McBride Clutch as Aeros Walk-Off for 2-1 Win
August 6, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
AKRON, OH - The Aeros won in walk-off style for the second night in a row, defeating the Connecticut Defenders 2-1 in front of 2,792 fans at Canal Park Thursday night. All three games in the series were decided by one run, and the match-up between the two first-place teams in the Eastern League might well have previewed this year's championship series. Matt McBride delivered the game-winner following Beau Mills' walk-off single the night before, smashing a one-out double to left-center to score a hobbling Carlos Santana all the way from first in the bottom of the ninth. The Aeros improved to a season-best 28 games over .500 at 70-42 with the victory, while the Defenders dropped to 64-47 on the year.
Connecticut struck first in this contest, as Akron left-hander Bobby Livingston struck out Brock Bond to open the game before surrendering three consecutive singles to load the bases. Mike Mooney then popped out, but Brandon Crawford lined an RBI single to left to make it 1-0. Livingston escaped further damage however, getting Ramon Castro on a fly ball to deep right field to end the inning.
Akron managed to get on the board in the bottom of the third inning, as Carlos Rivero extended his hitting streak to a season-high seven games with a one-out double to right-center. Jerad Head followed two pitches later with an RBI two-bagger over Mooney's head in left field to tie the game at 1-1, and Livingston and Defenders hurler Daryl Maday then settled in for a long night of matching one another pitch for pitch.
Starting with Castro's fly ball to end the first, Livingston retired 13 consecutive hitters before allowing an infield single to Mike McBryde to start the sixth. McBryde never made it past first base however, as Livingston set the next six hitters down as well before giving way to Steven Wright in the eighth. Maday wasn't quite as dominant on the opposite side but worked out of trouble by stranding runners on the corners in the fourth before getting double plays to end both the sixth and seventh innings.
The opportunistic Aeros offense took care of things in the bottom of the ninth however, as Santana began the inning with a full-count walk against Defenders lefty Joe Paterson. Mills failed in an attempt to sacrifice Santana to second and eventually flied to left, but that only served to set up McBride's heroics. The 24-year-old took a first pitch ball, and then drove Paterson's next offering to the gap in left-center, splitting McBryde and defensive replacement Bobby Felmy and rolling all the way to wall, despite the fact Connecticut was playing the so-called "no doubles" defense. Santana got an excellent read and made it home well ahead of the relay throw, and McBride soon disappeared under a mob of his purple-clad teammates between second and third base.
Wright (9-0) maintained his perfect record by shutting out Connecticut over the final two frames while scattering two hits and striking out two. Paterson (4-5) took the loss as the two starters Livingston and Maday each delivered seven efficient innings of one-run baseball but did not factor in the final decision. Santana's double in the fourth extended his career-best hitting streak to 14 games.
The Aeros continue their home stand Friday night with another Northern Division playoff hopeful, as the New Britain Rock Cats will make their only visit of the regular season to Canal Park. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and will feature a spectacular post-game fireworks show courtesy of National City Bank. New left-hander Eric Berger makes his Double-A debut for Akron against lefty Ryan Mullins (7-10, 4.54) of the Rock Cats. 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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Eastern League Stories from August 6, 2009
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