EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Goleski Hustles Aeros to 3-2 Win

Published on July 12, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


READING, PA - Ryan Goleski manufactured a run with his feet in the top of the second and that tally ended up as the difference, as Akron slipped past Reading 3-2 before 8,957 fans at FirstEnergy Stadium Saturday night. The Aeros improved to an Eastern League-best 60-34, while the Phillies dropped to 38-55.

Josh Rodriguez wasted no time in opening the scoring, launching a solo home run to left on the very first pitch of the game from Reading starter Brett Myers to make it 1-0. Brandon Pinckney followed with a bloop single to right, and with two away Stephen Head doubled to right center to put men at second and third. White-hot Wyatt Toregas then laced an RBI single to left, plating Pinckney and making it 2-0.

Goleski made his presence felt in the second, starting the frame with a grounder to short that Brad Harman threw away. With one out Goleski stole second (his first steal since April 15th), and with two gone Bronson Sardinha hit a bouncer to first which should have ended the inning. Clay Harris roamed to his right to field the ball, but Myers dropped the throw at first as Sardinha was safe. Running with his head up, Goleski alertly saw that the ball was still rolling up the first base line and raced around third, eventually sliding home ahead of the tag from Kevin Nelson.

Luke Appert got Reading on the board with a solo home run in the third, but that was all Aeros starter Kevin Dixon would surrender. He used double play balls to get out of slight trouble in both the fourth and fifth innings, and then caught a break when Neil Sellers was hit on the base path by a batted ball to end the sixth.

Reading made things interesting against Wisconsin native Scott Roehl in the ninth, as with a runner at first and two away Harris reached on a strikeout/wild pitch combination. Jake Blalock followed with an RBI single to left to make it 3-2 and put the potential tying run at second base, but Roehl recovered to strike out Nelson on a changeup to end it.

Dixon (8-5) earned the win with his team-leading 11th quality start of the year, holding the Phillies to a run on five hits in six innings. He walked three and struck out six. Myers (0-1) took the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) and five hits in eight innings. He walked two and struck out 10. Erik Stiller earned his first hold with two perfect innings in the seventh and eighth, and Roehl's save was his third of the season. Rodriguez's leadoff home run was his sixth of the year, and Pinckney finished 2-3 with a walk.

Game three in this four-game series is set for 1:05 p.m. Sunday, with Akron southpaw Chuck Lofgren (1-3, 5.64 ERA) making his return to the starting rotation against Reading's J.D. Durbin (4-4, 2.45 ERA). The game broadcast begins at 12:50 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 July 12, 2008


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