Dixon rocked in Aeros blowout loss

It was not a good night all around for the Aeros.

Back home at Canal Park to kick off a four-game series against visiting Harrisburg, the host quickly fell behind and never recovered, losing 11-6 Thursday in front of a sparse crowd. It felt more like 50-6 watching it live.

Aeros starting pitcher Kevin Dixon was tagged for eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits and three walks in just 2 1/3 innings. In four starts so far this season, Dixon has yet to earn a win, suffering ing his third loss Thursday in giving up four-run innings in the first and third.

Although Akron's stagnant offense came to life to the tune of 14 hits, as Aeros manager Mike Sarbaugh said "we couldn't keep them from scoring to catch up.''

Perhaps the frustration of a 7-12 season boiled over for Sarbaugh in the sixth inning, when he was ejceted with two outs for arguing balls and strikes with the home plate umpire. Sometimes managers will purposely get tossed in an effort to fire up his team. But with his two young sons in attendance for the first time this season, his tossing had more to do with the home plate umpire's incredibly shrinking strike zone than looking to make a statement.

Besides, Aeros reliever Sung-Wei Tseng responded to the ejection by promptly allowing a three-run homer to Andrew LeFave - his first of the year. After posting a promising four-run second inning, Akron's ofense managed just two more runs the rest of the way.