EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Camacaro's Dash Paces Aeros in 4-3 Victory

Published on September 6, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


AKRON, OH - Armando Camacaro scored all the way from first on a delayed steal in the bottom of the seventh, and that run proved to be the difference in Akron's 4-3 triumph over Erie before 7,270 fans at Canal Park Sunday afternoon. The Aeros climbed a season-high 35 games over .500 with their seventh straight win, improving to 88-53 and tying the 2003 club for the second most wins in team history. Erie dropped to 71-69.

Reading also defeated Connecticut 6-0, which means the Aeros will host the Phillies in game one of the Southern Division Championship Series Wednesday night.

The SeaWolves opened the scoring for the second straight game, as Akron starter Connor Graham struggled with his command all day. Brennan Boesch drove a double to left with two down in the top of the first, and after a four-pitch walk to Casper Wells, Michael Bertram fisted a soft single down the right field line to make it 1-0. Cale Iorg pushed the advantage to 2-0 with a run-scoring base hit in the top of the third, but the Aeros answered with John Drennen's solo home run in the bottom of the inning.

Akron used the long ball again in the sixth to pull ahead, as Carlos Santana smoked a solo shot down the right field line and Beau Mills followed two pitches later with a bomb that cleared the bleachers in right field to put the Aeros in front 3-2. Bertram answered in the next half-inning with a solo homer off reliever Carlton Smith to tie the game, but Camacaro struck in unexpected fashion in the bottom of the seventh.

With the bases empty and two down, Camacaro lined a base hit up the middle to extend the inning. Then with Jose Constanza at-bat, Camacaro took off for second after Alfredo Figaro's first pitch. Erie catcher Adrian Casanova was as stunned as anyone in the ballpark at the sight of the 30-year-old catcher trying to steal second, and after waiting for someone to cover the bag skipped his throw into center field. Camacaro popped to his feet, saw the ball rolling away, and immediately began lumbering toward third. Wells collected the ball in center field but airmailed the throw into the Akron dugout, allowing Camacaro to rumble home at a slightly more dignified pace with the deciding run.

Smith (6-2) got the win out of the Akron bullpen, while Steven Wright was perfect in the eighth and Josh Judy punched out a pair in the ninth for his 11th save in 12 chances. Figaro (6-3) took the loss, with Camacaro's run being unearned against him. Graham did not factor into the decision and held Erie to two runs in five innings, surviving eight hits and five walks while notching five strikeouts.

The Aeros won despite being out-hit 11-6 in the game, with Santana recording Akron's lone multi-hit effort. Mills extended his hitting streak to nine games with the home run, tying his season-high.

Akron will look for the sweep in this four-game series in the final game of the regular season Monday afternoon at 1:35 p.m. Left-hander Scott Barnes (1-2, 6.66 ERA) will take the hill for the Aeros while southpaw Ramon Garcia (4-3, 5.76 ERA) gets the call for Erie. The game broadcast begins at 1:20 p.m. on SportsRadio 1350 AM and online at www.akronaeros.com. For more information, please call the Aeros at (330) 253-5151.

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Eastern League Stories from September 6, 2009


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