Game Recaps 6/12

On Thursday, the Indians made a minor trade acquiring catcher Damaso Espino from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for cash considerations. Espino was assigned to Akron and will take over as the backup catcher since Armando Camacaro was moved up to Buffalo. This move was n response to Buffalo catcher Yamid Haad being called up to Cleveland. Espino has spent the season in a reserve role at AAA Omaha (13G, .167avg). He has split his 9-year professional career in the Cincinnati and Kansas City organizations, reaching the Triple A level for the first time this year.

Also, this coming Tuesday, STO's Indians Minor League Magazine will introduce the 70 yr old woman who hosts Kinston Players and acts as their 'house mom'. Also, a player feature will be done on Kinston outfielder Nick Weglarz as well as a then and now with Indians first baseman Ryan Garko.

Aeros Tame Fisher Cats 13-6
Akron Pounds Out 29 Runs, 48 Hits in Series Sweep

AKRON, OH – The Aeros drilled four home runs and Scott Lewis worked into the seventh inning as Akron won its eighth straight game, completing a sweep over New Hampshire in a 13-6 drubbing of the Fisher Cats before 3,574 fans at Canal Park Thursday night. The Aeros improved to 37-26, while the Cats fell to 23-42.

Akron struck first (for the first time since Friday) in the second inning when Wes Hodges doubled off the wall in center and Bronson Sardinha and Matt Whitney followed with singles, the latter scoring Hodges to give Akron a 1-0 lead. New Hampshire tied the game in top of the third with a run-scoring groundout.

The Aeros took the lead for good with four runs in the bottom of the third. Trevor Crowe led off with a walk, and Josh Rodriguez took his place at first on a fielder’s choice. Chris Gimenez followed with a single, and Wes Hodges then launched a rocket over the wall in left to give the Aeros a 4-1 lead. Bronson Sardinha yanked Scott Richmond’s next pitch into the bleachers in right pushing the lead to 5-1. It was the first time the Aeros have hit back-to-back homers since July 26th, 2006.

Ryan Goleski added on for Akron with a solo home run to left-center in the sixth – his third in as many games. An RBI double by New Hampshire’s Eric Nielsen made it 6-2 in the seventh, but the Aeros put the game away after stretch time. Gimenez cracked a line drive into the hitter-friendly breeze to left-center that just cleared the fence to lead off the inning. A Hodges walk and Sardinha double put two runners in scoring position with no out, and Matt Whitney then hit a sacrifice to the warning track in right, scoring Hodges and moving Sardinha to third. After a Goleski walk, Brandon Chaves ripped an infield single off pitcher Jared Gothreaux, scoring Sardinha to give the Aeros a 9-2 lead.

New Hampshire put up three runs in the eighth on a three-run, opposite-field home run by Blue Jays top prospect Travis Snider, but the Aeros kept any thoughts of a comeback on the backburner as they scored four times in the bottom of the eighth on two hits and four walks. Gimenez roped an RBI double off the wall in center, Goleski drew an RBI walk, and Chaves drove in two runs on a lined single to right, pushing Akron’s lead to 13-5. The Cats added one more in the ninth for the final margin.

Lewis (2-0) picked up the win, going 6.2 innings and allowing two runs on five hits, while striking out five and walking none for the second straight start. Richmond (4-7) took the loss, surrendering six runs on a season-high 11 hits. He walked one, struck out six, and allowed three of Akron’s season-high tying four homers. Gimenez, Hodges, and Sardinha each had a double and a homer and Gimenez collected four hits (while also extending his hitting streak to nine games), becoming the third Aero in three games to record a four-hit game after no one had done it in the first 60 games of the season. Chaves drove in three runs on three hits, and Hodges was 2-3 with two walks, four runs scored (a season-high for an Akron hitter), and three RBI.

The Aeros will look to continue their winning ways as Portland comes to town for a weekend series beginning at 7:05 p.m. Friday night at Canal Park, as Akron sends left-hander Chuck Lofgren (1-3, 6.04 ERA) to the hill against Michael Bowden (5-3, 2.30 ERA). Friday is Fireworks Night at Canal Park, sponsored by CenturyTel. The game broadcast begins at 6:50 p.m. on SportsRadio 1350 AM and online at http://www.akronaeros.com/.

K-Tribe wins 7-6

The K-Tribe scored four runs over the last three innings, coming back to beat Lynchburg 7-6 Thursday night in Virginia. Kinston trailed 5-3 going into the seventh inning, when K-Tribe catcher Alex Castillo knotted the score with a two-run home run. It was Castillo’s fifth round tripper of the season. Kinston took a lead in the top of the eighth inning when Jared Goedert led off with a triple and was driven in by a Jerad Head two-out single. The Hillcats clawed their way back, tying the score at six with a solo home run by Jamie Romak to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning.

The K-Tribe loaded the bases in the top of the ninth, thanks to a Johnny Drennen double and walks to Beau Mills and Jared Goedert. With two outs in the inning, Kinston’s Carlos Rivero was hit by a pitch from Lynchburg hurler Jacob Cuffman, driving in Drennen and giving Kinston a 7-6 lead. The drama continued in the bottom of the inning when Lynchburg threatened by putting two on thanks to a double and an error. With the tying run at second, Kinston’s Luis Perdomo struck out the Carolina League’s batting leader Jim Negrych to end the game. Perdomo escaped with his league leading 15th save of the season. Jacob Cuffman (1-1) takes the loss for Lynchburg.

The K-Tribe (34-32) continues the four game series Friday night in Lynchburg. Kinston’s Steven Wright will take the mound for Kinston, game time 7:05.

CAPTAINS WIN, MAGIC NUMBER IS 2

(Eastlake, OH) – Roman Pena singled in the go ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning and Vinnie Pestano pitched a one, two three ninth inning as the Captains defeated the Hagerstown Suns on Thursday 3-2. The Captains magic number is now two as they lead Greensboro by two games with three games to play.

The Suns struck first in the top of the fifth inning against Captains starter Ryan Morris. With runners at first and third and two out, Valerio Heredia laid down a bunt single to score Michael Burgess from third and the Suns led 1-0. The Captains tied it up and took the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Ron Rivas drove in a run on a ground ball error by third baseman Stephen King that scored Matt Brown from third and they went ahead 2-1 on a sacrifice fly by Adam White that scored Michael Valadez.

The Suns tied it up at 2-2 in the top of the seventh against Captains reliever Joanniel Montero when Valerio got a two out single down the left field line to score Stephen King before the Captains won it in the eighth.

The Captains starter Morris went five innings giving up one run on three hits, walking two, striking out three and but did not get a decision. Montero replaced Morris in the sixth inning and pitched three innings allowing one run and picked up his first win of the year to up his record to 1-2. Pestano pitched a scoreless ninth inning to register his 14th save. Adulin Abreu got the loss in relief to have his record fall to 2-1.

The Captains and Hagerstown Suns will play game two of the series on Friday with game time 7:05 PM. The Captains will send RHP Chris Archer (2-6, 4.13) to mound against the Suns RHP Cole Kimball (1-3, 6.84. Friday will be a fireworks night at Classic Park with the game beginning at 7:05 PM. The game can also be heard on AM 1330 WELW, WELW.COM or CAPTAINSBASEBALL.COM.

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