Five-Run 4th Propels Aeros to Triumph
June 16, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
MANCHESTER, NH - The Aeros scored all five of their runs and collected four of their five hits in the top of the fourth inning, snapping what had been a scoreless tie en route to a 5-2 victory over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats before 5,514 fans at historic Merchantsauto.com Stadium Tuesday night. Akron improved to 41-21, matching their high-water mark of the season at 20 games over .500, while the Cats fell to 28-36.
New Hampshire starter Luis Perez cruised through the first three innings without allowing a hit, but did himself no favors by walking Jose Constanza on five pitches to begin the fourth. Cristo Arnal failed twice to get a bunt down but recovered to roll a base hit through the right side of the infield, putting runners at first and second. Nick Weglarz squared around as well and fouled a bunt off, then swung away and lofted a jam-shot liner toward the left side of the infield. Perez went to his right and got the edge of his glove on it but couldn't hold on, and the ball died in the infield grass to load the bases. If the ball was perhaps six inches closer to the pitcher's mound Perez more than likely makes the catch and would have had a chance to double-off Constanza at second, and instead the stage was set for the Aeros to break the game open.
Break the game open they did, as Carlos Santana followed with a bouncer to the hole at short that Luis Sanchez misplayed, allowing Constanza to score the first run of the contest. Beau Mills then followed with the big blow of the inning, lacing an 0-2 pitch into the right field corner for a two-run single and moving to third on a bobble by Nick Gorneault. Perez then uncorked a wild pitch to score Santana and make it 4-0, and two batters later Carlos Rivero ripped an RBI double to left-center to cap the scoring.
The Fisher Cats responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning, as the rehabbing Scott Lewis departed with a runner at first and two down only to see Josh Tomlin be greeted by three straight singles, cutting the margin to 5-2 and bringing Sanchez to the plate as the potential tying run. Tomlin recovered to strike out Sanchez however, and New Hampshire would manage just one hit the rest of the way.
Tomlin (6-4) earned the win in his first relief appearance of the season, as the Texan went 3.1 innings and allowed just a run on three hits while striking out three. Perez (4-6) suffered the loss, with all five runs (four earned) coming in the fourth during his seven innings of work. Vinnie Pestano entered in the ninth and didn't allow a ball out of the infield while notching his league-leading 17th save. Lewis was making his second rehab start for Cleveland and just missed completing his allotted four frames, departing after reaching his 65-pitch limit in 3.2 innings. He allowed just one run and two hits, with one walk and two strikeouts.
Mills reached base three times while officially finishing 1-2 with two RBI, and Santana's RBI was his team-leading 42nd of the season. John Drennen singled in the seventh to extend his hitting streak to a team-high eight games and Mills stretched his hitting streak to seven games, but Matt McBride finished 0-4 and saw his five-game hitting streak end.
Games two and three in this four-game series are set for Wednesday at 6:05 p.m., as the clubs will play a double header consisting of two seven-inning games. Jeanmar Gomez (5-2, 2.82 ERA) will take on Randy Boone (4-4, 4.22 ERA) in game one while Carlton Smith (3-0, 3.47 ERA) and Adrian Martin 0-0, 2.04 ERA) are the scheduled starters in game two. The game broadcast begins at 5:50 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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Eastern League Stories from June 16, 2009
- Mariotti Mightier Than Reading - Chesapeake Baysox
- Five-Run 4th Propels Aeros to Triumph - Akron RubberDucks
- B-Mets Edged by Senators 3-2 in Series Opener - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Curve Win Third in a Row - Altoona Curve
- Haerther Goes 2-for-3 with RBI Single in 5-2 loss to Akron - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Trenton Tripped Up By Connecticut - Trenton Thunder
- Portland Snaps a Two-Game Losing Streak - Portland Sea Dogs
- Connecticut Shuts Out Trenton in Pitcher's Duel - Connecticut Defenders
- Senators Sneak Past Binghamton 3-2 - Harrisburg Senators
- Rock 101's Scorch in a Crate at Merchantsauto.com Stadium - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Erie SeaWolves at Portland Sea Dogs...Game One of Three - Erie SeaWolves
- Valdez Joins Roster - Trenton Thunder
- Rock Cats at Curve Tonight - Altoona Curve
- Aeros Recieve Pitcher Lewis from Cleveland, Promote Westbrook - Akron RubberDucks
- Baysox Host Negro League Tribute Night - Chesapeake Baysox
- OF Austin Krum Promoted From Tampa to Trenton - Trenton Thunder
- Kason Gabbard Returns to Portland - Portland Sea Dogs
- Celebrate Father's Day With The Baysox - Chesapeake Baysox
- Curve Return Home for Father's Day Homestand - Altoona Curve
- Sea Dogs Recieve Matt Sheely From Single-A Salem - Portland Sea Dogs
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