MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com -NORWICH, CT- Wednesday night’s ballgame at Dodd Stadium was one for the ages. It was the last game of the 2009 storybook season and for Connecticut, unfortunately one that ended with a heartbreaking loss to Akron 7-6 to fall in a 0-2 hole in the best of five Championship Series.

With the game tied at four heading into the ninth, Akron’s 2B-Josh Rodriguez sent a towering homerun to straight away center to give his team the lead for good.

It was two at bats prior to Rodriguez’s that was the turning point in the ballgame though. Defenders’ closer LHP-Matt Yourkin (0-1) came in to pitch the ninth and leadoff batter, LF-Jerad Head sent a routine fly ball to right center where RF-Eddy Martinez-Esteve was ready to make the catch but at the last second, it sailed over his glove to allow Head to reach on a triple.

 
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Akron grabbed the early lead in the third plating three runs on three consecutive hits and one error.

Connecticut answered with a run in the home half of the inning as 2B-Brock Bond and CF-Mike McBryde delivered back to back doubles.

The Defenders continued their comeback in the fifth with a solo homer (1) by 1B-Brett Pill to cut the deficit to 3-2.

 The Aeros regained a two run cushion in the seventh off a C-Carlos Santana RBI single. Connecticut delivered their biggest surge in the bottom of the inning. Bond leadoff with a walk, McBryde singled and Pill walked to load the bases. After a tough at bat, 3B-Brad Boyer drew a walk then Martinez-Esteve grounded into a double play but the Defenders tied it up at four with McBryde scoring.

After the devastating blow in the top of the ninth, Connecticut still battled back in their last at bats. Bond leadoff with a single and came in to score on Mike McBryde’s RBI triple to the gap in left center. Brad Boyer then sent a shot up the middle to plate McBryde and advanced to third on a throwing error. Martinez-Esteve would get a chance to redeem himself but flew out to deep right in which Boyer tagged.  Aeros closer RHP-Josh Judy then settled down with the representing tying run ninety feet away and struck out DH-Tyler LaTorre looking for his second save of the post-season.

Mike McBryde led the offense with a 4 for 5 night including a triple, a pair of doubles, runs and RBI’s.

Things shift gears to Canal Park in Akron, OH on Friday at 7:05pm. Game three’s starter’s has LHP-Craig Clark hurling for Connecticut and LHP-Eric Berger for the Aeros.

Fans can catch all the action on the Defenders Flagship Station WICH 1310AM or online at ctdefenders.com.

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