Offense Handcuffed as Aeros Blanked 3-0
April 10, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
AKRON, OH - Bowie starter Troy Patton made a victorious return to the pitching mound after shoulder surgery sidelined him for all of 2008 and the Akron offense mustered just four hits as the Baysox shutout the Aeros 3-0 before 1,042 hearty souls at Canal Park Friday night. Bowie earned its first win of the year and improved to 1-2 while the Aeros fell to 2-1. The start of the game was delayed 71 minutes thanks to cold temperatures coupled with a persistent light rain.
Patton, making his first start since September 7th of 2007, showed some understandable rust in the bottom of the first when Akron had its best scoring chance, as the left-hander issued a pair of walks to put men at first and second with two away. Nick Weglarz then delivered a single to left field, but he was denied his first RBI of the season when Bowie's Jeff Fiorentino came up with a dart to home plate to nail Carlos Rivero by three steps and end the inning.
The Baysox didn't get much against Aeros starter Josh Tomlin in the early going, as the Texan faced just one over the minimum through the first 3.2 innings. With two gone in the fourth however, Guillermo Rodriguez smoked a double to the gap in right-center and Miguel Abreu followed with a seeing-eye single past a diving Rivero and into left field to plate Rodriguez and make it 1-0.
Bowie tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the sixth off reliever Neil Wagner, who struggled with his command and walked the first two batters he faced. Jonathan Tucker then put down a sacrifice bunt and Brandon Snyder scored both runners with a single to right to push the advantage to 3-0. The Aeros made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth as a walk to Carlos Santana and an infield single by Weglarz put runners at first and second and brought the potential tying run to the plate with no one out. Jared Goedert then got ahead in the count 3-1 against Baysox closer Wilfredo Perez but got underneath a fastball and lifted a harmless fly to center, and Niuman Romero grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the game.
Patton (1-0) earned the win with five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out three. Tomlin (0-1) was the tough-luck loser, giving up just a run on three hits in five innings but getting no support offensively. He stuck out a pair and did not walk a batter. Perez's save was his first of the year. Weglarz went 2-4 and Santana drew two walks to lead the offense. The Aeros have collected just seven hits (all singles - including four infield singles) in the past 19 innings.
The finale of this four-game series is slated for 1:35 p.m. Saturday, with Akron's Steven Wright (2-4, 2.99 ERA for Class A Kinston, 4-3, 4.30 ERA for Akron in 2008) opposing Bowie's Brandon Erbe (10-12, 4.30 ERA for Class A Frederick in 2008). All tickets are just $6 as part of Aeros Welcome Home Week. The game broadcast begins at 1:20 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 April 10, 2009
- Offense Handcuffed as Aeros Blanked 3-0 - Akron RubberDucks
- Baysox Cool off Aeros in Patton's Return to the Hill - Chesapeake Baysox
- B-Mets Hang On to Beat Trenton, 4-3 - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Binghamton slips past Trenton - Trenton Thunder
- Portland picks up their first win of the year! - Portland Sea Dogs
- Fisher Cats blank Rock Cats, 5-0, on Friday night - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Curve no-hit bid falls short as Erie wins again, 2-0 - Altoona Curve
- Defenders Fall 3-2 - Connecticut Defenders
- Easter Bunny Appearing at Hadlock Field for Fan Photos on Sunday - Portland Sea Dogs
- Altoona Curve Game Notes - Altoona Curve
- Aeros Notes - Akron RubberDucks
- Baysox Kick Off Kids Club Events - Chesapeake Baysox
- Thunder Win Marathon Over Binghamton 5-4 In 14 Innings - Trenton Thunder
- Thunder Outlast B-Mets In 14 Innings, 5-4 - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
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