Kibler Tosses Gem as 'Wolves Shutout Aeros
May 22, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Erie SeaWolves News Release
Erie lefty Jon Kibler put together his best outing of the season on Friday night as he and the SeaWolves shutout the Akron Aeros, 1-0 in the opener of a four-game series pitting the top two clubs in the Eastern League.
The lone run of the game came in the top of the second inning against Akron starter Chuck Lofgren. Lofgren, entered the game with a 3-0 record and 1.59 ERA and was tough on SeaWolves hitters all night. With two outs in the second, Andy Dirks grounded to first baseman Beau Mills. Mills fielded the ground ball and threw to Lofgren covering the bag. The ball went off of Lofgren's glove and Dirks would be safe. He then stole second and the throw from catcher Carlos Santana went into centerfield, allowing Dirks to reach third safely on the second Akron error of the inning. Shawn Roof stepped in and surprised the entire ballpark by laying down a squeeze bunt to bring home Dirks for the game's only run. In the process, Roof extended his season-long hitting streak to five straight games.
From that point on the game was in the hands of Kibler. In the third, he gave up back-to-back bunt singles to Cristo Arnal and Jose Constanza. He picked off Arnal on a throw back to second and induced a 5-4-3 double play off the bat off Carlos Rivero to end the inning.
Kibler did not allow another hit until the seventh inning when Matt McBride blooped a double into shallow right field. Three Erie fielders lost the ball in the lights and McBride was the tying run in scoring position. Kibler again battled as he got Mills to pop out and Santana to strike out leaving the tying run at third.
In the eighth, Arnal led off with a double down the left field line and was sacrifice over to third by Constanza. Again, Kibler came through in the clutch as he struck out Rivero and induced an inning-ending ground ball from Mills to push the game into the ninth.
In the bottom of the ninth, Santana led off with a single up the middle. Kibler then struck out Jared Goedert and got McBride to fly out to deep center for the first two outs. Kibler was then taken out at 109 pitches and gave way to closer Brett Jensen. Jensen came in and struck out pinch hitter Nick Weglarz to end the game, picking up his sixth save of the season.
Kiber improved his record to 2-3 tossing 8.2 shutout innings, allowing seven hits with two walks while striking out a season-high six. Kibler also lowered his ERA to 3.45.
Lofgren (3-1) took the loss going six innings, allowing an unearned run on four hits with two walks and a season-high eight strikeouts.
Deik Scram had an infield single in the first inning for the âWolves, extending his season-long hitting streak to nine consecutive games.
• Discuss this story on the Eastern League message board...
Eastern League Stories from May 22, 2009
- Arrieta Yields To Senators - Chesapeake Baysox
- Emaus hits fifth home run, but Fisher Cats lose 5-3 Friday night - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Curve rally from six down for 8-7 win - Altoona Curve
- Aeros Lose 1-0 Heartbreaker to Erie - Akron RubberDucks
- Trenton tops NH 3-2 - Trenton Thunder
- Evans Homers in Return to Binghamton, B-Mets Fall Short 3-1 - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Kibler Tosses Gem as 'Wolves Shutout Aeros - Erie SeaWolves
- Senators top Akron 3-2 - Harrisburg Senators
- Tazawa six shutout frames â LF Aaron Bates 2-for-4, RBI - Portland Sea Dogs
- Defenders Win 3-2 - Connecticut Defenders
- Spend The Night At Prince George's Stadium - Chesapeake Baysox
- Aeros Media Notes - Akron RubberDucks
- It Happened In Trenton For The First Time Ever Yesterday... - Trenton Thunder
- Fisher Cats Alums Power First-Place Blue Jays - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Erie SeaWolves at Akron Aeros...Game One of Four - Erie SeaWolves
- Baysox Playing Make-up - Chesapeake Baysox
- Memorial Day Weekend Excitement At Blair County Ballpark - Altoona Curve
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.
