Phillies Take Series, Claim Finale 7-4
July 9, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
AKRON, OH - Reading pounded out double-digit hits the second time in three nights and drew nine walks for good measure, defeating the Aeros 7-4 in front of 3,231 fans at Canal Park Thursday night. The Phillies (50-36) won the season series with their seventh win in 10 contests against Akron (56-31), and also pulled within six games of the Aeros in the Southern Division with four games to play until the All-Star break.
Reading's first run came across in the top of the fourth off Akron starter Jeanmar Gomez, although the right-hander was able to escape a bases-loaded, one-out jam surrendering only a sacrifice fly to Brad Harman. The Phillies then broke through with four runs in the top of the sixth, as Aeros reliever Steven Wright was one strike away from keeping Reading off the board. With runners at second and third and no one out, Wright snared Gus Milner's liner on the pitcher's mound before striking out Harman for the second out. Wright then pulled ahead of Ozzie Chavez 1-2 but couldn't put him away, as the Phillies shortstop looped a soft single over the second base bag to score both runners and make it 3-0. Quintin Berry then reached on a two-strike infield single to extend the inning, and Tuffy Gosewisch pounded a two-run double to right-center on another 1-2 offering to make it a five-run advantage.
The Aeros finally got to Reading starter Joe Savery in the sixth and seventh innings to inch within a run. Akron's three All-Star position players teamed up in the sixth, as a walk to Nick Weglarz and a single by Carlos Santana preceded a two-run double from Beau Mills to get the Aeros on the board. The Aeros continued the comeback by making it 5-4 in the seventh, as McBride hit a tree in left field with a monster two-run blast against the lefty Savery. The comeback would stop there however, as the Phillies collected two more runs on just one hit in the top of the ninth, as two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases with no one out before Chavez delivered RBIs three and four on the night with another two-run single to center.
Savery (12-1) earned the win by pitching 6.2 innings and allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks, becoming the first pitcher in professional baseball to reach the 12-win plateau. After losing his second start of the season, Savery has now earned his dozen wins in his last 15 outings (14 starts). Gomez (6-3) took the loss in his first appearance since being named a participant in the Eastern League All-Star Game, permitting just one run on three hits while walking four and striking out four as well in five innings. Jared Goedert paced the offense by reaching base all four times courtesy of two hits and two walks, while Mills finished 2-4 for his 25th multi-hit game of the year. Reading also stranded 15 runners as a team, a season-high for an Aeros opponent.
Akron hits the road Friday to open a four-game series with divisional rival Erie at Jerry Uht Park starting at 7:05 p.m. New Aeros left-hander Bobby Livingston (7-2, 3.52 ERA) will take on Erie's Pat Stanley (3-2, 4.30 ERA) for the beginning of the final series before the break. 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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