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EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Hodges Delivers Early, Late in 8-7 Win

July 28, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


AKRON, OH - Wes Hodges ripped a two-run double in the first and then clocked a walk-off home run over the left-field wall in the bottom of the ninth to send 9,006 faithful home from Canal Park cheering with an 8-7 win over Erie Monday night. The second-largest crowd of the season saw the Aeros up their record to 66-43, while the SeaWolves fell to 46-64.

Akron batted around in the first inning, jumping out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first inning. Josh Rodriguez walked and Bronson Sardinha singled to start things, and Hodges yanked a double into the left-field corner to plate both runners. With one down, Stephen Head drove in Hodges with a double over the head of Casper Wells in center to make it 3-0. Following a Wyatt Toregas single to put runners on the corners, Ryan Goleski delivered a sacrifice fly to center for the fourth run of the frame. The Aeros then loaded the bases with two more singles, but Rodriguez grounded out to end the inning there.

Santo de Leon put the SeaWolves on the board with a solo shot to left leading off the top of the third, but Akron got the run back in the next inning when Hodges doubled and Matt Whitney drove him in with an RBI double to right.

Erie scored the next four runs of the game though, tying the game at 5-5. Wells hit a solo shot in the sixth, and in the seventh de Leon ripped a two-run double off reliever Reid Santos before Caonabo Cosme tied the game with an RBI groundout.

In the bottom of the seventh, Whitney led off with a single before Head regained the lead for Akron with a line-drive blast into the right-field bleachers for a 7-5 advantage. Ryan Roberson, though, tied the game for Erie with his own two-run shot into the second row of bleachers in the top of the eighth.

But after Aeros reliever Erik Stiller struck out the side in the top of the ninth, Hodges led off the bottom half and ended the game with one swing on a 2-1 delivery from Erie reliever Brendan Wise, lining the ball over the left-field wall for his third hit and third RBI of the night.

Stiller (6-3) earned the win with his dominating ninth-inning performance. Wise (2-1) took the loss as Hodges was the only man he faced. Akron starter Ryan Edell set a new season high with eight strikeouts in six innings of work. He allowed just two hits, but both were solo home runs. Erie starter Juan Cedeno allowed five runs on 10 hits in 3.1 innings with two walks and one strikeout. Hodges was 3-5 with three runs and three RBI, and Whitney was 3-4 with a run and an RBI and finished a home run shy of the cycle. Head was 2-4 with a pair of runs and three RBI on the night for Akron. Edell combined with Reid Santos and Stiller to strikeout a season-high 14 batters.

The Aeros continue this 10-game homestand Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. against the SeaWolves. Kevin Dixon (8-6, 4.04 ERA) will take the ball for Akron against Erie's Lauren Gagnier (1-2, 17.36 ERA). It will be Two-for-Tuesday at Canal Park, with tickets and select concession items at a buy-one, get-one discount. 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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