Dixon Leads Aeros Past SeaWolves, 4-1
September 1, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
ERIE, PA - Kevin Dixon closed the regular-season on a high note, notching his team-leading 16th quality start of the year as Akron defeated Erie 4-1 before 4,876 fans at Jerry Uht Park on a glorious Monday afternoon. The Aeros (80-62) closed the regular-season with five wins in their last seven games and reached the 80-win plateau for the fourth straight season, while the SeaWolves finished the year 68-74.
Akron scored first in all four games of the series, as Ryan Goleski socked a solo home run in the second for a 1-0 lead. Stephen Head delivered an RBI single in the top of the third to make it 2-0, but Erie's Brandon Douglas took advantage of a rare mistake from Dixon in the bottom of the frame, driving a solo homer of his own to cut the lead in half.
Dixon did well to keep the lead intact in the next two innings, stranding a runner at second in the fourth and then striking out Casper Wells and Wilkin Ramirez to end the fifth after a single and a walk put men at first and second with one out.
The Aeros then got two key insurance runs in the sixth, as Brandon Chaves delivered a two-out single to center with runners at first and second. The hit, which would have scored Carlos Santana easily, ended up skipping past Wells and going to the warning track as Goleski raced home as well to make it 4-1.
That was plenty for Dixon (9-11), who held the Wolves to just a run and three hits in seven outstanding innings. He walked a pair and struck out seven. Erie left-hander Danny Christensen (7-10) also turned in a quality start but suffered the loss, allowing all four runs (three earned) and eight hits in six innings. Erik Stiller struck out a pair in a scoreless eighth and Tony Sipp was perfect in the ninth for his first save to close it out. Goleski paced the offense with a 2-4 day, while Head also delivered two hits and Matt Whitney reached base all four times on two singles and two walks.
The Aeros are off Tuesday before starting the best-of-five Southern Division Championship Series Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. in Bowie. Akron will send left-hander Scott Lewis (6-2, 2.33 ERA) to the hill against Bowie's Jason Berken (12-4, 3.58 ERA). Lewis went 2-0 with a 5.02 ERA in three starts against the Baysox this year; Berken was 2-2 with a 1.71 ERA in six starts against Akron. The game broadcast begins at 6:50 p.m. on SportsRadio 1350 AM and online at www.akronaeros.com. For more information, please call the Aeros at (330) 253-5151.
• Discuss this story on the Eastern League message board...
Eastern League Stories from September 1, 2008
- Nats Call Up Four Former Senators - Harrisburg Senators
- 'Wolves Fall In Season Finale...Achieve Third-Highest Attendance in Team History - Erie SeaWolves
- B-Mets Lose In Finale - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Baysox Lose As Playoffs Loom - Chesapeake Baysox
- Rock Cats Take Final Game of Regular Season - New Britain Rock Cats
- âCats Crowds Rock!! - New Britain Rock Cats
- Trenton Beats Connecticut 4-3 in Regular Season Finale at Waterfront Park - Trenton Thunder
- Defenders Wrap Up Season with 4-3 loss - Connecticut Defenders
- Dixon Leads Aeros Past SeaWolves, 4-1 - Akron RubberDucks
- 'Dogs Lose the Regular Season Finale 4-1 to the 'Cats - Portland Sea Dogs
- Senators End Season with 13-7 Triumph Over Bowie - Harrisburg Senators
- Fisher Cats win season finale, 4-1, in Portland - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Curve Win Season Finale on Labor Day, 8-2 - Altoona Curve
- Sea Dogs Announce 2008 Team Awards - Portland Sea Dogs
- RHP Humberto Sanchez joins Thunder for Major League Rehab stint - Trenton Thunder
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
