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Akron RubberDucks

Head Homers Twice in Akron's 3-2 Victory

June 20, 2010 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


PORTLAND, ME - Aeros designated hitter Jerad Head delivered a pair of home runs Sunday afternoon at Hadlock Field in helping Akron avoid a three-game sweep against the Portland Sea Dogs with a 3-2 win. His solo one-out homers in the sixth and eighth innings helped the visitors break an early tie while the back-and-forth relieving corps secured the advantage in the final innings. The win was just the second in the past eight days for the Aeros (34-35) as they finished off their two week home-and-road series against the Sea Dogs (36-32) and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats with a 7-5 record.

Portland's Kyle Weiland was perfect through three innings while his Akron counterpart Scott Barnes only surrendered two walks and a single in the early pitcher's duel. The Aeros then pounced for a run in the fourth as Lonnie Chisenhall and John Drennen each drew walks and hot-hitting Tim Fedroff collected a two-out RBI single.

The Sea Dogs tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth by playing a small ball style of offense. Juan Apodaca hit a leadoff single, Ohio native Will Vazquez walked while a sacrifice bunt and a Nate Spears sacrifice fly eventually scored Apodaca. Portland replaced Weiland with Ryne Miller in the next half inning and after striking out Drennen, he permitted the first solo shot to center field from Head.

The 2-1 advantage stayed until the eighth inning where Head was again the second batter that reliever Mitch Herold faced, and he promptly drilled a 3-1 offering into the left field bleachers. The final few frames would get dramatic as the Sea Dogs added in one final run in the bottom half of that eighth on a run-scoring single by Ryan Khoury. Akron collected three hits in the top of the ninth but failed to score while closer Bryce Stowell then stranded a runner on second base with two straight strikeouts to end the game.

Barnes (3-6) was solid in earning the win, striking out eight Portland batters and allowing just one run on two hits and five walks in five innings pitched. Miller-5) took the loss by allowing the crucial second run of the ball game and the Akron bullpen was tremendous for the first time all week. Connor Graham avoided trouble in two frames while Wright allowed the final run in the eighth and new closer Stowell recorded his sixth save.

Head's home runs were his third and fourth of the season in 22 games played for Akron and it was his first multi-homer performance since July 14, 2006 with the short-season Class A Burlington Indians. Chisenhall smacked three hits including a double while Jason Kipnis extended his hitting streak to all eight of his Double-A games with two singles.

The Aeros will be travelling by bus overnight Sunday on their return back to the state of Ohio and will enjoy a much-deserved rest day Monday. The team then returns to action Tuesday night for the start of a weeklong home stand with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch time at Canal Park against the Richmond Flying Squirrels. It is another Two for Tuesday and athe second buyout night of the season fans can find FREE ticket vouchers at any local Applebee's restaurant. Aeros lefty Eric Berger (3-4, 5.25 ERA) matches up in the series opener against Richmond's Mike MacDonald (1-6, 4.96 ERA). Monday night's game broadcast begins at 6:50 p.m. on Fox Sports 1350 AM and at www.akronaeros.com.

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