Game Recaps 6/11

One quick note, JD Martin was sent back to Akron today. So much for getting a chance in Buffalo I guess.

Dixon, Goleski (Again) Lead Aeros 8-2

AKRON, OH – This time the Aeros didn’t have to come back from so far down. Ryan Goleski blasted a three-run home run and Kevin Dixon was strong while working into the seventh as the Aeros rebounded from an early 1-0 hole and topped the Fisher Cats 8-2 before 4,418 fans at Canal Park Wednesday. It was Akron’s seventh straight win and improved its record to 10 games over .500 at 36-26, while New Hampshire fell to 23-41.

While the Fisher Cats struck first with a run in the top of the fifth inning off Akron starter Kevin Dixon, the Aeros responded by batting around and scoring three times in the bottom half of the frame. After two singles and a fielder’s choice put runners on the corners with one down, Matt Whitney lined a single to center to tie the game at 1-1. Ryan Goleski then singled to load the bases and Brandon Pinckney gave Akron a 2-1 lead on a bloop single over the head of Cats second baseman Scott Campbell. Two batters later, Trevor Crowe knocked an RBI infield single to first that glanced off Kyle Phillips, giving the Aeros a 3-1 lead.

New Hampshire’s Jacob Butler cut the lead in half with a solo shot in the sixth, but again Akron answered with three more in the bottom of the inning, this time on one swing. Chris Gimenez and Whitney walked, and with two down Ryan Goleski – last night’s hero with a three-run walk-off homer – socked another three-run bomb to left, extending the Akron lead to 6-2. It marked the first time since September 1st and 3rd of 2006 that Goleski has homered in back-to-back games.

Akron notched two more runs in the eighth to cap the scoring. Whitney singled with one out and moved to third on a double by Goleski, and then Pinckney delivered his second RBI bloop single of the game, driving in both runners to account for the final margin.

Dixon (3-4) earned the win for Akron, surrendering just two runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out two in 6.1 innings. Cats starter Ricky Romero (2-4) took the loss, allowing six runs on 12 hits, while walking five in 5.2 innings. Akron relievers J.D. Martin and Shawn Nottingham combined for 2.2 innings of hitless relief to close the game. Offensively, Crowe had four hits and extended his hitting streak to eight games, while Whitney and Goleski tallied three apiece, with a homer, a double and three RBI included in Goleski’s line. Pinckney also drove in three runs on the strength of two hits. Josh Rodriguez extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a single in the seventh inning, but Bronson Sardinha’s hitting streak ended at 12 games. Gimenez reached base five times in the game, singling twice and walking thrice.

The Aeros will look for a series sweep tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. at Canal Park, as Akron sends left-hander Scott Lewis (1-0, 0.00 ERA) to the hill against New Hampshire’s Scott Richmond (4-6, 5.17 ERA). It will be Thirsty Thursday at Canal Park with 12 oz. draft beers and fountain sodas for just $1 until the end of the third inning. The game broadcast begins at 6:50 p.m. on SportsRadio 1350 AM and online at www.akronaeros.com.

K-Tribe's four game win streak snapped

The Kinston Indians have their four-game win streak snapped at the hands of the Salem Avalanche, who won 7-4, to salvage the finale of a three game series. Salem never trailed in the game after scoring two in the second and two in the fourth.

The Indians scored a run in the third, and drew even in the sixth. A leadoff walk from Niuman Romero and singles by Cirilo Cumberbatch and Jason Denham loaded the bases with nobody out. Brian Juhl smacked a two-run single and Cristo Arnal got an RBI groundout to knot things up at four runs apiece.

The big blow came in the sixth as Mark Ori cleared the bases with a three-run double off Dan Cevette to put Salem up for good. The runs were charged to Carlton Smith (4-4) who lost his second straight start going five and a third and allowing a season-high seven runs.

The night was mired by ejections as Kinston manager Chris Tremie got the boot in the fourth inning. Tremie was tossed after arguing a play which saw Cumberbatch get called out trying to come home on a wild pitch. K-Tribe's Mike Pontius and Salem's Mark Ori were both thrown out in the eighth inning.

Despite the loss, Kinston wins their second series in a row. The K-Tribe has now won 14 of their last 19 games and starts a four-game set atLynchburg on Thursday night. Jeanmar Gomez (2-6) takes the hill for Kinston in the series opener.

CAPTAINS DROP TWO, MAGIC NUMBER STILL 3

(Eastlake, OH) – The Delmarva Shorebirds took two games from the Lake County Captains on Tuesday to hold the Captains magic number at three. The Shorebirds won the game that was resumed from Monday 7-6 and also won the scheduled game 3-1. The Captains lead in the Northern Division is two games over Greensboro with four games to play.

In game one which was the continuation of the game suspended on Monday, The Shorebirds led 5-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning when play resumed. Prior to the suspension, the Shorebirds had gotten a home run from Victor Castillo and the Captains from Karexon Sanchez. When play resumed Kieron Pope hit a two run home run off of Captains reliever Kyle Landis in the top of the seventh inning to make it 7-3. The Captains rallied back to cut the lead to 7-6 in the eighth scoring three runs on a three run home run off of reliever Clifff Flagello by Michael Valadez, his first professional homer.

The Captains started Ryan Miller on Monday and he went 3.2 innings giving up five runs on seven hits, walking four and striking out five and lost his second decision of the year to drop his record to 7-2. Joanniel Montero replaced Miller prior to the rain and pitched 1.1 innings. Landis started the sixth inning on Wednesday and went two innings allowing two runs on four hits. John Gaub came on in the eighth inning and pitched two scoreless innings. Flagello who had relieved Luis Noel after the suspension, picked up the win to go to 3-2. Mick Mattaliano pitched a scoreless ninth inning to secure his 13th save.

In the scheduled game, the Shorebirds got two first inning runs off of Captains starter Kelvin De La Cruz on a two RBI double by Joe Mahoney to take a 2-0 lead. The lead was extended to 3-0 in the third inning on a solo home run by Anthony Martinez. The Captains plated a run in the bottom of the sixth off reliever Brett Bordes on an RBI single by Matt Brown.

De La Cruz had his record drop to 5-3 taking the loss going five innings giving up three runs on six hits, walking two and striking out four. Dallas Cawiezell came on in the sixth inning and pitched two scoreless innings. Shorebirds starter Tony Butler picked up the win going five scoreless innings to even his record at 3-3.

The Captains and Hagerstown Suns will wrap up the first half of the season with a four game series beginning Thursday with game time 7:05 PM. The Captains will send LHP Ryan Morris (6-1, 2.56) to mound while Hagerstown was still undecided as to who is starting. Thursday is Thirsty Thursday where fans can purchase draft beer and fountain soda for half price until 9:00 PM. The game can also be heard on AM 1330 WELW, WELW.COM or CAPTAINSBASEBALL.COM.

Posted in: