Game Recaps 5/25

Akron Bats Quiet in 8-1 Defeat

AKRON, OH – Erie starter Luke French shut down the Aeros lineup, working into the eighth as Akron fell 8-1 to the SeaWolves before 6,704 fans at Canal Park Sunday afternoon. Akron fell back to .500 at 23-23 with its second straight loss, while Erie moved its record to 19-30.

Akron knocked out 10 hits on the afternoon, but had very little to show for it as the Aeros could not come up with a big hit when they needed one. Akron had at least two men reach in each of the first three innings, but could not get on the board. The Aeros left runners at first and second in the first, couldn’t capitalize on a single and a double in the second, and left men at first and second once again in the bottom of the third.

Erie got to Akron starter Kevin Dixon for an unearned run in the second, as the SeaWolves put runners on second and third with two away. Armando Camacaro then let a Dixon pitch squeeze past him for a passed ball, allowing Max St. Pierre to score and make it 1-0. Erie essentially put the game out of reach in the fourth with three runs coming home on four hits and a walk, pushing the score to 4-0. The SeaWolves added a run in the fifth off reliever Shawn Nottingham before Akron scratched out a run in the eighth. Josh Rodriguez doubled to lead off, and Chris Gimenez and Wes Hodges singled consecutively to drive him home. The RBI single for Hodges was his league-leading 40th of the season. Erie finished off the scoring in the ninth with three runs (two earned) off Erik Stiller.

French (3-4) picked up the win, keeping Akron to just one run in 7.1 innings despite allowing 10 hits. He walked three and struck out five. Dixon (2-4) was tagged with the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits, striking out three and walking two. Marcelo Perez snagged his first save of the season, tossing 1.2 innings of unblemished ball. Hodges led the way offensively for the Aeros, going 3-4 with an RBI. Josh Rodriguez finished 2-3 with a walk and a run scored and Brandon Pinckney added two hits as well.

The Aeros will look for a split in the finale of this four-game series Monday afternoon. The Memorial Day matinee has a first pitch of 2:05 p.m., with Akron left-hander and Eastern League ERA leader David Huff (4-1, 2.03 ERA) facing off against Erie’s Matt Righter (1-1, 5.12 ERA). Monday is Dollar Dog Day at Canal Park, with all hot dogs just one dollar throughout the game. The game broadcast begins at 1:50 p.m. on SportsRadio 1350 AM and online at www.akronaeros.com.

Kinston Whips Winston-Salem

The K-Tribe banged out 15 hits, beating up on Winston-Salem 11-0 in a shutout victory Sunday afternoon at Historic Grainger Stadium.

Kinston starter Hector Rondon pitched a brilliant game, giving up just two hits in a season high seven innings. Rondon also struck out a season high eight batters. Rondon (1-3) picked up his first win since July 14th of 2007. He finally got the run support he needed; in his previous 18 winless starts he had given up three or less earned runs 14 times. Sung-Wei Tseng finished up Kinston’s second shutout of the season pitching two scoreless innings from the bullpen.

It was a tight game early, as Kinston used solo home runs from Niuman Romero and Cirilo Cumberbatch to take a 2-0 lead into the seventh inning. The game broke open in the seventh when Kinston scored three runs on RBI singles by Johnny Drennen, Nick Weglarz and Cirilo Cumberbatch. Kinston poured it on in the eighth inning, banging out six hits. A solo home run by Jerad Head started the inning, with RBI extra base hits from Beau Mills and Chris De La Cruz. Niuman Romero went 4-for-4 with three runs scored for Kinston. Cumberbatch was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI. De La Cruz went 2-for-5 with three runs batted in.

The K-Tribe stays at home for a special Memorial Day Celebration at Historic Grainger Stadium. With a special 6pm start time, Kinston will welcome Frederick to town. Fireworks after the game, Carlton Smith on the mound for Kinston.

CAPTAINS STOP LEGENDS 4-0

(Lexington, KY) – After getting shut out the night before the Lake County Captains returned the favor and blanked the Lexington Legends 4-0 on Sunday. Roman Pena had three RBI’s for the Captains who ended a three game losing skid. This was the seventh shutout by the Captains pitching staff this year.

The Captains scored early and often off of Legends starter Sergio Severino. In the first inning the Captains got RBI double from Pena and an RBI single from Dustin Realini to take a 2-0 lead. They extended the lead to 4-0 in the second inning on a two RBI double by Pena.

Kelvin De La Cruz got the win pitching six scoreless innings scattering two hits, walking three, and striking out seven to up his record to 4-2. Kyle Landis came on in the seventh inning and pitched two scoreless innings striking out four. Jonathan Holt wrapped it up with a scoreless ninth inning. Severino was hung with the loss t drop his record to 3-3.

Game three of the four game series is Monday at 12:05 PM with LHP Ryan Morris (5-0, 2.22) getting the start for the Captains against the Legends RHP Carlos Ladeuth (1-4, 3.83). The game can also be heard on AM 1330 WELW, WELW.COM or CAPTAINSBASEBALL.COM.

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