EL1 Akron RubberDucks

De La Cruz Leads Aeros to 6-1 Win Over Erie

Published on July 15, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


AKRON, OH - Aeros lefty Kelvin De La Cruz earned his first win in exactly two months Thursday night as Akron defeated the visiting Erie SeaWolves by the final score of 6-1. The 6'5" starter allowed just one run in six innings for his second career Double-A quality start while Cleveland Indians star Asdrubal Cabrera paced the Aeros offense on his rehab assignment. A crowd of 2,774 fans at Canal Park witnessed Akron (46-45) claim victory over the SeaWolves (38-54) for the seventh time in 11 chances this season.

Cabrera helped the Aeros take the early lead by doubling to start the bottom of the first and Jason Kipnis promptly followed with a single. Third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall then collected the third straight hit with an RBI single to center and Akron struck again in the second. Right fielder Jerad Head singled and Jordan Henry later scored Head from second with two outs on a soft flying single to center to give the hosts a 2-0 advantage.

Erie responded in the third inning as center fielder Justin Henry, the brother of Akron's Jordan, scored catcher Andy Bouchie on a sacrifice fly. That out then marked a stretch of eight consecutive batters retired by the red-hot De La Cruz.

The Aeros then pounced for two more runs against new Wolves reliever Josh Rainwater in the fifth. Rainwater, in his first Double-A appearance of the season, allowed three straight singles to load the bases and Head drew a one-out bases loaded walk. The hosts then took a commanding 4-1 lead on a fielder's choice by left fielder Tim Fedroff.

Lefty Ramon Garcia replaced Rainwater in the sixth and ran into trouble in the bottom of the seventh. Beau Mills and Head recorded back-to-back lead off doubles while designated hitter Matt McBride sealed the victory with a solo home run in the eighth.

De La Cruz (2-5) struck out five batters against four walks and two hits in the contest, snapping a stretch of 10 straight starts without a victory since May 15th. He finished the sixth inning for just the second time in his Akron career, tying a record he set in his 2010 debut with the team back on May 8th. Erie starter Anthony Shawler (1-1) took the loss in his four frames and a combination of Shane Lindsay, Chen-Chang Lee and Zach Putnam out of Aeros bullpen retired all nine hitters in the final three innings with five strikeouts.

Akron collected 13 hits total as the shortstop Cabrera finished 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored before giving way to pinch-hitter Carlos Rivero in the bottom of the seventh. Four other batters had multi-hit performances led by two singles and two walks from Chisenhall, two RBI by Head and the team-leading 14th home run by McBride.

This home stand continues on another Fireworks Friday at Canal Park with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch tomorrow. Time Warner Cable presents the fireworks spectacular and it is a FRITOSR Family Friday where fans can take advantage of a 10% discount at the Infield Outfitters team store. It is a battle of Eastern League All-Stars as right-hander Paolo Espino (8-3, 4.02 ERA) makes the start for the Aeros against Erie's Brooks Brown (7-5, 3.77 ERA). Friday's radio broadcast begins at 6:50 p.m. on Fox Sports 1350 AM and at www.akronaeros.com. For more information, please call the Aeros at (330) 253-5151.

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Eastern League Stories from July 15, 2010


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