EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Lofgren Sparkles Again in 4-3 Win

April 25, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


AKRON, OH - Chuck Lofgren tossed six no-hit innings and Jerad Head's bloop RBI single in the bottom of the seventh served as the difference as the Aeros nipped Altoona 4-3 before 2,841 fans at Canal Park Saturday afternoon. Akron continued the best start in franchise history by improving to 13-3, while the Curve fell to 4-12.

Lofgren ran into a mini-jam in the first, walking Jim Negrych and hitting Jose Tabata after retiring the first two hitters of the game. The left-hander recovered to strike out Jason Delaney on a high fastball however, and that punch-out started a dazzling run of 16 consecutive outs for Lofgren, carrying him through the sixth.

There were some fireworks in the bottom of the first when Curve starter Daniel Moskos fired a fastball behind Akron's Beau Mills with the bases empty and two gone, but while both the benches and bullpens emptied order was restored after just a few minutes, and there were no further flare-ups in the game.

The Aeros got Lofgren some run support in the fourth, as Jose Constanza legged out a triple into the left field corner to start the inning and Mills followed two batters later with a sacrifice fly to right to make it 1-0. Carlos Santana then immediately doubled the advantage, belting a 3-1 offering from Moskos into the canal beyond the left field wall to push the margin to 2-0.

Head opened the bottom of the sixth with a first-pitch solo shot to left-center that just barely cleared the fence, but Altoona rallied in the top of the seventh once Lofgren departed after reaching his pitch limit. The first five Curve hitters reached base against reliever Carlton Smith in the seventh, with an RBI double from Brad Corley putting Altoona on the board and Steve Lerud following with a two-run single through the box to tie the game at 3-3 and relegate Lofgren to a no-decision.

Moskos gave the run right back in the bottom of the inning though, doing himself no favors by walking Nick Weglarz on four pitches to open the inning. Josh Rodriguez followed with a perfect sacrifice bunt, and Armando Camacaro hit a smash to second that ricocheted off the chest of Altoona's Jim Negrych for an error, putting runners on the corners and forcing Negrych from the game. Moskos also departed at that point and was relieved by Lincoln Holdzkom, but Head greeted him by dumping an 0-2 pitch into shallow center field as Weglarz raced home with the go-ahead run. Smith then worked a perfect eighth while not allowing a ball out of the infield, and Vinnie Pestano bounced back from his first blown save of the year Friday by pitching a hitless ninth.

Smith (2-0) got the win in relief, but the story in the game was Lofgren. The "Big Swede" allowed just two base runners over his six sterling innings, and set a personal season-high with seven strikeouts. He lowered his ERA to 1.13 on the year, and this outing followed his start in Bowie in which he retired the first 10 hitters of the game and carried a no-no into the fifth. Moskos (1-1) allowed all four runs in the loss, and Pestano's save was his seventh of the year. Constanza went 3-3 with a walk and finished a home run shy of hitting for the cycle, and Head was 2-3 with his second home run and two RBI.

The Aeros will try to take four of five in the series with the finale Sunday afternoon at 1:35 p.m. Frank Herrmann (1-1. 2.12 ERA) will go for Akron against Altoona southpaw Tony Watson (0-2, 11.57 ERA). The game broadcast begins at 1:20 p.m. on SportsRadio 1350 WARF-AM and online at www.akronaeros.com. For more information, please call the Aeros at (330) 253-5151.

Check out the Akron RubberDucks Statistics



Eastern League Stories from April 25, 2009


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.

OurSports Central