Game Recaps 4/30

Just an FYI, there will be no Minor Happenings posting today. Some things came up yesterday that have prevented me from being able to post it today. It should post sometime tomorrow (Friday) late morning or early afternoon.

Hodges, Goleski Lead Aeros to 8-4 Win

AKRON, OH – Wes Hodges and Ryan Goleski both homered in the bottom of the fourth and the Aeros scored the final seven runs of the game in an 8-4 victory over Erie before 1,530 fans at Canal Park Wednesday night. Akron improved to 10-14 while the SeaWolves (14-11) saw their winning streak end at four games.

Erie opened the scoring for the second straight night, as Akron starter Kevin Dixon threw a pickoff attempt with no one covering first base to bring home a run. The Wolves then added another run in the second on Freddy Guzman's sacrifice fly. The Aeros got a run back in the bottom of the second when Chris de la Cruz drew a bases-loaded walk, but a two-run, two-out double from Ryan Roberson in the top of the third put Erie in front 4-1.

The Aeros made it a brand new game in the bottom of the fourth though, starting with Hodges's solo home run to left-center off his former Georgia Tech teammate Andrew Kown. Chris Gimenez followed with a double off the wall in dead center, and two batters later Goleski mashed a two-run shot to left to tie things up at 4-4.

Akron then took the lead for good in the bottom of the seventh, as Josh Rodriguez beat out an infield single to open the frame and Michael Aubrey moved him to third with a knock to center. That set the stage once again for Hodges, who delivered the go-ahead sacrifice fly to left for a 5-4 Aeros advantage. Akron the tacked on three insurance runs in the eighth, highlighted by an RBI single from Jose Constanza and a sac fly by Rodriguez.

Dixon battled into the seventh while turning in his first quality start of the year (6.2 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K), but it was reliever Jeff Stevens (3-1) who got the win with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. Anthony Tomey (2-2) took the loss for Erie, and Akron closer Randy Newsom recorded the final two outs for his fifth save in five chances. Hodges finished 2-3 with a double, a homer and two RBI, and leads the Aeros with six home runs and 20 RBI in 24 games. Goleski went 1-2 with the home run and a pair of walks, and Constanza picked up his fifth multi-hit game in his last six contests by going 2-5. Rodriguez also had two hits.

The rubber match in this three-game series is set for 10:35 Thursday morning on another Education Day at Canal Park. Aeros left-hander Chuck Lofgren (0-2, 8.66 ERA) will take the hill opposite Erie southpaw Danny Christiansen (0-2, 3.91 ERA). The game broadcast begins at 10:20 a.m. on SportsRadio 1350 AM and online at www.akronaeros.com.

Salem Blanks K-Tribe 5-0

Salem's Koby Clemens, the son of Roger Clemens, delivered a bases loaded single in the bottom of the fourth inning to spur a 5-0 Avalanche victory on Wednesday night. The K-Tribe could not get anything going offensively, managing just two hits on the night. Salem's David Qualben (1-3) had his best start of the season, giving up just two hits and walking one batter in seven innings. Bryan Hallberg came out of the bullpen to pitch two perfect innings for the Avalanche. Kinston's Jeanmar Gomez (0-4) was the tough luck loser, giving up just five hits in six innings. Heath Taylor was touched up for three runs in two innings of work from the bullpen for Kinston.

Kinston took two of three from Salem, winning their second series of the year from the Avalanche. The K-Tribe travels to nearby Lynchburg Wednesday night, as their nine game roadtrip continues. Game one of the three game set with the Hillcats starts at 7:05, with Paolo Espino on the mound for the K-Tribe.

GRASSHOPPERS BEAT CAPTAINS 3-2 DESPITE ONE HIT

(Eastlake, OH) – The Greensboro Grasshoppers scored three unearned runs and only collected one hit but it was enough as they outlasted the Lake County Captains 3-2 at Classic Park on Wednesday afternoon. The Grasshoppers Brett Durand went to 3-0 and Garrett Parcell picked up his sixth save.

The Grasshoppers took the lead in the third inning off of Captains starter Chris Archer. Archer walked the first two men he faced. After a line out, the runners moved to second and third on a ground out. Archer hit the next batter to load the bases. Ben Lasater then hit a fly ball that was mishandled by Captains right field Matt Brown and all three runners scored to make it 3-0. The Captains got an unearned run in the third inning when shortstop Ozzie Martinez’s throw to first base on a double play opportunity went into the dugout and Mark Thompson scored to make it 3-1. Captains inched closer in the fifth inning when Doug Pickens blasted a home run into the left field bleachers to cut the lead to 3-2.

The Captains starter Chris Archer took the loss giving up three unearned run without giving up a hit but he walked five. Dallas Cawiezell followed Archer with two scoreless innings striking out three. Mike Pontius pitched the final three innings without allowing a run and striking out five.

Game three of the series is Thursday with Game time at 7:05 PM. The Captains send LHP Ryan Miller to the mound (4-0, 0.82) against the Grasshoppers RHP Cristhian Martinez (2-1, 4.18).

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