Constanza Everywhere in 7-3 Victory
April 18, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
BOWIE, MD - Jose Constanza collected three hits, scored three runs, stole two bases and made a pair of great catches in center field and Akron scored six times in the final four innings en route to a 7-3 win over Bowie before 6,418 fans at Prince George's Stadium Saturday night. The Aeros improved to a season-high five games over .500 at 7-2, while the Baysox slipped back to the .500 mark at 5-5.
The teams traded runs in the first inning, and the Baysox pulled ahead in the third as Aeros starter Steven Wright lost command of the strike zone. With one away and the bases empty Wright walked Jonathan Tucker on four pitches and Brandon Snyder on five pitches before hitting Dave Krynzel to load the bases. Miguel Abreu then hit a slow roller to second to plate Tucker and put Bowie in front 2-1.
The Aeros took the lead for good in the top of the sixth, as Jerad Head led off with a double and Constanza beat out a bunt to put men on the corners. After Constanza stole second, Carlos Rivero tied the game with an RBI groundout to second as Constanza advanced to third with one away. Beau Mills followed with a ground ball to first that Brandon Snyder gloved cleanly and stepped on first for the out, but his throw to the plate sailed over the head of catcher Adam Donachie as Constanza scooted home to make it 3-2. Carlos Santana then capped the inning with a solo home run to left.
Bowie cut the margin to a single run in the seventh on Dave Krynzel's two-out RBI single, but Head answered immediately with a solo bomb to left on the first pitch in the top of the eighth, restoring the two-run margin at 5-3. Constanza then beat out an infield single before swiping second, and after Rivero walked Mills ripped a two-run double into the right field corner to account for the final margin.
Akron relievers Carlton Smith and Michael Finocchi navigated some turbulent waters in the final two frames, as Smith gave up a walk and a single in a scoreless eighth and Finocchi issued a pair of walks in the ninth before Rivero and second baseman Josh Rodriguez teamed up for a pretty 6-4-3 double play for the final outs.
Erik Stiller (1-0) earned the win in relief, allowing two hits over two scoreless innings. Baysox starter Bobby Livingston (1-1) took the loss, giving up four runs and five hits in 5.2 innings. Constanza finished 3-4 with three runs scored, and also took away extra bases with fantastic running catches in the fourth and eighth, robbing Melvin Dorta and Donachie, respectively. Mills, who entered the game with three RBI on the season, went 2-4 with three RBI in the game and Head finished 2-3 and became the first Aero to notch two extra-base hits in a game this season.
The finale of this four-game series is set for 2:05 p.m. Sunday, as Akron left-hander Chuck Lofgren (0-0, 2.25 ERA) will look for his first win against Bowie's Jason Berken (1-1, 5.63 ERA). The game broadcast begins at 1:50 p.m. on SportsRadio 1350 WARF-AM and online at www.akronaeros.com. For more information, please call the Aeros at (330) 253-5151.
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