Akron Aeros Hit Altoonas Curve, Win 4-1 - AA, Eastern League

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - AKRON - Akron Aeros' left-hander David Huff continued his dominance of the Altoona Curve Wednesday evening, allowing just one run over seven innings as Akron handed Altoona a 4-1 loss at Canal Park in Akron, Ohio.  The Aeros (21-21) have won the first three games of the four-game set and will look to complete a sweep of the Curve (15-27) in Thursday's 10:35 a.m. series finale. 

In four starts against Altoona this season, Huff has now posted a 3-0 record and 0.99 ERA (27.1 IP/3 ER).  In his previous start against the Curve in game one of last Thursday's doubleheader at Blair County Ballpark, the 22-year old left-hander recorded a three-hit shutout in a 3-0 Akron win.  Overall, Huff is now 4-1 with an Eastern League-leading 2.02 ERA in nine appearances for the Aeros.

Meanwhile, Curve starter Yoslan Herrera, who had allowed only one earned run in 16 innings over his first three starts against Akron, was roughed up for three runs in the first inning and lasted only 2 1/3 innings in suffering the loss.  Herrera (3-4) was charged with all four Aeros' runs and matched a season-high by walking four batters.

Altoona's offense managed just six hits against Huff and relievers Joe Borowski and Randy Newsome.  Borowski, the Cleveland Indians' closer who led the American League with 45 saves in 2007, is with the Aeros on an injury rehab assignment.  Overall in 12 games against Akron this season, the Curve have scored a total of just 26 runs.

Newsome, pitching for the third consecutive game, notched his league-leading 13th save after tossing a scoreless ninth for the Aeros.

The Curve scored their lone run in the top of the third inning on a solo home run by Luis Cruz -- his second of the year.  Cruz, the Curve's everyday shortstop, was starting at second base for the second consecutive game because of the presence of Pittsburgh Pirates' shortstop Jack Wilson, who was in the Altoona lineup for the second day in a row as part of his minor league rehab assignment.  Wilson went 0-for-3 at the plate and played six innings in the field, recording three assists and one putout.

Catcher Milver Reyes provided Altoona's only other bright spot on offense, going 2-for-3.

The Curve have now lost 17 of their last 22 games and 13 of 15 away from Blair County Ballpark. Akron, meanwhile, has reached the .500 mark for the first time this season.

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