The Erie SeaWolves defeated the Aeros Monday night behind a strong outing from Erie starter Jon Kibler. Using his two-seam fastball and a slider that didn't slide almost exculsively, the left-handed starter threw 7 2/3 innings of one run ball, scattered four hits, walked three and struck out two.

As stifling as Kibler was, Akron (12-19) starter Kelvin De La Cruz did his best to match him pitch for pitch.

In his first start after being called up from Single-A Kinston over the weekend, De La Cruz allowed two runs over six innings and struck out seven.

De La Cruz made only two mistakes in the game, but both proved costly as each led to runs.

In the second inning, with Audy Ciriaco on second, he was called for a balk trying to pick-off Michael Bertram at first, which eventually allowed Ciraco to score on a Max St. Pierre single.

In the fifth, he left a fastball up in the zone that Andy Dirks took over the left field wall to put Erie up 2-0.

The SeaWolves (17-14) defense came up big in the game. Of the 20 outs that Kibler recorded, 11 came on infield grounders.

The series continues Tuesday night in Erie at 6:35 p.m. Lefty Scott Barnes (0-3, 7.62 ERA), still looking for his first win of 2010, takes the mound against Erie's L.J. Gagnier
(3-0, 2.83 ERA). The game broadcast begins at 6:20 p.m. on SportsRadio 1350 AM and online at www.akronaeros.com. For more information, please call the Aeros at (330) 253-5151.

Game recap courtesy of seawolves.com