to prior seasons. Last year the Aeros were 4-6 through 10 games, didn't record their eighth win until the 19th game of the year, and didn't get six games over .500 until June 6th. In 2007 the Aeros were 6-4 through 10 games, won their eighth game in game 13, and climbed six games over .500 on May 15th. In 2006 Akron again opened 4-6, got their eighth win in the 14th game of the season, and hit six-over on May 2nd. What does all this mean? Probably not much, especially when you consider that no matter how the Aeros have started during the past three seasons, they've closed each year by winning the Southern Division pennant (and that doesn't even include the championship year of 2005).
Paint by Numbers...The Aeros have scored the second-most runs in the league (50), but have the fewest hits (64) and lowest team batting average (.211)...Akron leads the league with 50 walks drawn...Aeros pitching has allowed three runs or fewer eight times in 10 games, including five straight games...Akron's only two losses this year have been shutouts.
Eastern League Stories from April 21, 2009
- Baysox and Erie Suspended - Chesapeake Baysox
- Thunder fall to Binghamton 8-5 - Trenton Thunder
- B-Mets Score Season-High Eight Runs, Win 8-5 in Rain-Shortened Game - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Curve Drop Opener to Reading 3-1 - Altoona Curve
- Senators and Akron Aeros Rained out Tuesday Night - Harrisburg Senators
- Rock Cats Have Roster Transaction - New Britain Rock Cats
- Erie SeaWolves at Bowie Baysox...Doubleheader - Erie SeaWolves
- Akron Aeros - Akron RubberDucks
- It's A Double Play For All Ages - Vintage Baseball Day And Sundae Sunday Coming in May - Chesapeake Baysox
- Fisher Cats and Defenders rained out Tuesday - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Defenders Game Postponed - Connecticut Defenders
- Sea Dogs rained out on April 21 at New Britain - Portland Sea Dogs
- Rock Cats Rained Out Again Tonight - New Britain Rock Cats
- Annual Cuve Classic High School Baseball Set For This Weekend - Altoona Curve
- Gil Transferred Back To Trenton - Trenton Thunder
- Baysox Make Moves - Chesapeake Baysox
- Altoona Curve Game Notes - Altoona Curve
- Aeros and Senators Rained Out Monday - Akron RubberDucks
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