Game Recaps 4/23

Edell Dazzles as Aeros Avoid Sweep

ALTOONA, PA – Ryan Edell tossed eight shutout innings and the offense provided just enough support as the Aeros avoided a sweep with a 2-0 win over Altoona before 3,446 fans at Blair County Ballpark Wednesday. Akron improved to 7-11 and snapped a season-high four-game losing streak, while the Curve fell below .500 at 9-10.

Edell ran into some trouble in the bottom of the second as Jason Delaney and Anthony Webster singled to start the inning, but a pop-up and a nifty 6-4-3 double play ended the threat. The Aeros then got on the board in the top of the fourth, as Josh Rodriguez drew a leadoff walk and Matt Whitney bounced a double down the left field line to put runners at second and third. Wes Hodges then capitalized on the run-scoring opportunity, sending a sacrifice fly to center field for his team-leading 17th RBI of the year and a 1-0 lead.

Veteran catcher Armando Camacaro showed off his wiles in the top of the sixth as Akron got an insurance run. Camacaro drew a two-out walk from Curve reliever Chris Hernandez, and then surprised the Altoona defense with a delayed steal of second. That extra 90 feet loomed large when Jose Constanza rapped a 1-2 offering into left field to plate Camacaro and make it 2-0.
Edell would cruise from there, needing only five pitches to get through the seventh and just 10 more to retire Altoona in order in the eighth. Closer Randy Newsom came on in the ninth and allowed the tying run to reach base, but induced an easy tapper from Webster for the final out.

Edell (1-0) earned his first win of the year in impressive fashion, holding Altoona to a grand total of four singles over eight frames. He did not walk a man and recorded two strikeouts while throwing an efficient 94 pitches. Curve starter Yoslan Herrera (1-2) was almost as good, holding the Aeros to a run on four hits in five innings while taking the loss. Newsom notched his third save in as many chances. Matt Whitney had a nice game offensively going 2-5 with a double, and Constanza reached base three times with two singles and a walk.

The Aeros begin a week-long homestand Thursday at 7:05 p.m. against the first-place Harrisburg Senators. Kevin Dixon (0-2, 4.32 ERA) will go for Akron against Harrisburg’s Ismael Ramirez (0-2, 8.79 ERA). Fans are encouraged to arrive early for Aeros Happy Hour as part of the Thirsty Thursday festivities, with all 12-ounce drinks selling for just $1 from the time the gates open until the end of the third inning. The game broadcast begins at 6:50 p.m. on SportsRadio 1350 AM and online at www.akronaeros.com.

Kinston Beats Salem, Wins Series

The K-Tribe beat Salem 5-3 Wednesday afternoon, winning their first series of the young season. Kinston’s bats were awake for the 11 am start, as the Indians scored all five of their runs in the first inning. The frame started with a double from Adam Davis. One batter later Johnny Drennen drove him home with an RBI single. With one out later in the inning, a potential double play ball was mishandled by Salem first baseman Jhon Florentino, keeping the inning alive for the K-Tribe. Todd Martin then drove in Drennen with an RBI single. Niuman Romero drove in a run with a bases loaded walk one batter later. With two outs in the inning, Alex Castillo hit a bases loaded two RBI double to put Kinston up 5-0.

Kinston’s pitching did the rest as starter Hector Rondon gave up just three hits through four innings of work. Josh Tomlin (3-1) picked up the win, giving up one hit through two innings. Luis Perdomo picked up his second save of the season, giving up one hit in the ninth inning.

Kinston took two of three from Southern Division leading Salem, giving the K-Tribe their first series win of the season. The K-Tribe (5-11) is only four games out of first place in the Carolina League Southern Division. The K-Tribe continues the eleven game homestand with a four game series against Lynchburg starting Thursday night. First pitch 7 pm at Historic Grainger Stadium.

CAPTAINS FALL TO SHOREBIRDS 6-3

(Salisbury, MD) – Pitching was the name of the game for the Delmarva Shorebirds on Wednesday as the beat the Lake County Captains 6-3 to salvage the last game of the series. The Captains took two out of three games after sweeping a doubleheader on Tuesday. Shorebirds starter Luis Noel would go 6.1 innings and give up just the one run on three hits to pick up his first win in 2008.

In the bottom of the fourth inning Captain’s starter Chris Archer walked the bases loaded to start the inning. Brendan Monaghan singled in one run and that would end Archer’s day. He would walk a total of six batters in the game and suffer his second loss of the year. Gary Campfield would enter with the bases still loaded and give a bases clearing double to Pedro Silveren and it was 4-0. After a walk, Matt Tucker would single home Silveren to put the Shorebirds up 5-0. Campfield would give up one run in his two innings of work.

The Captains put up a run in the top of the sixth inning off of Noel. Roman Pena doubled and scored two batters later when Adam White singled him in. Delmarva got the run back in the bottom of the sixth off of reliever Jonathan Holt on Matt Angle’s first home run of the year. The Captains added two runs in the ninth when Pena singled home two runs.

The Captains head to Kannapolis for a four game series beginning Thursday at 7:05 PM. LHP Ryan Miller (3-0, 0.00) gets the start for the Captains against the Intimidators RHP Charlie Shirek (1-1, 0.38). The games can be heard on AM 1330 WELW, WELW.COM or CAPTAINSBASEBALL.COM.

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