Roberts Stellar in First Double-A Win
Published on April 30, 2013 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
Altoona, PA - Akron righthander Will Roberts was so sharp in his Double-A debut Tuesday night that people watching might've thought he had moved down a level.
Making his first appearance for the Aeros after a call-up from Class-A Carolina, Roberts dealt six shutout innings to pick up his first Double-A win in the Aeros' 5-0 shutout over the Altoona Curve at People's Natural Gas Field.
Roberts, a 6-foot-4 righthander, scattered four hits, all singles. He worked around three walks, and struck out four batters. He finished his outing by retiring the final eight batters he faced.
In just his third pro season since being drafted out of the University of Virginia in 2011, Roberts (1-0) used a four-pitch mix to confound the Curve hitters. Even with runners on base, Roberts rose to the occasion, picking a runner off first base in the second inning.
Notable for throwing a nine-inning perfect game as a junior at Virginia, Roberts threw 90 pitches, 57 of which were strikes. In his four previous starts at Carolina, he was 1-3.
Three relievers followed Roberts, each chipping in a perfect inning to complete the whitewash. Cole Cook (7th), Bryan Price (8th) and Jose Flores (9th) all recorded clean innings. All told, Aeros pitchers retired the final 17 Curve hitters in the game.
It is the fourth shutout loss of the year for the Curve (11-14), who entered the game with a team batting average of .234, lowest in the Eastern League.
Akron received all the offense needed when Giovanny Urshela clubbed a home run to left in the second inning off Curve starter David Bromberg (0-3). It was Urshela's second of the year. In the fifth, still facing Bromberg, Urshela led off with a single and left fielder Bo Greenwell launched a two-run shot to right, his first AA home run, to make it 3-0.
The Aeros added two more runs in the eighth off reliever Kenn Kasparek. Jesus Aguilar drove in a run with a ground out for his league-high 26th RBI. Carlos Moncrief drove in another with a single to right to make it 5-0.
The Aeros returned the favor of a shutout after being blanked 2-0, in Monday's series opener. It was Akron's second shutout of the road trip. They also posted a 4-0 win over Binghamton last Friday.
Greenwell, Urshela, Moncrief, Chun Chen, and Tyler Holt all had two hits apiece for Akron. Chen raised his average to .351, third in the EL.
Now 3-2 on the roadtrip, the Aeros (11-14) will play game three against the Curve on Wednesday night at 6:30. LHP Mike Rayl will make his first start and appearance of the season for the Aeros, while RHP Casey Sadler (3-1, 2.79) will get the starting nod for the Curve. The game will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1350 AM, and online at www.sportsradio1350.com. For more information, please call the Aeros at 330-253-5151.
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