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EL1 Akron RubberDucks

LaPorta Delivers with Glove, Bat in 3-2 Win

July 11, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


READING, PA - Matt LaPorta socked a two-run homer with two outs in the top of the ninth and drove in all three runs as Akron earned a 3-2 comeback win over Reading before 7,681 fans at FirstEnegery Stadium Friday night. The Aeros improved to 59-34 (a season-best 25 games over .500) while Reading fell to 38-54.

Akron had a chance to break the game open early, but Greg Golson tracked down Matt Whitney's fly ball to deep left-center as the Aeros left the bases loaded in the top of the first. The game remained scoreless until the top of the fifth, when Josh Rodriguez led off with a triple to dead center field. Two batters later, LaPorta rolled a grounder to third to score Rodriguez and give the Aeros a 1-0 advantage.

Reading got the run back in the bottom of the frame, as Neil Sellers led off with a double to right. Brad Harman grounded out however, and then LaPorta saved a run with a magnificent catch in deep left, timing his leap perfectly and hauling in Mike Eylward's drive before crashing into the wall. LaPorta was shaken briefly, but remained in the game. The Aeros couldn't take advantage of the catch however, as Reading's Jake Blalock flared a two-out RBI single down the right field line to tie the game at 1-1.

The Phillies couldn't solve Aeros starter Ryan Edell after that, but did take a 2-1 lead once Luis Perdomo entered in the eighth. Michael Spidale reached on a fielder's choice and stole second with one gone, and Jason Donald followed with an RBI single to right to give Reading the late advantage.

Akron was undeterred however, and the top of the ninth got off to an auspicious start when Golson slipped in center field as Brandon Pinckney's routine fly ball turned into a leadoff double. A wild pitch moved Pinckney to third with one out, but Phillies closer Patrick Overholt struck out Bronson Sardinha looking for the second out. After taking a strike however, LaPorta crushed Overholt's next offering way over the fence in left-center for the winning margin and his first home run as a member of the Indians organization. Jeremy Slayden did reach on an error to start the bottom of the ninth, but Perdomo struck out Sellers and then snared Harman's liner and doubled off Slayden to preserve the win.

Perdomo (2-0) earned the win, although in a fairer world the triumph would have been Edell's to savor. The left-hander turned in his fourth straight quality start, allowing just a run on six hits in seven sublime innings. He did not walk a man, and set a new season-high with seven strikeouts. Overholt (3-4) blew the save and took the loss, allowing the two winning runs in the ninth. Reading's Fabio Castro was impressive, stymieing the Akron offense to the tune of one run in six innings. Whitney and Wyatt Toregas each had two hits.

Game two in this four-game series is set for 7:05 p.m. Saturday, with Akron's Kevin Dixon (7-5, 4.28 ERA) facing Reading's Brett Myers (0-0, 0.00 ERA). 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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