EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Bryson Comes Up Big in Ninth as Aeros win 4-3

Published on July 14, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


Akron, OH - Akron reliever Rob Bryson struck out three consecutive hitters in the ninth inning Saturday night, stranding the potential tying run at third, as the Aeros slipped by the Altoona Curve, 4-3, at Canal Park.

Leading 4-2 entering the ninth, Bryson allowed a walk and then an RBI triple by Brock Holt to cut the lead to 4-3. He responded by fanning Oscar Tejeda, Matt Curry and Adalberto Santos to end the game and earn his first save.

The Aeros (54-39) won for the second straight night, and improved to 11-4 against the Curve (44-47) this season. The Aeros also improved their lead to five game in the EL West as second-place Harrisburg lost at home to Richmond, 5-4.

Indians lefty Rafael Perez started the game on a minor league rehab assignment, and tossed eight pitches during a scoreless first inning. The Aeros regular starter, Brett Brach, took over and threw two scoreless innings before surrendering a two-run double to Altoona's Quincy Latimore in the fourth inning.

Down 2-0, and facing last year's overall number one pick, righthander Gerrit Cole, the Aeros broke through in the fourth inning to grab the lead for good. Thomas Neal led off the inning with a double. Juan Diaz was up next and engaged in a 13-pitch battle with Cole (2-2) before blasting a tape-measure home run over the batter's eye in center field to tie the game at 2-2. It was Diaz's eighth home run of the year and his 39th RBI.

Ryan Rohlinger, who rejoined Akron from Triple-A Columbus on Saturday, followed with a double to right field. He went to third on a single by Adam Abraham, and scored on a ground-ball double play for a 3-2 Aeros lead.

Brach left with two outs and a man on in the fifth. Relief help came in the person of Shawn Armstrong (1-0), who picked up a win in his Double-A debut. Armstrong, a mid-season all-star at Class-A Carolina, tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings and fanned four.

Loek van Mil pitched recorded two outs in the eighth before leaving with an injury. Bryson came on to get the final out of the eighth, stranding two runners.

The Aeros and Curve will conclude the series on Sunday afternoon at 1:05. RHP Phil Irwin (1-6, 3.93)) will start for Altoona, while RHP Giovanni Soto (5-6, 4.09) is scheduled to start for the Aeros. All Aeros games are broadcast on Fox Sports 1350 AM and online at www.akronaeros.com. For more information, please call the Aeros at 330-253-5151.

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