Akron Game Notes 6/12

Brian Hagerman is a new site writer, and he was at the Akron game on Friday night to see Jake Westbrook and the rest of the Akron Aeros in action.

Jake Westbrook pitched four scoreless innings and the Cleveland Indians beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-3. An Indians' win with Westbrook pitching sounds good - but Westbrook actually took the mound in Akron and worked four quality innings in a rehab stint with the Aeros. The Aeros were downed by the Portland Sea Dogs 1-0.

Jake was only scheduled to work the four innings going into the game and it looked as though they could have stretched him to five innings, based on his efficiency.

The first couple of innings the Sea Dogs weren't making solid contact on Westbrook, who looked relaxed on the mound. The second time around the batting order, the Portland hitters had a more aggressive approach with Jake and was getting better wood on the ball.

Overall Jake's performance was very encouraging. His sinker had good movement and was keeping the ball low. Portland hitters were consistently down in the count 0-1 and 1-2. His line for the night was 4 IP, 3 hits and 3 Ks.

An addition of Westbrook to the Indians pitching rotation would be a huge boost when the time comes. He doesn't, yet, look like the Jake of old but that will come with time.

A couple of game notes and observances.......

- Carlos Santana's has some quick hands with the bat. He gets in and out of the hitting zone quickly with consistency. He's not a big guy, but his bat speed is excellent.

- John Drennan provided some quality at bats including a double, going 1-3.

- Portland LH SP Felix Doubront (a 21 yr. old top Red Sox prospect), looked pretty good. He was locating his pitches and had the Aeros off balance with his off speed stuff.

- Zach Putnam definitely has life on his ball, but he was leaving it up in the zone.

- Portland was playing a very shallow OF, especially as the game wore on.....which was key in the 8th as Portland LF Iggy Suarez gunned down Cristo Arnal at home on a clutch hit by Santana.

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