Tomlin, Constanza lead Aeros in 5-1 Win
September 4, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release
AKRON, OH - Josh Tomlin won his 14th game and Jose Constanza set a franchise single-game record with four stolen bases as Akron defeated Erie 5-1 in the opener of a four-game series at Canal Park Friday night. The Aeros improved to a season-high 33 games over .500 at 86-53, while the SeaWolves fell to 71-67 and remained one game behind Reading for the final playoff spot in the Southern Division.
Tomlin made a statement by setting Erie down in order on just seven pitches in the top of the first, while Constanza set the tone offensively in the bottom of the inning. He drew a five-pitch walk from SeaWolves starter Jared Gayhart to open the frame, stole second and third, and scored on a double play ball from Carlos Santana to make it 1-0. Erie got the run back on a solo home run by Jeff Kunkel with two down in the third, but Akron took advantage of a second chance in the bottom of the fourth.
Gayhart recorded the first two outs of the fourth on just three pitches, but then lost the strike zone and walked Lonnie Chisenhall on five pitches. Chisenhall then aggressively moved to second on a wild pitch that Kunkel blocked in front of home plate, but it looked like the rally would end there when Carlos Rivero hit a pop-up to the right side. Erie first baseman Mike Bertram never saw the ball in the twilight sky however, and the ball bounced harmlessly in front of the SeaWolves dugout as Rivero stayed alive. He then took advantage of the opportunity, slicing an RBI double down the right field line to score Chisenhall and put Akron ahead to stay.
Tomlin continued to cruise through the seventh, and the Aeros plated three late insurance runs to put the game away. Constanza singled leading off the seventh and eventually scored on an RBI groundout by Beau Mills, and in the eighth Constanza chopped a two-run single back up the middle to account for the final margin.
Tomlin (14-9) earned the win with seven dominant innings, allowing just a run on two hits while setting a new season-high with nine strikeouts. His 14 wins lead the league, and also tied him with Paul Byrd in 1992 for second on Akron's single-season list (Adam Miller holds the record with 15 wins in 2006). Gayhart (1-1) surrendered two runs and five hits in 5.2 innings in the defeat. Zach Putnam and Josh Judy each notched a scoreless inning of relief to close the game.
Constanza paced the offense with three hits, a walk, two runs scored and two RBI, while the four stolen bases gave him 48 for the year and tied him with Reading's Quintin Berry for the league lead. Rivero finished 2-3 and drove in a run for the sixth straight game.
Game two in this four-game series is set for 7:05 p.m. Saturday, and the first 1,000 fans will receive a free Aeros cap courtesy of Fair Finance. Eastern League Pitcher of the Year Jeanmar Gomez (10-4, 3.38 ERA) will take the hill for Akron against Erie's L.J. Gagnier (1-0, 2.84 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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