Game #131 · Thursday, August 26, 2010 · 7:05 P.M.

Home Game #68 · Canal Park· Akron, OH

Akron Aeros (66-64) vs. Erie SeaWolves (59-71)

Cleveland
Indians             
Detroit Tigers

Aeros Stat of the Day:

• Akron lost the overall season
  series to the Baysox for the first time in over 10 years despite winning this
  week’s series against Bowie. The Aeros finished the year 8-10 against their
  division rival. 

Aerodynamics…

• Back
  on track… The
  Aeros did their part to stay in the wild card hunt with an 8-1 win in their
  last regular season game against Bowie. Akron started the scoring early with
  two runs in the first inning when second baseman Jason Kipnis reached safely on
  a single to left field and eventually scored the first run after a wild pitch.
  Designated hitter Jerad Head then hit a sacrifice fly that allowed third
  baseman Lonnie Chisenhall cross home plate and made the score 2-0. In the
  second, left fielder Tim Fedroff hit an RBI single to score right fielder John
  Drennen. The Aeros doubled their lead in the fifth with Chisenhall’s RBI single
  to score left fielder Tim Fedroff, Kipnis’ run on an error, and shortstop
  Carlos Rivero’s sacrifice fly to score Chisenhall. Akron built their lead to
  eight before Bowie hit a home run in the bottom of the seventh to put the final
  at 8-1.

• Good
  Berger… Berger
  limited the Baysox batters to just one hit while striking out two and walking
  two in his first appearance since returning to Akron on Aug. 22. The southpaw
  earned the win to improve to 5-5 on the year with the Aeros. Berger forced
  eight Baysox batters to ground out and had five flyouts.

• Wright
  time… Right-handed
  reliever Steven Wright came on in the seventh for the remainder of the game to
  record his fifth save of the season, allowing one run on four hits with three
  strikeouts and two walks. It is the Torrence, Calif. native’s first save since
  July 7, and has successfully fulfilled his last four save opportunities.

• POW
  battle… Second
  baseman Jason Kipnis and third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall are battling it out
  for team player of the week honors. Kipnis broke out of a five-game hitless
  slump in with six hits in the three-game series against Bowie. Altogether, the
  Northbrook, Ill. native went 6-12 with a double, three runs, and an RBI on the
  short road trip. Kipnis leads the team in batting with a .325 average with 86
  hits, 37 RBI, 54 runs, 17 doubles, four triples and nine home runs. Chisenhall
  went 5-12 against Bowie with a double, home run, three runs scored, and four
  RBI. The Newport, N.C. native leads the current roster with 16 home runs.

• Anybody’s
  race… The Aeros
  will have to take care of business and hope for some help as they remain 3.5
  games behind Harrisburg for the wild card, but are now just two games behind
  Bowie with 12 games to play. Those games include eight against the Erie
  SeaWolves, last place in the Western Division, and four games against the
  Eastern League leading Trenton Thunder.

• Number
  one fireworks… The
  final fireworks show of the season will follow Friday’s game against Erie and
  will be sponsored by KeyBank. On Saturday, the first 1,000 fans will receive a
  foam finger giveaway sponsored by the Akron Canton Airport. The airport will
  also be giving away a free AirTran airline voucher to two lucky fans in
  attendance. Sunday will be the final Family Pack Sunday and will be sponsored
  by the Duquesne Incline where fans can buy four tickets, four hot dogs, four
  fountain drinks, and four bags of chips for only $48!

The Aeros did their part to stay in the wild card hunt, winning their last regular season game against Bowie 8-1. Akron received an excellent effort from left-handed starter Eric Berger in his first start after returning to the team as they improved to 66-64 while the Baysox fell to 68-62.

Berger limited the Baysox batters to just one hit while striking out two and walking two in his first appearance since returning to Akron on Aug. 22. The southpaw earned the win to improve to 5-5 on the year with the Aeros.

Akron started the scoring early with two runs in the first inning. Second baseman Jason Kipnis reached safely on a single to left field and eventually scored the first run after a wild pitch by Bowie starter Eddie Gamboa. Designated hitter Jerad Head then hit a sacrifice fly that allowed third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall cross home plate and made the score 2-0. Right fielder John Drennen and left fielder Tim Fedroff paired up for a third run in the second when Drennen hit a double to left-center field before Fedroff brought him home on a single to right-center.

The Aeros doubled their lead with three runs in the fifth. Fedroff put the wheels in motion with a walk to start the inning. Kipnis pushed him to third on a double to center field, and Chisenhall followed up with an RBI-single that scored Fedroff. Kipnis scored shortly after when he took advantage of a fielding error by Carlos Rojas.

In the seventh, Head crossed home plate after Drennen hit a bases-loaded RBI-single. Catcher Juan Apodaca followed with a groundout that allowed Mills to score from third and give the Aeros a commanding 8-0 lead. Bowie’s only offense also came in the seventh when Joel Guzman his league-leading 29^th home run.

Right-handed reliever Steven Wright came on in the seventh for the remainder of the game to record his fifth save of the season, allowing one run on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

The Aeros remain 3.5 games behind Harrisburg for the wild card, but are now just two games behind Bowie with 12 games to play. Overall, the Aeros are 10.5 games behind division-leading Altoona.

Akron returns home Thursday for their last homestand of the year with a four-game series against the Erie SeaWolves. There will be an Alex White poster giveaway sponsored by Busson Digital for the first 2,000 fans through the gates of Canal Park. It is also Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank Drive Night sponsored by the Akron Plan, where fans can bring a canned food item to the game and receive a $5 ticket! It is also the last Thirsty Thursday of the year where dollar drafts and sodas are available through the end of the seventh inning. Appropriately enough, Alex White (7-7, 2.44 ERA) takes the hill for Akron against Erie’s Anthony Shawler (4-2, 4.63 ERA). Join Jim Clark for Thursday’s radio broadcast beginning at 6:50 p.m. only at www.akronaeros.com. For more information, please call the Akron Aeros team offices at (330) 253-5151.

Games #128 & 129 · Tuesday, August 24, 2010 · 6:05 P.M.

Away Games #61 & 62 · Prince George’s Stadium· Bowie, MD

Akron Aeros (64-63) vs. Bowie Baysox (67-60)

Cleveland
Indians               
 Baltimore Orioles

Aerodynamics…

• Time
  change… The
  Aeros acted as the home team in the first game Monday night that was a
  continuation from July 28^th originally scheduled in Akron. The Baysox
  struck first with runs in the second and third to give themselves a 3-0 lead.
  Akron answered in the bottom of the third with a home run of by left fielder
  John Drennen. Akron cut the deficit in the fifth when first baseman Beau Mills
  scored after catcher Miguel Perez reached on a fielder’s choice with two outs.
  The Baysox extended its lead in the sixth with a run and hit a three-run home
  run in the seventh for the final 7-2 score. Southpaw Scott Barnes (6-9) took
  the loss while Rick Zagone (2-3) earned the win.

• Two
  twin bills… Monday’s
  nightcap will resume at 6:05 p.m. with right-handed pitcher Chen-Chang Lee
  (5-3, 3.47 ERA) starting the continuation. Carlos Rojas will be batting for
  Bowie with two outs and a 2-1 count with nobody on base. This will remain a
  seven inning game. The originally scheduled game on Tuesday is now shortened to
  seven innings.

• Wild,
  wild west… Akron
  remains in the wild card race as Harrisburg lost last night 10-5 to the
  Portland Sea Dogs. The Baysox and Senators are now tied for second in the
  western division while the Aeros are still within striking distance at three
  games back.

Akron fell to Bowie 7-2 in the opening continuation game from July 28^th, but rain played a factor once again in the Aeros’ plans as their nightcap with the Baysox was suspended in the bottom of the third inning. With the loss, Akron is now 64-63 while Bowie improves to 67-60.

The Aeros acted as the home team in the first game that was a continuation from July 28^th originally scheduled in Akron. Because it was Bowie’s last scheduled trip to Akron, the game had to take place in Maryland.

The Baysox struck first in the top of the second when Steven Lerud scored on a sacrifice fly. One batter latter, Xavier Avery crossed home on a single by Greg Miclat. Bowie eventually pushed the score to 3-0 in the top of the third on a home run by Brandon Waring. Akron answered in the bottom half of the frame with a home run of its own on the bat of left fielder John Drennen.

The Aeros cut the deficit to one in the fifth when first baseman Beau Mills scored after catcher Miguel Perez reached on a fielder’s choice with two outs. It was the closest Akron would get as Bowie extended its lead when Avery scored again, this time on a sacrifice fly, in the sixth. One inning later, Baysox cleanup hitter Joseph Mahoney added a three-run home run for the final offense of the 7-2 game.

Left-handed starter Scott Barnes took the loss and dropped to 6-9 on the season. The Chicopee, Mass. native gave up seven runs (six earned) on seven hits with two home runs, six strikeouts, and four walks on 6.1 innings of work. Rick Zagone earned the win for the physical hosts to improve to 2-3 after giving up one run on two hits with a home run and two strikeouts in three innings.

Game two started but did not get very far before weather halted play until Tuesday evening. Play was suspended in the bottom of the third with two outs and the score tied at 0-0. The game will resume at 6:05 p.m. with right-handed pitcher Chen-Chang Lee (5-3, 3.47 ERA) starting the continuation. Southpaw Kelvin De La Cruz (4-6, 5.99 ERA) will start the originally scheduled game on Tuesday, which is now shortened to seven innings. Bowie’s starters have yet to be announced

The series remains very important to both teams as Bowie is tied with Harrisburg for the wild card spot. Akron is three games back and has an elimination number of 13. Join Ken Carman for Tuesday’s radio broadcast beginning at 5:50 p.m. on Fox Sports 1350 AM and at www.akronaeros.com. For more information, please call the Akron Aeros team offices at (330) 253-5151.

Outfielder Jerad Head is the
winner of this week’s Akron Aeros Player of the Week award, the team announced
today. Head hit three home runs in the series against Bowie and added a fourth
in a continuation game preceding the official start of the series Tuesday
night.

The Topeka, KS native returned to
the Aeros from Class AAA Columbus on August 17 and promptly went 6-16 (.375),
with six runs, six RBI, three homers and three walks in six games. Through two
stints with Akron thus far in 2010, Head has hit .315 with 15 homers and 65 RBI
in 55 games.  

The Akron Aeros will award their
Player of the Week honor to an individual player every Monday for the rest of
the season. In the case of a Monday closure of the team offices, the Aeros will
announce the award Tuesday. Akron catcher Juan Apodaca won the award last week.
This week, the separate Eastern League Player-Pitcher of the Week Awards went
to Reading’s Tagg Bozied and Trenton’s Adam Warren, respectively.

Akron travels to Bowie Monday to play their second doubleheader in
a row and fourth in the last 20 days. The two teams will finish their suspended
game from July 28^th before starting their originally scheduled three
game series. Join Ken Carman for Monday’s radio broadcast beginning at 5:50
p.m. on Fox Sports 1350 AM and at www.akronaeros.com. For more information,
please call the Akron Aeros team offices at (330) 253-5151.