Defenders Walk-Off in Tenth
Published on August 13, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Connecticut Defenders News Release
NORWICH, CT- In a the final matchup of the regular season between the Eastern Leagues two top teams it was nothing but a playoff atmosphere at Dodd Stadium Thursday night. In the end, it was the northern division leading Connecticut Defenders (67-50) walking off with a 3-2 victory over the southern division leader, Akron Aeros.
In the bottom of the tenth, with one out and two on, DH-Eddy Martinez-Esteve delivered a game winning RBI single to centerfield to score LF-Brad Boyer who slide head-first into home and salvaged a win in the three game series.
Connecticut bolted their way to a 2-0 advantage in the home half of the first inning as CF-Mike McBryde singled then Boyer crushed his third homerun of the season over the centerfield wall.
Akron trimmed the lead in half in the third inning as SS-Carlo Rivero led off with a double and scored on a LF-Matt McBride RBI single.
The Aeros evened things up in the fifth on a CF-Cristo Arnal RBI groundout to score RF-Jered Head who reached on a SS-Brandon Crawford error.
Both starters would exit the ballgame after the sixth and each team traded zeros until the tenth. Madison Bumganer allowed two runs-one earned off of four hits, walked one and fanned two in the no decision.
Akron had their best chance in the tenth as Connecticut would intentionally load the bases with one out but managed to get out of the inning untouched with solid defense by 1B-Brett Pill and Crawford.
Defenders' reliever LHP-Dan Runzler (2-0) made an excellent first impression to the home crowd buckling down in his two innings of work allowing just one hit, walked two and struck out one while earning the win. Aeros reliever RHP-Neil Wagner (0-3) suffered the loss working 1.1 innings, allowed one earned run off of two hits, walked three and struck out a pair.
Connecticut will welcome the Erie Seawolves (Detroit) into town tomorrow on Friday Night Fireworks night at Dodd Stadium. Game one of the weekend series is slated for 6:35pm.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Defenders Box Office at (860)-887-7962 or online at ctdefenders.com.
Eastern League Stories from August 13, 2009
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- Trenton Defeats Reading - Trenton Thunder
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