EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Kipnis Leads Aeros Sluggers to 10-3 Victory

Published on July 20, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


AKRON, OH - Second baseman Jason Kipnis homered twice Tuesday night as the Aeros improved to a perfect 6-0 since the All-Star Break with a 10-3 win over the Altoona Curve. Kipnis starred while three other Akron players also hit home runs against Altoona starter Jared Hughes. It was yet another blowout at Canal Park in front of 2,602 fans and a 22-minute rain delay preceded a massive three-homer, seven-run fourth inning. With the win, the Aeros (51-45) are now only 6.5 games behind the first-place Curve (57-38) in the Western Division standings, the smallest margin for Akron since a loss on April 30th.

The offensive outpour began quickly as Kipnis, batting leadoff for the first time in his brief Double-A career, smacked a home run to left-center to start the contest. Rehabbing Cleveland Indians right fielder Shin-Soo Choo reached base on a fielding error at second base shortly after, and scored on a two-out RBI double by first baseman Beau Mills.

A rain delay interfered with play in the middle of the second, halting play for just 22 minutes before Altoona responded to tie the score at 2-2 in the third. With two outs against Akron starter Kelvin De La Cruz, the Curve smacked three straight hits including back-to-back RBI knocks from Josh Harrison and Matt Hague.

Third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall then gave the Aeros the lead for good in the bottom half of that third with a one-out solo homer to center. That blast preceded a monster bottom of the fourth for the home team against the 6'7" right-hander Hughes.

Another fielding error brought Carlos Rivero to first base to start the inning, and left fielder John Drennen followed with a two-run homer to right. After a hit-by-pitch and a bunt single, Kipnis then unloaded on his second moon shot of the night to center. Hughes finally forced two straight outs after a Chisenhall single to left, but Mills promptly followed with the inning's third homer, extending the margin to 10-2.

The Curve scored a final run in the sixth as Akron's Rob Bryson struggled in his Eastern League debut. He walked four straight batters with three wild pitches before fellow reliever Bryan Price avoided further damage with a strikeout and an inning-ending double play.

De La Cruz (3-5) earned his second straight victory in allowing just two runs in five innings, striking out three against six hits and three walks. The left-hander had won just one contest in his first 12 EL starts while Hughes (10-7) took the loss as he permitted all 10 runs (six earned) including the five home runs on the night. Price retired eight of the nine batters he faced in three scoreless innings of relief with one strikeout.

Kipnis was the star as he is now batting .600 (15-for-25) with six multi-hit performances in six games since the All-Star Break. The five home runs were a new Akron season-high and Choo finished 0-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in his second rehab game.

The Aeros look for the seven-game home stand sweep in the series finale with the Curve Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. at Canal Park. Fans can save $28 at the ballpark on Family Pack specials of four tickets, four hot dogs, four bags of chips and four soft drinks for only $48 total! Eastern League All-Star Paolo Espino (9-3, 3.76 ERA) takes the mound for Akron against Altoona's newest starter in lefty Jeff Locke (1-0, 0.00 ERA). Wednesday's radio broadcast begins at 6:50 p.m. on Fox Sports 1350 AM and at www.akronaeros.com. For more information, please call the Akron Aeros team offices at (330) 253-5151.

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Eastern League Stories from July 20, 2010


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