EL1 Akron RubberDucks

McBride Ties Club Record in 16-3 Rout

Published on July 31, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


BINGHAMTON, NY - Aeros first baseman Matt McBride tied a franchise record with eight RBI Friday night, clubbing two home runs in the process as Akron blew out Binghamton 16-3 in the opener of a three-game series at NYSEG Stadium. McBride became just the second Aero to ever drive in eight runs in a game, joining Scott Morgan who did it May 25th, 1999 against New Britain at Canal Park. The offensive output also marked a career-high for the native of Bethlehem, PA, as his previous high was six RBI for Lake County, June 21st, 2007 against Delmarva. The Aeros as a whole pounded out 18 hits for the second night in a row and improved to 66-41, maintaining a six-game lead in the Southern Division over the Reading Phillies. Binghamton fell to 40-64.

Akron used the long ball early and often against the Mets, but it was small ball that made the difference in the first inning. Jose Constanza and Jesus Merchan opened the contest with singles, and Nick Weglarz followed with a base hit of his own to score Constanza and make it 1-0. McBride then got his big night started with a sacrifice fly, and continued it in the third by drilling a three-run homer to push the lead to 5-0.

The Aeros continued the assault in the fourth as Carlos Rivero smacked his fourth homer of the season (and second in two nights) to make it 6-0, and a fielding error by Binghamton shortstop Ruben Tejada in the fifth made it 7-0. The Mets rallied briefly in the bottom half of the inning with three runs off Akron left-hander Bobby Livingston, but Akron went back to business in the sixth, scoring the final nine runs of the game.

An error plated another run in the sixth, Rivero clubbed an RBI triple in the seventh, and McBride crushed the first pitch he saw in the eighth for his second three-run homer of the game. The Aeros still weren't done however, as Armando Camacaro made it 13-3 with an RBI single in the ninth, scored on a third error, Carlos Santana delivered an RBI double, and McBride capped the evening with his second sac fly as the Aeros scored in every inning except the second.

Livingston (2-4) was the beneficiary of all the offense and earned his first win in purple and black since his debut July 5th, holding Binghamton to three runs (one earned) and six hits in six innings for a quality start. Jake Ruckle (1-3) took the loss for the Mets allowing seven runs (six earned) in 4.1 innings, while Akron's Carlton Smith surrendered just a single over the final three frames to record his second save.

Offensively, McBride finished 3-4 with a double, two homers, two sac flies, three runs scored, and of course the eight RBI. He also tied his own season-high with 10 total bases in the game, while the Aeros set new team highs with the 16 runs and 13-run margin of victory. Rivero also had a huge night going 3-5 and finishing just a single shy of hitting for the cycle, while Merchan collected four hits and became the first Aero this year to score four runs in a game. Every Akron player had at least one hit, the third time that has happened in the last five games.

Game two in this three-game series is set for 7:05 p.m. Saturday, as southpaw Ryan Edell (3-1, 2.48 ERA) opposes Binghamton's Dylan Owen (3-6, 5.24 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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Eastern League Stories from July 31, 2009


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