The Result
Aeros - 7 to 3

Sea Dogs - Year-to-Date
11 wins - 16 losses

Brett's Position and the Batting Order
Playing rightfield
Batting #3

At the end of the Game
1 hit from 5 at-bats - single

Brett's at-bats
First at-bat
Lefthanded pitcher
Bases empty - two down
"Ripped the first pitch he saw into rightfield for a base hit"
Single
Went to second base on a hit
Left stranded at the end of the innings
Second at-bat
Lefthanded pitcher
Runners at first and second base - two down
Ball - low and away
Called strike
Ball - inside
Ball - low and away
Foul ball - down the third base line
Foul ball - back
Foul ball - down the third base line
Ground ball towards second base
Out 4-to-3
Third at-bat
Lefthanded pitcher
Led off the innings
Ball - high
Foul ball - off to the left
"Bounding ball" hit to shortstop
Out 6-to-3
Fourth at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Bases empty - two down
Foul ball - straight back and clipped the top of the screen
Ball - low
Foul ball - back, and "that was a hot-shot"
Foul ball - popped-up behind third base
Check swing roller down the first base line
Out PO3
Fifth at-bat
Lefthanded pitcher
Runners at first and second base - two down
Called strike
Pop-up on the infield
Out F4

Heard during the game
(1) As Brett came in for his first at-bat, the commentator said "that now brings in Roneberg who had another big game last night with three hits including a home run plus three runs-batted-in"

(2) He also mentioned that "Brett is equal leader on the team with four home runs, leader of the team with ninteen runs driven in, and with a total of twenty-nine hits he is second on the Sea Dogs team behind Jesus Medrano who has thirty-two"

(3) After his hit in his first at-bat, the commentator said that "Brett entered today's game with a ten game hitting streak and he very quickly extended that to eleven games"

(4) During the bottom of the eighth innings, the Aeros had a runner at third base with one down - the next batter hit a fly ball into rightfield and Brett made the catch - the runner had tagged and Brett's threw to home - the commentator said that "the throw was very good" but the runner made a hook-slide and was safe

Email from Brett
N/A

Game Reports

Weak pitching helps Aeros top Sea Dogs
Hits by Gutierrez, Smith give Akron an early lead

It is the one pitch that can lend a young hurler a long major-league career or be the reason the guy never makes it past Double-A.
The life of a knuckle-ball pitcher is a tough one.

Unfortunately for Portland starting pitcher Charlie Zink, the latter looked more likely in Akron's 7-3 victory Friday at Canal Park.

Of course, it is worth noting that Zink has beaten the odds just to get to Double-A after being undrafted out of the Savannah (Ga.) School of Art and Design and starting his career in the independent Western League.

As Zink struggled to gain control of a knuckler that buckled no one's knees, the Aeros were patient on balls that floated way out of the strike zone and aggressive on Zink's occasional fastball.
The result -- a pair of walks, two wild pitches and base hits by Franklin Gutierrez and Corey Smith -- handed Akron an early 2-0 lead.

``The key with a knuckle-baller is to take a few pitches as a gauge and make sure the ball is up if you swing,'' said Smith, who went 2-for-3 at the plate and made two highlight-reel defensive stops.
``If it starts down, it'll flatten quickly and you have no idea where it'll end up.''

Portland battled back to tie the score in the second inning with four hits against Akron starter Oscar Alvarez.

But the Aeros stole the lead back in the bottom of the second with two more runs off the erratic Zink -- and never looked back.

After Ben Francisco's two-run single, Zink walked the next batter, and Portland manager Ron Johnson had seen enough.
After just 1 1/3 innings, Johnson walked out to the mound and asked Zink for the ball.

``This was his shortest outing this year,'' Johnson said.
``It was obvious from the start he just didn't have control of the knuckle ball.''

With Zink done, the teams swapped zeros back and forth from the third inning through the bottom of the sixth.

But that's when a botched play by veteran reliever Bo Donaldson cost Portland a run.
With one out, Francisco at the plate and Rodney Choy Foo at third, Donaldson fielded Francisco's roller toward him.
The right-hander gave Choy Foo a quick glance as the speedster left third.
But instead of trying to catch Choy Foo in a rundown, Donaldson opted for the sure out at first base and Choy Foo scurried home unchallenged as Francisco's RBI-ground out gave Akron an insurance run and a 5-2 advantage.

It helped the Aeros' cause to pad their lead with a pair of runs in the eighth inning, as the feisty Sea Dogs threatened with the bases loaded in the ninth before Carl Sadler escaped after allowing just one run.

Zink, Sea Dogs knuckle under

It is the one pitch that can send a young pitcher to a long major-league career or be the reason the guy never makes it past Double-A.
For sure, the life of a knuckle ball pitcher is not easy.

For Portland's starting pitcher Charlie Zink, Akron's 7-3 victory at Canal Park on Friday night was downright tough.

It is worth noting that Zink has beaten the odds just to get to Double-A after being undrafted out of the Savannah (Ga.) School of Art and Design and starting his career in the Independent Western League.
Still, as Zink struggled to gain control of a knuckler that buckled no one's knees, Akron was patient when it needed to be on balls that floated way out of the strike zone and aggressive on Zink's occasional - so-called - fastball.
The result - a pair of walks, two wild pitches and base hits by Franklin Gutierrez and Corey Smith - gave Akron a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

"The key with a knuckle baller is to take a few pitches as a gauge and make sure the ball is up if you swing," said Smith, who went 2 for 3 and made two highlight-reel defensive stops.
"If it starts down, it'll flatten quickly and you have no idea where it'll end up."

Portland battled back to tie the score the next inning with four hits against Akron starter Oscar Alvarez.

But Akron came right back in the bottom of the second with two more runs off the erratic Zink - and never looked back.

After Ben Francisco's two-run single gave Akron the lead and Zink walked the next batter, Portland Manager Ron Johnson had seen enough after just 1 1/3 innings.

"This was his shortest outing this year," Johnson said.
"It was obvious from the start he just didn't have control of the knuckle ball."

With Zink done, the game's pace returned to normal and the clubs were scoreless through the bottom of the sixth.

But that's when a botched play by veteran reliever Bo Donaldson cost Portland a run.
With one out, Francisco at the plate and Rodney Choy Foo at third, Donaldson fielded Francisco's roller.
Donaldson gave Choy Foo a quick glance as Choy Foo left third.
But instead of trying to catch Choy Foo in a rundown by charging him, Donaldson opted for the sure out at first base.
Choy Foo scurried home unchallenged as Francisco's groundout gave Akron an insurance run and a 5-2 advantage.

Donaldson got out of the inning without further damage when Zach Sorensen was gunned down at the plate by Portland shortstop Kenny Perez.

Two eighth-inning runs proved important for Akron as the Sea Dogs threatened with the bases loaded in the ninth before Carl Sadler escaped after allowing just one run.

SEA DOGS LOSE 7-3 IN AKRON
Zink Struggles, Drops to 0-4

Ben Francisco drove in four runs as the Akron Aeros topped the Portland Sea Dogs, 7-3 Friday night before 7,998 fans at Canal Park in Akron.

Charlie Zink (0-4) failed to get out of the second inning, allowing five hits, four walks and four runs in 1 1/3 innings -- the shortest start of his professional career.

Charlie Weatherby shined in long relief, tossing 3 2/3 hitless, scoreless innings to keep it close until the late innings.

Kenny Perez was 3-for-4 with two singles, a double, two runs scored, and an RBI to pace the Sea Dogs offense.

Sean McGowan added three hits for Portland, who left nine men on base (six in scoring position).

The two sides continue their series on Saturday night, with Abe Alvarez (2-2) facing Victor Kleine (0-0).

FRANCISCO LEADS AEROS OVER DAWGS
Alvarez Earns Third Victory

Ben Francisco's four RBI was the difference in the Aeros win over the Portland Sea Dogs, 7-3, Friday night at Canal Park.

The Aeros halted a two-game skid and moved a game above .500 at 14-13, while the Sea Dogs fell to 11-16.

Francisco's RBI single in the second inning gave the Aeros a 4-2 lead.
He would knock in two more runs with a ground out and sacrifice fly.

Corey Smith went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the win.

Sea Dogs' Charlie Zink was rocked in 1 1/3rd innings of work.
He allowed five hits, four runs, four walks and struck out one to remain winless on the year.
Zink is 0-4.

Akron's Oscar Alvarez earned his third win of the year.
In five innings, he allowed two earned runs on nine hits, one walk and struck out six to improve to 3-0.

Carl Sadler earned his first save.

Portland's Kenny Perez went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, a double and an RBI in the loss.