EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Late Rally Falls Short as Aeros Lose, 9-7

Published on August 31, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


ERIE, PA - The SeaWolves struck for nine runs in the third and fourth innings against Akron reliever Chuck Lofgren, and a furious rally in the top of the ninth fell one hit short as the Aeros lost to Erie 9-7 Sunday night before 4,072 fans at Jerry Uht Park. The Wolves improved to 68-73 while Akron dropped to 79-62.

The Aeros got on the board first for the third straight night, as Bronson Sardinha tripled with one out in the top of the first and scored when Erie second baseman Shawn Roof dropped a pop fly from Wes Hodges.

J.D. Martin started and worked a planned two innings for Akron, ensuring that he'll be ready to go on short rest Thursday in Bowie for game two of the playoffs. Lofgren entered in the third and retired the first two hitters, but then walked the bases loaded before throwing a wild pitch to tie the game at 1-1. Santo de Leon followed with a two-run single and Pedro Cotto added a run-scoring triple to make it 4-1.

Carlos Santana, just promoted from Class A Kinston earlier in the day, made his presence known in the top of the fourth with a two-run homer to draw the Aeros within a run, but the SeaWolves took the momentum back in the bottom of the inning. Casper Wells socked a two-run homer of his own to push the lead to 6-3, and a two-run triple from Deik Scram chased Lofgren as the advantage swelled to 8-3. Cotto then capped the inning with another RBI triple off reliever Neil Wagner to make it 9-3.

Stephen Head's RBI single in the sixth brought the Aeros within 9-4, and Akron then made things very interesting in the ninth. With a runner at first and two down, Nathan Panther singled up the middle to put men on the corners. Brandon Pinckney followed with a flare to center that flicked off the tip of the glove of new second baseman Caonabo Cosme for an RBI single, and Brandon Chaves followed with a sharp grounder that went underneath Cosme's glove for an error as Panther scored to make it 9-6.

Josh Rodriguez came to the plate as the potential tying run and hit a bouncer up the middle, but shortstop Brandon Douglas double-clutched his flip to second and Chaves beat the throw to load the bases. Sardinha then hit a chopper to third that de Leon fielded cleanly, but Cosme was late covering the bag at second and Sardinha took advantage of the indecision and beat the throw to first as Pinckney scored. That brought Hodges to the plate with the tying run at second and the go-ahead run at first, but closer Rudy Darrow recovered after falling behind 3-1 and struck out Hodges to end the game.

Erie's Guillermo Moscoso (3-1) earned the win with a quality start, allowing four runs (three earned) and five hits in six innings. He walked one and tied a season-high with 10 strikeouts. Lofgren (2-6) was roughed up for nine runs and six hits in just 1.1 innings, equaling a season-high in runs allowed for an Aeros pitcher. Darrow's save was his sixth of the year. Sardinha went 3-5 with an RBI to lead the offense, and Santana went 1-4 with two runs scored and two RBI.

The finale of both this four-game series and the regular season is set for 1:05 p.m. Monday afternoon, as Kevin Dixon (8-11, 4.56 ERA) goes for the Aeros against Erie left-hander Danny Christensen (7-9, 4.13 ERA). The game broadcast begins at 12:50 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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Eastern League Stories from August 31, 2008


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