Game Recaps 5/8

With right-hander Erik Stiller being promoted to Akron, right-hander Sung-Wei Tseng has been sent down to Kinston.

Camacaro the Centerpiece to 1-0 Win

AKRON, OH – Armando Camacaro drove in the game’s only run in the bottom of the second and then stood his ground on a play at plate in the ninth as the Aeros hung on for a 1-0 victory over Altoona before 7,969 fans at Canal Park Thursday. Akron improved to 14-18 and won three of four games in the series, while the Curve dropped to 13-20.

Akron’s rally started innocently enough in the bottom of the second, as with the bases empty and two away Matt Whitney hit a slow roller up the third base line that looked like it might end up going foul. Altoona’s Victor Alvarez came charging in trying to get the final out however, but his throw was off-line at first as Whitney reached on a single. Ryan Goleski followed with a base hit of his own, and Camacaro then lined a 3-1 fastball from Jimmy Barthmaier back into center field to score Whitney and give the Aeros a 1-0 advantage.

That slim margin was plenty for starter Frank Herrmann, who simply dazzled for seven shutout innings. Herrmann allowed singles in the first and third innings, got out of a mini-jam in the sixth by stranding a runner at second base, and retired the last five batters he faced before exiting. J.D. Martin worked a perfect inning of relief in the eighth, and Akron then called on closer Randy Newsom for the ninth.

Newsom, who just a night before set the franchise record with his 25th career save, struck out Jonel Pacheco on four pitches to start the frame but soon ran into trouble as Brad Corley followed with an infield single and Jason Delaney drew a full-count walk to put runners at first and second. Anthony Webster then lined a single into right field just over a leaping Brandon Pinckney, and pinch-runner James Boone headed around third with what looked to be the tying run. Goleski uncorked a beautiful throw to home however, traveling to Camacaro on a line while the catcher expertly blocked the plate. Boone appeared surprised that Camacaro was waiting for him with the ball, and an awkward slide couldn’t get him around the veteran. Goleski then tracked down a well-struck ball from Luis Cruz in right-center for the final out.

Herrmann (4-2) turned in easily his finest performance of the year, allowing just five base runners over seven shutout innings and notching three strikeouts. Barthmaier (2-1) also threw the ball well for the Curve, but suffered his first loss after allowing a run on five hits in 4.2 innings. Newsom survived the ninth for his eighth save in as many opportunities.

Goleski went 2-3 at the plate in addition to making the game-saving throw, despite learning he would play just 40 minutes before the first pitch when Chris de la Cruz was a late scratch. Nathan Panther also had two hits.

Akron’s week-long homestand continues at 7:05 p.m. Friday as the Trenton Thunder visit Canal Park for a three-game weekend series. This series will be a rematch of last year’s Eastern League Championship Series, won by the Thunder in four games. A pair of left-handers will square off in the game, with Akron sending Ryan Edell (1-2, 4.50 ERA) to the hill and Trenton countering with Chase Wright (4-1, 2.95 ERA). As with every Friday night home game, fans will be treated to a spectacular fireworks show after the game. The game broadcast begins at 6:50 p.m. on SportsRadio 1350 AM and online at www.akronaeros.com.

K-Tribe Beats Carolina League's Best 6-4

Kinston beat Carolina League leading Potomac 6-4 Thursday night to kick off an eight game homestand at Historic Grainger Stadium. Kinston put together a complete pitching performance as Steven Wright (1-2) picked up his first win of the season. Wright had his best outing of the year, giving up just four hits and no runs in six innings. Wright struck out five and did not walk a batter. Josh Tomlin took care of business from the bullpen, getting Kinston out of a bases loaded jam in the seventh inning, protecting the K-Tribe’s one run lead. Luis Perdomo came through with his seventh save of the season, pitching a perfect ninth inning. Perdomo has now gone his first 19 innings of the season without giving up an earned run.

Kinston had the offense going early as Alex Castillo drove in two runs with a two-out double in the bottom of the second inning. The K-Tribe would extend their lead to 3-0 with an RBI single by Carlos Rivero in the fifth inning. Jason Denham added to the lead later in the fifth, drawing a walk with the bases loaded. Kinston added two more runs in the seventh inning with RBI hits from Jared Goedert and Rivero. Rivero went 2-for-4 with two RBI for Kinston.

The K-Tribe returns to action Friday night for game two of the four game series with Potomac. Hector Rondon will take the hill for Kinston. Game time 7pm, with fireworks after the game.

CAPTAINS SPLIT WITH GRASSHOPPERS

(Greensboro, NC) – The long ball was flying Greensboro on Thursday night as the Lake County Captains and the Greensboro Grasshoppers split a double header. Greensboro hit five home runs in the firs game en route to a 12 -4 win. The Captains win the night cap 5-4 and had two home runs of their own.

Game one saw the Captains and the Grasshoppers complete a game that was started at Classic
Park on Friday May 2nd. The game was picked up in the second inning. The Grasshoppers wasted no time against the Captain’s Santo Frias scoring three runs in the second inning on a two run home run by Torre Langley followed by a solo home run from Adam Howard. With the 3-0 lead the Grasshoppers added two more runs in the third inning on a two run home run by Danny Garcia to make it 5-0. The Hoppers weren’t done there as they scored five more runs in the fourth inning highlighted by a grand slam home run by Garcia. The Captains got to starter Stu Alexander scoring a run in the fourth on an RBI single by Matt Brown and scored three more in the fifth with two runs scoring on a Roman Pena two run single. The Hoppers added two runs in the ninth on Adam Howard’s second home run of the game to make it 12-4, a two run blast of reliever Dallas Cawiezell. Kyle Landis pitched 3.1 scoreless innings of relief for the Captains striking out six. Stu Alexander got the win to go to 4-2 and Santo Frias the loss to drop to 1-1.

In Game two the Captains scored five runs in the first inning off of starter Brett Durand, all via the long ball. Roman Pena hit a two run homer and Chris Nash followed with a three run homer and the Captains led 5-0 after a half inning. Durand got the loss and would only last the first inning. Brian Petersen hit a solo home run off Captains starter Joanniel Montero to make it 5-1 after one inning. The Hoppers made it 5-2 when Peterson hit his second solo homer of the game in the fourth inning. Joanniel Montero went four innings and did not factor in the decision. Greensboro added another two runs in the sixth inning off of reliever Josh Judy on RBI’s by Peterson and Tom Hickman to make it 5-4. Josh Judy picked the win to go 4-0 and Vinnie Pestano picked up his ninth save pitching a scoreless seventh inning.

The Captains and Grasshoppers play game three of the series on Friday. LHP Kelvin De La Cruz will get the start (1-2, 2.12) against the Grasshoppers RHP Colby Miller (1-5, 6.25). The Captains and Greensboro will play on Saturday and Sunday as well. The games can be heard on AM 1330 WELW, WELW.COM or CAPTAINSBASEBALL.COM.

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