Akron Wins, Kinston Loses In Playoff Openers

The Akron Aeros won Game 1 of their Eastern League playoff series at Erie, while the Kinston Indians lost at home in the opener of their Carolina League series on Wednesday night. The Aeros accumulated 16 hits in a 12-9 win over the Erie SeaWolves. Kinston, which waltzed through the regular season and is seeking to defend its 2006 title, was routed by the Salem Avalanche, 10-3.

Right fielder Stephen Head, recently called up from Kinston, hit a three-run homer and went 2-for-6 with four RBI to lead Akron. Ryan Goleski hit a two-run homer for the Aeros, who used a seven-run seventh inning to take a 12-4 lead.

First baseman Michael Aubrey went 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI; league MVP Jordan Brown was 3-for-6 with two runs and an RBI as the DH; and second baseman Argenis Reyes was 3-for-5 and scored once for Akron.

The Aeros took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, but Akron starter Chuck Lofgren gave the lead right back. The left-hander yielded three runs in the first and another in the second inning. But he settled down after that and got the win, allowing seven hits and those four runs over five innings, striking out three without issuing a walk. He also uncorked two wild pitches.

Right-hander Adam Miller, just sent down from Triple-A Buffalo, worked a scoreless sixth, but was hit hard in the seventh and eighth as the regular-season Southern Division champion SeaWolves battled back.

Miller yielded two runs on three hits in the seventh, then failed to retire a batter in the eighth, yielding a walk, two hits and two more runs before Rich Rundles got three quick outs to get out of the jam.

Michael Finocchi yielded another run in the ninth.

Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday night in Erie. Right-hander Jake Dittler, who went 6-1 for the Aeros after being sent down from Buffalo, is scheduled to start for Akron. Game 3 will be played Friday night at Canal Park in Akron, where Game 4, if needed, is scheduled for Saturday.

At Kinston, right-hander Jim Deters gave up five runs on eight hits and three walks over four innings to the visiting Avalanche, who do not get any home games in the best-of-three series. But the K-Tribe must now win the next two to have a chance to defend its championship.

Kevin Dixon allowed two runs (one earned) over three innings before T.J. Burton struck out three in one inning of work. Neil Wagner then gave up three more runs (two earned) in the ninth.

Kinston made three costly errors and did not look anything like the club that dominated the league all season and closed with a six-game winning streak.

Matt Whitney went 2-for-4 with a solo homer for Kinston, which scored three fourth-inning runs to pull within 5-3.

Jose Constanza and Chris Gimenez also had two hits apiece. Wes Hodges went 1-for-2 with two walks and a run.