Lauren Gagnier Pitches Six Strong Innings in Erie SeaWolves 3-1 Win Over Akron Aeros
Saturday, July 19, 2008 at 07:51AM MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com -
MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - AKRON, OH – Lauren Gagnier locked up Akron’s lineup for six innings and Erie managed just enough offense to sneak past the Aeros 3-1 before 8,137 fans on Fireworks Night at Canal Park Friday night. The Aeros fell to 61-37 with their second straight loss, while the SeaWolves upped their record to 41-58.
The SeaWolves got on the board in the fourth off Akron starter Ryan Edell, who retired the first nine men he faced. Shawn Roof started the fourth with a double and Casper Wells – who had four extra-base hits including a grand slam in the series opener Thursday – singled him home on a rip to center to make it 1-0. Pedro Cotto added another RBI rip in the fifth to give Erie a two-run lead.
The Aeros tacked on their run in the fifth inning without the benefit of a hit. Brandon Chaves led off with a walk and stole second base. Trevor Crowe followed with a fly out to center field as Chaves advanced to third, and Josh Rodriguez then grounded out to shortstop to plate Chaves and cut the lead in half at 2-1. Erie added an insurance run on a two-out RBI double by Dusty Ryan in the eighth to make it 3-1.
Gagnier (1-0) earned the win in his second Double-A start of the year, tossing six innings of one-run ball. Casey Fien picked up his 11th save of the year, pitching a perfect ninth. Edell (5-6) took the loss, but surrendered just two runs (one earned) on four hits with three strikeouts in five innings. Left-hander Chuck Lofgren tossed two scoreless innings of relief, and Bronson Sardinha and Matt Whitney were the only Aeros with two hits.
The Aeros and SeaWolves square off in game three of this four-game set Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. Indians starter Fausto Carmona (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will make a rehab start for Akron as he works back from a left hip strain. The sinker-baller is 10-13 in 30 starts in his Akron career from 2003-2005.
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