Game Recaps 5/21

Some roster moves were announced on Wednesday. At Buffalo, with pitchers Jeremy Sowers and Oneli Perez being activated, Jason Stanford was released and Bubbie Buzachero was reassigned to Akron. With Buzachero in Akron, TJ Burton was reassigned to extended spring training.

Aeros, Indians Pitching Dominates Curve

AKRON, OH – Aeros starter David Huff continued to impose his will on opposing hitters, combining with Indians closer Joe Borowski and Aeros closer Randy Newsom to knock off Altoona 4-1 in front 7,241 fans at Canal Park Wednesday. The Aeros jumped their record to .500 for the first time this season at 21-21 and also earned their first three-game winning streak of the year. The Curve fell to 15-27 and have won just five of their last 22 games.

Akron snagged three runs in the first inning off Altoona starter Yoslan Herrera. Trevor Crowe led off with a double and scored on a wild play in which he went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a throwing error by catcher Milver Reyes. Later in the inning, Matt Whitney drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run and Ryan Goleski laced an RBI single for a 3-0 Aeros advantage that the pitching would not relinquish.

The Curve got to Huff for their only run in the third, when Luis Cruz tagged Huff’s fourth pitch of the inning over the wall in left for his second homer of the season. The Aeros answered back in the bottom of the inning however, using two walks and a single to load the bases with one down. Brandon Pinckney then came through with a single, plating Stephen Head for a 4-1 lead and the final tally of the night. The hit also extended Pinckney’s team-high hitting streak to 12 games.

After Akron rode the arm of Kevin Dixon for eight shutout innings and Newsom for a scoreless ninth Tuesday night, it was nearly the same story in this game. Huff departed after seven magnificent innings and the rehabbing Borowski came on in the eighth to set up Newsom. Borowski, on Cleveland’s 15-day disabled list since April 15th while recovering from a right triceps strain, allowed just a bloop single and struck out one in his solid inning of work, picking up a hold.

Huff (4-1) earned the win for Akron, surrendering just one run on four hits in seven frames, striking out six and walking none. The reigning Bank of America Eastern League Pitcher of the Week has allowed just five earned runs in his last 45 innings (1.00 ERA), spanning seven appearances. Herrera (3-4) made it through just 2.1 innings and allowed four runs and five hits, while also walking four. Newsom earned his league-leading 13th save in as many chances with a shutout ninth, and lowered his ERA to 0.95 with his 14th consecutive scoreless appearance.

The Aeros will look for their first series sweep of the season Thursday morning at 10:35 a.m. as they conclude this four-game set with Altoona. Lefty Chuck Lofgren (1-3, 5.59 ERA) will go up against Altoona’s Josh Hill (3-4, 4.42 ERA). Thursday is Roadway Education Day at Canal Park, and Friday night Cleveland Indians starter Jake Westbrook will make a rehab start (six innings/90 pitches) for Akron. Thursday’s game broadcast begins at 10:20 a.m. on SportsRadio 1350 AM and online at www.akronaeros.com.

Kinston Pounds Pelicans 13-2

The K-Tribe used an eight run eighth inning to pound the Pelicans 13-2 Wednesday night in South Carolina. Kinston led 5-1 going into the eighth inning, when the K-Tribe sent 13 batters to the plate. Kinston used five hits, three walks and two errors to help aid the eight run outburst. Chris De La Cruz had two hits and two RBI’s in the eighth inning alone. Kinston banged out 11 hits on the night and scored a season high 13 runs.

Kinston’s bats were awake early as Nick Weglarz hit a solo home run, his team leading fifth, in the first inning. Carlos Rivero followed with a two-run homer, his first of the season, in the sixth inning. Weglarz went 3-for-5 with three RBI’s. Jared Goedert, De La Cruz and Denham each had two hits for Kinston.

Carlton Smith (2-2) got the win in his fourth solid start in a row for Kinston. Smith went six innings, giving up three hits and no earned runs. Smith struck out a season high six batters.

Kinston is now 5 ½ games behind first place Myrtle Beach and will go for the three game sweep of the Pelicans on Thursday night. Jeanmar Gomez will take the mound for Kinston, game time 7:05.

CAPTAINS SWEEP DH FROM POWER ON TWO REALINI WALK OFF HITS

(Eastlake, OH) – Dustin Realini drove in the winning run in both games of the double header on walk off singles as the Captains swept the West Virginia Power on Wednesday at Classic Park. The Captains won game one 4-3 in eight innings and game two 3-2. Realini was 4-7 on the day with three runs batted in.

In game one, the Captains scored a run in the third inning off Power starter Evan Anundsen on an RBI single by Lucas Montero that scored Ron Rivas and the Captains led 1-0. The Power took the lead in the fourth inning scoring three unearned run off Captains starter Ryan Morris. Caleb Gindl scored the tying run on a double steal of home and then RBI’s Curt Rindal and Scott Houin put the Power ahead, 3-1. The Captains cut the lead to 3-2 on Lucas Montero’s third home run of the year in the bottom of the fifth innings. The Captains tied it at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Dustin Realini and won the game in the eighth on another Realini RBI. Neither starter would factor in the decision as Dallas Cawiezell picked up his second win in relief and Jose Garcia took the loss. Morris went seven innings allowing three unearned runs on six hits, walking two and striking out four.

The Captains took an early lead in game two when they scored two runs off Power starter Rob Bryson in the second inning. Mark Thompson singled home Jeff Hehr for the first run and Ramon Hernandez followed with a single that scored Ron Rivas and the Captains led 2-0. The Power would tie the game up in the top of the seventh off relievers John Gaub and Vinnie Pestano. Pestano inherited two runners by Gaub and they both scored, one on a balk and the other on an RBI single by Uly Snijders to tie the game at 2-2. The Captains would load the bases in the bottom of the seventh with no outs against Power reliever Reed Dickert when Realini would single and drive in his second walk off winner of the day. Captaisn starter Joanniel Montero pitched five scoreless innings and did not factor in the decision. Vinnie Pestano got his first win of the year.

Game four of the five games series is Thursday with a special 11:05 AM start. The Captains will send RHP Chris Archer (1-6, 5.18) to the mound against the Power’s RHP R.J. Seidel (1-3, 5.18). The game can also be heard on AM 1330 WELW, WELW.COM or CAPTAINSBASEBALL.COM.

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