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Do IT this week: Layering
By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 09:28 p.m. EDT, May 25, 2009
It's not that often that a fan-interference call plays into an Aeros game, whether at home or on the road.
But pack in 9,118 fans to take in the action on a beautiful, sunny and breezy Memorial Day afternoon and it not only produced the sixth-largest crowd in Canal Park history, but also to fan-interference calls.
The calls against two over-zealous fans were part of a wacky and record-setting seven-run sixth inning that broke open an otherwise close game, leading the Aeros to an 8-1 victory and a series split with Erie.
Aeros pitcher Hector Rondon and SeaWolves starter Luis Marte battled each other to a 1-1 tie through five innings when suddenly the winds of momentum blew heavily to Akron's side.
The big inning, which set a season high for runs in an inning, began with first baseman Beau Mills' hard shot toward the right-field wall that was ultimately ruled a ground-rule double after a fan in the bleachers reached over and grabbed the ball before it either: A) could go over, or B) Erie's Brennan Boesch could get to it on the bounce.
Aeros manager Mike Sarbaugh sprinted out of the dugout and into shallow right field to argue the merits of option A with the umpire who made the call, but to no avail.
''It was a borderline call that could have gone either way,'' Sarbaugh said. ''But a fan went over the fence so we'll never know. For a minute there, I thought Jeffrey Maier came back . . . It could have been a home run, but without the luxury of instant replay, it's hard to tell.''
Sarbaugh was referring to the 12-year-old fan who deflected a ball in play near the outfield wall in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles in 1996.
Ultimately, Derek Jeter was credited with a home run that helped spark the Yankees to an extra-inning win.
While nothing close to that dramatic happened Monday in Akron, the fan interference kicked off a wild inning.
With Mills on second, catcher Carlos Santana followed with a walk and designated-hitter Matt McBride looked to sacrifice the runners. But Marte incurred an error when he threw the ball past third baseman Santo de Leon, allowing Mills to score and give the Aeros a 2-1 edge.
Left-fielder Nick Weglarz then hit the second ground-rule double of the inning — this one a shot up the third-base line toward the stands, where another fan reached out and deflected it while Santana and McBride scored to push the Aeros' advantage to 4-1.
The inning continued as right-fielder Jerad Head hit a roller up the third-base line that went right under de Leon's glove, putting runners at first and second base — still with no outs.
Adding insult to injury, Aeros third baseman Niuman Romero beat out a bunt to load the bases and second baseman Cristo Arnal bounced into a fielder's choice that forced out Weglarz at home. But center-fielder Jose Constanza and shortstop Carlos Rivero provided all the insurance the Aeros needed with consecutive two-run singles.
''In bunt situations like that, sometimes we want to make the perfect bunt,'' Sarbaugh said. ''But really, you just need to get it down and often that's enough to force the issue and makes things happen.''
Stephanie Storm can be reached at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians and Aeros blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters.
It's not that often that a fan-interference call plays into an Aeros game, whether at home or on the road.
But pack in 9,118 fans to take in the action on a beautiful, sunny and breezy Memorial Day afternoon and it not only produced the sixth-largest crowd in Canal Park history, but also to fan-interference calls.
The calls against two over-zealous fans were part of a wacky and record-setting seven-run sixth inning that broke open an otherwise close game, leading the Aeros to an 8-1 victory and a series split with Erie.
Aeros pitcher Hector Rondon and SeaWolves starter Luis Marte battled each other to a 1-1 tie through five innings when suddenly the winds of momentum blew heavily to Akron's side.
The big inning, which set a season high for runs in an inning, began with first baseman Beau Mills' hard shot toward the right-field wall that was ultimately ruled a ground-rule double after a fan in the bleachers reached over and grabbed the ball before it either: A) could go over, or B) Erie's Brennan Boesch could get to it on the bounce.
Aeros manager Mike Sarbaugh sprinted out of the dugout and into shallow right field to argue the merits of option A with the umpire who made the call, but to no avail.
''It was a borderline call that could have gone either way,'' Sarbaugh said. ''But a fan went over the fence so we'll never know. For a minute there, I thought Jeffrey Maier came back . . . It could have been a home run, but without the luxury of instant replay, it's hard to tell.''
Sarbaugh was referring to the 12-year-old fan who deflected a ball in play near the outfield wall in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles in 1996.
Ultimately, Derek Jeter was credited with a home run that helped spark the Yankees to an extra-inning win.
While nothing close to that dramatic happened Monday in Akron, the fan interference kicked off a wild inning.
With Mills on second, catcher Carlos Santana followed with a walk and designated-hitter Matt McBride looked to sacrifice the runners. But Marte incurred an error when he threw the ball past third baseman Santo de Leon, allowing Mills to score and give the Aeros a 2-1 edge.
Left-fielder Nick Weglarz then hit the second ground-rule double of the inning — this one a shot up the third-base line toward the stands, where another fan reached out and deflected it while Santana and McBride scored to push the Aeros' advantage to 4-1.
The inning continued as right-fielder Jerad Head hit a roller up the third-base line that went right under de Leon's glove, putting runners at first and second base — still with no outs.
Adding insult to injury, Aeros third baseman Niuman Romero beat out a bunt to load the bases and second baseman Cristo Arnal bounced into a fielder's choice that forced out Weglarz at home. But center-fielder Jose Constanza and shortstop Carlos Rivero provided all the insurance the Aeros needed with consecutive two-run singles.
''In bunt situations like that, sometimes we want to make the perfect bunt,'' Sarbaugh said. ''But really, you just need to get it down and often that's enough to force the issue and makes things happen.''
Stephanie Storm can be reached at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians and Aeros blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters.
Comments
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Barberton, OH
Posted 10:01 PM, 05/25/2009
Go Aeros!
Posted 10:22 PM, 05/25/2009
are you kidding me? I was about 10 feet from this kid that caught the ball and he was in NO WAY over the fence. He caught it shoulder high back at his seat, the ball came completely over the fence and then into his glove. That umpiring crew should be fined for that call.
Canton, OH
Posted 08:05 AM, 05/26/2009
Aeros are sweet. .
