EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Erie Cruises to 8-1 Win Over Aeros

Published on May 24, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


AKRON, OH - The visiting Erie SeaWolves were in control throughout as they coasted to an 8-1 victory Sunday over the Aeros in front of 7,274 fans at Canal Park. Three home runs lifted the SeaWolves to victory, as they took the two-games-to-one edge in this four-game series. Akron fell to 30-11 with the loss, while Erie jumped to 25-17.

Erie erupted early in the first and second innings against Akron starter Josh Tomlin. The native of Whitehouse, TX opened the game with a strikeout, but second baseman Cristo Arnal booted a grounder and Brennan Boesch followed with a two-run homer to give the SeaWolves an early 2-0 lead. Ryan Strieby then smacked a solo home run to dead center field just two batters later to make it 3-0, and Erie hung three more runs on the board in the second. A triple, double, and triple accounted for the first two runs before Boesch made it 6-0 with an RBI groundout, his third RBI of the day.

Akron got on the board for the first time in the bottom of the second when white-hot Carlos Santana led off with a liner over the head of center fielder Deik Scram for a double. He advanced to third on a passed ball by catcher Alex Avila, and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Matt McBride. This was the only run on the afternoon for the Aeros, as they managed just four hits total against the SeaWolves pitching staff.

Erie responded in the fifth, pushing the lead back up to six runs with a sacrifice fly of their own. Avila started the inning with a walk against reliever Scott Roehl, Strieby doubled, and Scram then plated him with a sac fly to McBride making the score 7-1. The final margin came in the top of the eighth against Neil Wagner, as SeaWolves shortstop Cale Iorg led off the inning with the third home run of the day, the most allowed by Aeros pitchers in a single game this season.

Erie starter Duane Below (1-0) was solid through 6.1 innings, as the unearned run in the second was the only blemish on top of two hits and one walk while he struck out three. Tomlin (5-2) lasted only four innings, permitting seven hits, six runs (four earned) and a walk while striking out five batters. It also marked the second time this season that he allowed two home runs in a game, accounting for his only two losses in eight starts. Santana went 2-4 with the only run scored, continuing his hot streak with his ninth multi-hit outing in his last 20 games, while Jared Head and Nick Weglarz had the only other hits for Akron on the day.

This four-game set between the two top teams in the Eastern League concludes tomorrow on Memorial Day at 1:35 p.m. Akron's Hector Rondon (5-2, 2.17 ERA) and Erie's Luis Marte (2-4, 4.81 ERA) are the scheduled starters. Tickets to Mondays contest are currently limited to standing room only, and the game will also feature $1 hot dogs all game long. The game broadcast begins at 1:20 p.m. on SportsRadio 1350 WARF-AM and online at www.akronaeros.com. For more information, please call the Aeros at (330) 253-5151.

Check out the Akron RubberDucks Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Eastern League Stories from May 24, 2009


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.

OurSports Central