Game Recaps 4/25

Boy, Kinston, Akron and Buffalo (L 2-1) continue to scuffle while Lake County continues to roll. These guys definitely can't wait for the calendar to flip to a new month.

Real quick, some news out of Kinston. It looks like lefty Dan Cevette may be injurred again. He complained of some pain his last time out, and tonight he had nothing as he was a good 6-8 MPH off his normal fastball range of 90-92 and throwing 83-85. Considering he has had arm problems the past few years, Cevette could now be at a crossroads in his career.

Also, lefty Matt Meyer is ready to start throwing again, and likely will be activated off the disabled list soon.

Senators Double-Up Aeros, 14-7

AKRON, OH – A night after scoring 13 runs on 13 hits, the Harrisburg Senators one-upped their production with 14 runs on 14 hits in a 14-7 win over the Aeros before 4,930 fans at Canal Park Friday night. The first-place Senators, who have scored at least eight runs in all five games against Akron this year, improved to 14-7 while the Aeros dropped to 7-13.

Unlike Thursday night, the Aeros were able to strike first Friday as Nathan Panther’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second made it 1-0. Harrisburg tied it on Ian Desmond’s solo home run in the top of the third, but Akron manufactured a run in the bottom of the inning as Jose Constanza walked, stole second, went to third on a grounder and scored on a broken-bat single by Michael Aubrey.

Things turned quickly in the top of the fourth however, as Akron starter Chuck Lofgren issued consecutive two-out walks after retiring the first two batters on just two pitches. Harrisburg catcher Luke Montz then made Lofgren pay for extending the inning, socking a three-run homer to left-center to make it 4-2. The Aeros pulled back within a run on a solo home run by Ryan Goleski in the bottom of the fourth, but the Senators added three more runs in the top of the fifth. William Bergolla and Justin Maxwell had RBI hits to make it 6-3, and then with men on the corners and two away Akron reliever J.D. Martin was called for a balk to force in a run. Aeros manager Mike Sarbaugh raced out of the dugout and argued the call, and was eventually asked to leave for the second straight game.

Chris Gimenez cut the margin to 7-4 with a run-scoring flare down the right field line in the fifth, but Desmond responded with his second home run of the night in the sixth, a two-run shot that pushed the Harrisburg lead to 9-4. After Jose Constanza bunted home a run in the bottom of the inning, Montz hit his second three-run homer as part of a four-run seventh to make it 13-5. The Senators added another run in the eighth before Akron capped the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the ninth.

Bobby Brownlie (3-0) held his former club to four runs (three earned) on seven hits in five innings for the victory, while Lofgren (0-2) suffered the loss. Lofgren actually retired the first eight batters he faced and looked very strong, but his final line featured seven runs in just 4.2 innings. He allowed only three hits but was done in by four walks, and all four of those runners came home to score. The Aeros did enjoy another solid night at the plate as a team, with Goleski going 3-4 with two RBI and Constanza, Gimenez, Matt Whitney and Nathan Panther all picking up two hits each.

Game three in this four-game series is set fro 2:05 p.m. Saturday, as Akron left-hander David Huff (0-1, 3.54 ERA) will battle Harrisburg’s Shairon Martis (1-0, 3.54 ERA). The game broadcast begins at 6:50 p.m. on SportsRadio 1350 AM and online at http://www.akronaeros.com/.

Lynchburg Shutout Kinston 5-0

Lynchburg busted open a close game with four runs in the top of the eighth inning, going on to beat Kinston 5-0 Friday night at Grainger Stadium. Lynchburg took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning on a solo home run by Kent Sakamoto. The score stayed 1-0 until Lynchburg broke it open in the eighth inning. Three singles, two walks and a passed ball were to blame for the big inning. The K-Tribe had their chances early in the game, stranding five runners through the first three innings. Kinston out hit the Hillcats eight to six.

Jeanmar Gomez (0-3) was saddled with the tough luck loss for the K-Tribe. Gomez pitched great, giving up just three hits and one earned run through five innings. Erik Stiller gave up two earned runs in two plus innings of relief. Dan Cevette gave up his first runs of the season in the four run eighth. Josh Tomlin finished the game for Kinston, not giving up a hit in the top of the ninth. Tony Watson (1-3) picked up the win for Lynchburg. Adam Simon got the save.

Kinston takes on Lynchburg for game three of the four game series Saturday night at Grainger Stadium. Free autograph books will be given out to the first one thousand fans at the Saturday night game, first pitch 7pm. Paolo Espino will take the mound for Kinston.

CAPTAINS WIN 7-5

(Kannapolis, NC) – Santo Frias picked up his first win of the season going a Captains season high seven innings as the Captains defeated the Kannapolis Intimidators 7-5 on Friday. Karexon Sanchez led the Captains offense with three RBI’s including his second homerun of the year. The Captains remain in first place with the win.

The Captains scored first in the third inning off Intimidators starter Jason Rice when Adam White walked and went to third on a single by Lucas Montero and scored on a sacrifice fly by Sanchez. The Intimidators took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning on RBI’s by Jose Martinez and Jim Gallagher. The Captains recaptured the lead in the fifth inning on Sanchez’s second home run of the year, a two run shot making it 3-2. The Intimidators tied it up in the sixth on an RBI double from Christian Marrero.

The Captains regained the lead in the seventh. After Mark Thompson walked, he would score when Adam White’s sacrifice bunt was fielded by Intimidators pitcher Steve Spurgeon and he over threw first base and Thompson came all the way around to score and the Captains lead 4-3. White would be sacrificed over to second and three batters later Matt Brown drove him home with a double to up the lead to 5-4. The Intimidators scored a run off Frias in the seventh on Logan Johnson’s second homerun of the year and the lead was cut to 5-4.

The Captain’s added two insurance runs in the ninth inning on RBI’s by Roman Pena and Chris Nash to push the lead out to 7-4. The Intimidators made it interesting in the ninth inning scoring one unearned run and leaving the bases loaded against closer Vinnie Pestano. Pestano racked up his sixth save.

The Captains play game three of the four game series on Saturday with game time at 7:05 PM. LHP Kelvin De La Cruz (1-1, 2.75) gets the start for the Captains against the Intimidators RHP Anthony Carter (3-0, 1.96). The game can be heard on AM 1330 WELW, WELW.COM or CAPTAINSBASEBALL.COM.

The Captains return home on Tuesday April 29 for an eight game home stand with four games each against Greensboro and Kannapolis. The News-Herald High School Home Run Derby debuts after the game on the 29th. The contest goes on after every Tuesday home Captains game with the finals following the game on July 8th. Tickets for all Captains home games are on sale at the Classic Park box office, by phone at 440-954-WINS (9467) or at captainsbaseball.com.

Posted in: