Game 119: Akron @ Trenton

Game 119 – Akron Aeros @ Trenton Thunder
August 9, 2008
Waterfront Park – Trenton, NJ

Pitching Matchup: TRE Eric Hacker (6-2, 2.82) vs. AKR Scott Lewis (6-2, 2.60)

Starting Lineups:

Akron

1 – Constanza
2 – Rodriguez
3 – Sardinha
4 – Hodges
5 – Head
6 – Toregas
7 – Goleski
8 – Panther
9 – Pinckney

Trenton

1 – Corona
2 – Pena
3 – Jackson
4 – Malec
5 – Curtis
6 – Pilittere
7 – Gonzalez
8 – Cervelli
9 – Russo

Pre-Game Notes: Unofficially, Carl Pavano will be getting the start for the Thunder on Tuesday.  Officially, nobody seems to know anything.

Spent a lot of time with Bronson Sardinha before the game today, I think you’ll see that probably on Monday.  He seems genuinely happy to be with the Aeros, and he pointed out that there are two other Hawaiian guys on the team as well.

Spoke to Jason Stephens about his start yesterday, he seemed pretty happy with it.  Seemed like his prior relationship with P.J. Pilittere really made him a lot more comfortable out there.  I’ll throw that up in a post-game blurb later tonight.

Also did a GTKY with George Kontos.  James Cooper was walking by and was rather amused by Kontos’ choice for the most embarassing song on his iPod.  What is it?  You’ll just have to keep checking back to find out… 

Radio Links: Click here for the links to each team’s broadcast.

Live Box Score: The MILB.com direct link is here.

Around the Eastern League: For scores from around the EL, go here.

In-Game Updates (LIVE from the ballpark): Scoreless through one.  Each team hitless.

Bottom of the 4th, Ramiro Pena just bunted home a run to make it 1-0.  Two straight errors for the Aeros.

Akron ties it up in the top of the sixth, 1-1.

Eric Hacker out after another solid start…Oneli Perez is in to start the 7th.

Perez got in and out of a huge jam in the 8th, loading the bases with one out, but escaping without any damage.  Still tied, B8.

Seven hits for the Thunder in their last 14 innings.  Yuck.  The club hasn’t hit a home run since Colin Curtis’ shot on Monday in Connecticut. 

With one out in the top of the 9th, Ryan Goleski hit a high fly ball to short left field.  Of course, it landed right in the middle of Ramiro Pena, Colin Curtis and Austin Jackson.  If ever there was a case for a such thing as a team error, that was it.  Perez is still pitching, by the way.

Brandon Pinckney of course just followed that up with a two-run double to — in a game like this one — break it open and give Akron a 3-1 lead.  This team tends to lack clutch defense.  Worth noting.

In-Game Photos:

Francisco Cervelli

Cervelli and Eric Hacker discuss plans before the game.

James Cooper

Reegie Corona

Mike Gardner

Eric Hacker runs out to get loose for his start.

Hacker

Austin Jackson

Scott Lewis

Bronson Sardinha

I wonder if this bat can’t pull the ball, either…

Jose Valdez

Cervelli at the plate

Edwar Gonzalez

In-Game YouTube Videos: Eric Hacker VIDEO, Eric Hacker VIDEO 2, Francisco Cervelli VIDEO 

Final Score: 3-1, Aeros

Post-Game Notes: I know it’s a bit ridiculous to be critcial of a club that’s 23 games over .500, but this just isn’t a very good team right now.

Thunder Thoughts:

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com