Game Recaps 5/6

Lofgren Outstanding, but Aeros Fall 3-1

AKRON, OH – Chuck Lofgren held Altoona at bay for seven innings, but the offense couldn’t get him any run support in a 3-1 defeat before 3,782 fans at Canal Park Tuesday. The Curve and Aeros are both 13-18.

Lofgren began the year 0-2 with an 8.24 ERA in five starts in April, but after examining video from 2006 (the year he won 17 games for Kinston) made a mechanical adjustment predicated on slowing down his delivery. The results have been dramatic, as the left-hander held Erie to a run on six hits while recording a season-high nine strikeouts last Thursday, and then limiting Altoona to just a run on four hits in seven frames tonight. He allowed only one hit through four innings, but found trouble in the fifth as a double and two singles gave Altoona a 1-0 lead.

It remained a 1-0 game until the top of the eighth, when two singles and a walk loaded the bases for the Curve with two away. Akron summoned southpaw Shawn Nottingham for a lefty-lefty match-up with Anthony Webster, but the Altoona DH spoiled the strategy by rapping an 0-2 slider back up the middle for a two-run single and a 3-0 lead.

The Aeros mounted a threat in the bottom of the eighth, as Brandon Pinckney led off with a single and Josh Rodriguez followed with a knock of his own two batters later to put men at first and second. Chris Gimenez then battled Curve reliever Josh Shortslef for a walk to load the bases, and Wes Hodges got Akron on the board with an RBI fielder’s choice to make it 3-1. Shortslef got Stephen Head to hit into another fielder’s choice however, ending both the threat and the inning.

Josh Hill (3-2) started and was impressive for Altoona, blanking the Aeros on five hits and a walk over six innings. He doubled his previous season-high with eight strikeouts. Lofgren (1-3) took a loss he didn’t deserve, turning in his second straight quality start. He struck out seven in his seven innings, and in his last two starts has allowed just two runs in 13 innings while striking out 16 hitters. Chris Hernandez worked a perfect ninth for his second save.

The series continues Wednesday evening, with Akron left-hander David Huff (1-1, 2.78 ERA) facing off against Curve southpaw Corey Hamman (0-4, 5.28 ERA). Fans can take advantage of the Wednesday 4-Pack deal, featuring four tickets, four hot dogs, four chips and four sodas for just $48. The game broadcast begins at 6:50 p.m. on SportsRadio 1350 AM and online at www.akronaeros.com.

Kinston Wins Fourth Game In A Row

The K-Tribe assured their third consecutive series win with their fourth victory in a row, a 7-5 triumph over Frederick on Tuesday night. Kinston has now won four of their last five series dating back to April 21st.

The Kinston Indians trailed 3-0 in the top of the fourth when Jared Goedert unloaded for his first home run of the season, a solo shot to left field. Kinston tied the score with RBI hits from Adam Davis and Jerad Head in the top of the fifth inning. Davis broke the tie in the top of the sixth inning with a towering, two-run, home run to right field; his first round tripper of the season. Davis went 2-for-5 with three RBI. Kinston added two more runs in the eighth inning thanks to two fielding errors by Frederick. Kinston mashed out 13 hits on the night, as every player in the K-Tribe lineup had at least one hit. Kinston has now hit nine homeruns through the first eight games of the roadtrip; they had hit just five home runs in their first 20 games of the season.

The K-Tribe will wrap up the nine game roadtrip, going for their first series sweep of the season, Wednesday in Frederick. The special game time is at 12pm. Paolo Espino will take the hill for the K-Tribe in the early afternoon start. Kinston then returns home on Thursday to kick off an eight game homestand.

CAPTAINS SWEEP DOUBLEHEADER FROM KANNAPOLIS

(Eastlake, OH) – The Lake County Captains swept a doubleheader from the Kannapolis Intimidators on Tuesday 3-1 and 2-1. The Captains won both games despite having a combined three hits over the two games. The Captains pitching was back on track after giving up thirteen runs the night before, they limited the Intimidators to only two runs on seven hits for the doubleheader.

For the second night in a row, Adam White hit a home run to lead off the bottom of the first inning for the Captains. With a 1-0 lead in game one, the Captains scored twice in the second inning. Kannapolis starter Jason Rice walked the bases loaded to start the inning. Lucas Montero hit into a fielder choice to score one run and Mark Thompson grounded out to plate another run and give the Captains a 3-0 lead. The Intimidators got their only run off starter Ryan Miller on a home run by Danny Jordan in the third inning. Miller went six innings striking out seven and allowing only two hits to go to 5-0 on the season. He is the league leader in wins. Vinnie Pestano pitched a perfect seventh inning to rack up his eighth save of the year. Jason Rice was the tough luck loser going six innings and allowing only one hit.

The Captains gained the lead in game two when Matt Brown hit a two run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning off Kannapolis starter Levi Maxwell. The Intimidators scored a run in the seventh inning but it wasn’t enough. Gary Campfield got the win to go 2-0 and Dallas Cawiezell picked up his first save.

The Captains begin a nine road trip with five games against Greensboro beginning with a double header on Thursday. RHP Santo Frias will start game one (1-0, 4.58) against the Grasshoppers RHP Hector Correa (0-1, 3.86). The game two starters are yet to be announced.

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