Berger Shines as Aeros Win Again 3-2
Published on June 4, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
HARRISBURG, PA - Rain affected the Aeros game again Friday but lefty starter Eric Berger made sure it ended in another win as Akron defeated host Harrisburg 3-2 in seven innings. The crowd of 5,482 fans at recently renovated Metro Bank Park witnessed the delayed game until a threatening thunderstorm ended action just before the eighth inning. Berger earned the win with a complete game in his most dominant Double-A start and the victory over the Senators (28-27) was the fifth in a row for the red-hot Aeros (25-30).
Akron threatened in the very first inning after a 33-minute delay to the scheduled first pitch time. Harrisburg starter Andrew Kown permitted back-to-back singles to Tim Fedroff and Cord Phelps to start the game before designated hitter Lonnie Chisenhall grounded into a fielder's choice for the first out. Right fielder Matt McBride then flied to Edgardo Baez in right for what looked like a routine run-scoring sacrifice fly. Unfortunately, Baez nailed Fedroff at the play at the plate for the first of his two assists on the night.
The two starters Kown and Berger matched each other pitch for pitch early as neither team could manufacture a run. In fact, after the top of the first, no runner from Harrisburg or Akron even reached first base until John Drennen singled with two outs in the top of the fifth. That hit did not lead to a meaningful rally, as the Senators were the first team to get a run on the board later that frame.
With two outs against Berger in the fifth, veteran left fielder Marvin Lowrance provided a double to left-center to score Baez and give host Harrisburg a 1-0 advantage. Catcher Jhonaton Solano then followed with an RBI single of his own to create the two-run deficit.
The lead would not last for long as the Aeros returned the favor in the top of the seventh inning. Chisenhall drew a walk, McBride singled and then both runners advanced on a wild pitch by Kown. A Beau Mills groundout then scored Chisenhall and brought the score to 2-1. Shortstop Carlos Rivero followed with a game-tying RBI double to knock Kown out of the ballgame. New reliever Hassan Pena entered the game and permitted another extra-base hit as Drennen delivered the game-winning triple to center field.
Berger cruised yet again in the bottom of the seventh inning while the storms then caused the start of a long delay. Following nearly two more hours of rain and storms in Harrisburg, the umpires declared the game's official end and the Aeros earned their fifth straight win.
The complete game for Berger (2-4) was the first of the season for any Akron pitcher as he tied a 2010 team-high with seven innings pitched. He also became the first Aero in nearly 10 months to record 10 strikeouts in a contest and allowed just five hits and one walk overall. Kown (1-1) took the loss for Harrisburg despite only facing serious trouble in the top of the seventh after six shutout frames. On the offensive end, Drennen was the only Akron player with two hits and his game-winning triple was the deciding blow.
This three-game series continues Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. at Metro Bank Park in Harrisburg. Lefty Kelvin De La Cruz (1-3, 5.84 ERA) will be on the mound for the now-scorching Aeros as they aim for a sixth consecutive victory against Aaron Thompson (2-8, 6.15 ERA) and the Senators. You can listen to Jim Clark for Saturday's game broadcast on Fox Sports 1350 AM and on www.akronaeros.com starting at 6:45 p.m. For more information, please call the Aeros at (330) 253-5151.
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