Early Homers Propel Aeros to 3-1 Win
Published on August 29, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
ERIE, PA - Wes Hodges and Matt LaPorta socked back-to-back homers in the first inning and three pitchers made sure they held up, as Akron defeated Erie 3-1 before 3,201 fans at Jerry Uht Park Friday night. The Aeros improved to 78-61, while the SeaWolves fell to 67-72.
Akron took a 2-0 lead just six pitches into the game, as Josh Rodriguez led off with a first-pitch single to left. Erie starter Luis Marte got Bronson Sardinha to pop-up on three pitches, and Hodges then hammered a 1-0 offering to left-center field for his 17th home run of the season and the 2-0 advantage. LaPorta followed with a booming drive to left to make it 3-0, and the Aeros had all the runs they would need.
Erie threatened in the bottom of the first, but Aeros starter Steven Wright made some big pitches to hold the SeaWolves to just a run. After striking out Shawn Roof to start the inning, a walk and two singles cut the margin to 3-1. Wright then grazed the jersey of Deik Scram to load the bases with just one out, but recovered with a gutsy strikeout of Santo de Leon before Matt Whitney flagged down Pedro Cotto's grounder at first to end the inning.
Wright continued to escape trouble throughout the rest of the night, getting a double-play ball to escape a first and third, one out jam in the second, inducing another twin-killing to end the fourth, and then getting three outs on four pitches to end the fifth after hitting Roof to start the frame.
The native of Moreno Valley, CA improved to 4-3 with his fourth quality start of the year, holding Erie to a run and six singles in six innings. He walked one and tied his season-high with seven strikeouts. Marte (4-4) also turned in a quality start but suffered the loss, allowing three runs and scattering nine hits in seven innings. Tony Sipp was dominant in the seventh and eighth, striking out five in two scoreless frames before Randy Newsom shut the door with a perfect ninth to earn his 28th save of the year.
Hodges now has 93 RBI on the season, just three back of Chan Perry's single-season record of 96 set in 1997. LaPorta's home run was his second with the Aeros, and both he and Hodges had two hits. Whitney finished 1-3 with a walk and extended his hitting streak to a season-high 11 games.
This four-game series continues Saturday at 7:05 p.m., as Frank Herrmann (10-6, 4.01 ERA) takes the hill for Akron opposite Erie's Josh Rainwater (10-6, 3.93 ERA). 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.
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