Akron Aeros Game Highlights and Box Score - AA, Eastern League

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - Trenton - 1  Akron - 3  Box Score attached. - AKRON , OH – Akron starter Kevin Dixon allowed four hits and a run in the first inning, but recovered to allow just one hit in his final five frames as the Aeros beat the Trenton Thunder 3-1 Saturday in front of 3,137 fans at Canal Park . The rest of the pitching staff picked up where Dixon left off and did not allow a hit in three innings of relief. Akron improved to 16-19 on the season and the Thunder, which had won eight straight games, dropped to 24-13.

Trenton ’s lone run came in the first inning off Dixon . Four singles keyed the inning, including the first three batters. With the bases loaded however, Dixon struck out cleanup hitter Edwar Gonzalez looking for the first out. Cody Ehlers then singled to left, scoring Ramiro Pena for Trenton ’s only run. Dixon struck out Jose Tabata for the second out, and with the bases still loaded, escaped the inning with no further damage when P.J. Pilittere grounded to second.

Akron took the lead for good with two runs in the third, taking advantage of two errors by the Trenton defense. Ryan Goleski led off and reached second when Tabata dropped his fly ball in right field, and Brandon Chaves reached on a bunt single to put runners on the corners with no outs. After Jose Constanza flied out, Josh Rodriguez tapped a roller in front of the plate for an RBI infield single, plating Goleski. Chris Gimenez then struck out swinging with Rodriguez running on the play, but the throw from Pilittere skipped into centerfield, allowing Chaves to steal home on the back end of the double steal.

Akron would add the final tally of the contest in the sixth. Hodges led off with a walk and moved to third on a single to right by Stephen Head. Two batters later, Nathan Panther drove in Hodges on a sacrifice fly to center.

The Thunder brought the potential go-ahead run to the plate in the ninth off Akron closer Randy Newsom. The side-armer got a pop-up for the first out but then walked the next two hitters, bringing Pena to the plate. Pena hit a sinking liner to short, but Brandon Chaves went down to a knee to spear it and flipped to second to double off Chris Malec and end the game.

Dixon (1-3) picked up the win, allowing one run on five hits and striking out six in six innings of work. Jeff Stevens and Scott Roehl each earned holds, pitching scoreless seventh and eighth innings, respectively. Newsom notched his ninth save of the season. Trenton starter George Kontos (1-4) suffered the loss, after allowing three runs (one earned) on seven hits and striking out eight in seven innings. Goleski paced the offense with a 2-3 night.

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