Below Strong as 'Wolves Take Down Aeros 8-1
Published on May 24, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Erie SeaWolves News Release
The SeaWolves jumped ahead early on Sunday afternoon and were backed by stellar pitching as they took down the Akron Aeros, 8-1, at Canal Park.
The SeaWolves struck first for the second straight game in the top of the first inning against Akron starter Josh Tomlin. Tomlin, who was 5-0 with a no-decision in his last six starts, struggled early. With one out in the inning, Max Leon reached on an error by second baseman Cristo Arnal. Brennan Boesch followed and blasted his eight home run of the season over the wall in right. The two-run jack put the SeaWolves ahead 2-0 and they would never trail in the game. Later in the inning with two outs, Ryan Strieby slammed his league leading 12th home run to dead center, giving the 'Wolves a 3-0 lead.
Erie added to its lead in the top of the second. Shawn Roof led off and extended his season-long hitting streak to six straight games with a triple, his first. Roof was doubled home by Scott Sizemore for a 4-0 Erie lead. Leon followed with his fourth triple to bring home Sizemore for a 5-0 advantage. Leon is now tied for the league lead with four three-baggers. Leon would come in to score on a groundout by Boesch, giving the 'Wolves a six-run lead.
Akron got on the board in the bottom of the second with its lone run of the game. Carlos Santana led off and doubled off of Erie starter Duane Below. Santana advance to third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt McBride to make it a 6-1 game in favor of the Howlers.
In the top of the fifth, Erie would add a run against reliever Scott Roehl. Alex Avila led off with a walk and moved to third on a double by Strieby. Deik Scram, who earlier in the game extended his season-long hitting streak to 11 consecutive games, hit a sacrifice fly to left, bringing home Avila for a 7-1 lead. The 11-game hitting streak is the longest of the season for the 'Wolves.
Erie would go ahead 8-1 in the top of the eighth inning when Cale Iorg snapped an 0-for-14 skid at the plate when he led off with a solo home run to left off of reliever Neil Wagner. The home run for Iorg was his forth of the season, the third of the game for Erie and the 50th on the season for the club.
The large lead was more than enough for Below who was sharp in his second Double-A start. He allowed just two hits, one after the second, in 6.1 innings of work. Below faced just three over the minimum in the first six innings and left the game with one out in the seventh with an injury. His final line was a run on two hits with a walk and three strikeouts. He lowered his ERA to 1.59 as he picked up his first win.
Tomlin (5-2) took the loss for Akron going four innings, allowing six runs, four earned, on seven hits with a walk and five strikeouts.
Josh Rainwater and Josh Kite finished the game for Erie combining to throw 2.2 scoreless innings.
The 'Wolves will go for the series win against Akron on Monday afternoon at Canal Park...1:35 First Pitch.
Eastern League Stories from May 24, 2009
- Binghamton Bats Go Quiet, Lose 10-1 - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Baysox Run Wild in Harrisburg - Chesapeake Baysox
- Erie Cruises to 8-1 Win Over Aeros - Akron RubberDucks
- Below Strong as 'Wolves Take Down Aeros 8-1 - Erie SeaWolves
- Quintana goes 4-4 with HR, 4 RBI as Fisher Cats beat Thunder 10-4 - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Lawson Dominates The Defenders, Sea Dogs Win 8-3 - Portland Sea Dogs
- Trenton Falls To New Hampshire 10-4 On Sunday Afternoon - Trenton Thunder
- Defenders Fall 8-3 - Connecticut Defenders
- Erie SeaWolves at Akron Aeros - Erie SeaWolves
- Aeros Media Notes - Akron RubberDucks
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