Lofgren Almost Perfect in 6-3 Win
Published on April 19, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
BOWIE, MD - Chuck Lofgren carried a perfect game into the fourth and a no-hitter into the fifth, and the Aeros gave him plenty of early run support in a 6-3 triumph over Bowie before 2,904 fans at Prince George's Stadium Sunday afternoon. Akron improved to a league-best 8-2 with the win and climbed six games over .500 for the first time this year, while the Baysox fell to 5-6.
Jose Constanza set the tone early at the plate, drawing a four-pitch walk to open the game against Bowie's Sean Gleason, who was making his Double-A debut. A fielding error advanced Constanza to second, a groundout moved him to third, and he scored on a passed ball as Akron took a 1-0 lead without a hit in the inning.
The Aeros tacked on two more runs in the third thanks to an RBI groundout by Carlos Santana and a sacrifice fly by Nick Weglarz, and iced the game with three runs in the fifth. Beau Mills started the inning with a single and Santana followed with a double underneath the glove of Brandon Snyder at first base. Ambiorix Concepcion then bobbled the ball in right field to allow Mills to score, and Weglarz followed with a first-pitch bomb to left center for his first home run of the year and a 6-0 lead.
Bowie finally broke through against Lofgren on a solo home run by Concepcion in the bottom of the fifth, but that was all the "Big Swede" would allow as he earned his first win of the year and improved to 1-0. Lofgren retired the first 10 hitters of the game en route to turning in a quality start, as the left-hander covered six innings and allowed just a run on four hits. He walked one and struck out three. Gleason (0-1) was tagged for all six runs (five earned) and seven hits in four innings, walking one and not recording a strikeout. Vinnie Pestano came on for the final out in the ninth and struck out Adam Donachie (who was the potential tying run) on four pitches for his fifth save. Weglarz went 1-3 with the home run and his first three RBI of the season, while Mills, Carlos Rivero, and John Drennen all had two hits.
Akron's week-long road trip continues Monday night in Harrisburg, with a 7 p.m. start time for game one of a three-game series. Hector Rondon (2-0, 1.59 ERA) will start for Akron against Senators left-hander Mike O'Connor (0-0, 3.00 ERA). The game broadcast begins at 6:45 p.m. on SportsRadio 1350 WARF-AM and online at www.akronaeros.com. For more information, please call the Aeros at (330) 253-5151.
Eastern League Stories from April 19, 2009
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