Daily Recap: 7/24

Aeros season on a downward Curve?!

The Akron Aeros continued to scuffle Thursday afternoon, falling by a score of 3-1 to the Altoona Curve at Blair County Ballpark. The loss sent the Aeros to a 4-1 series defeat and saw their record fall to 2-7 since the AA All-Star break.

Akron actually got on the board first in the 2nd inning as Matt Whitney launched a solo HR (#9) to left-field off Curve starter Dan Reichert. That though would be the only damage done against Reichert. The former Kansas City Royal, Toronto Blue Jay and, most recently, Buffalo Bison worked 7.1 innings allowing only 5 hits with 7K's in only his second start since being traded to the Pirates organization.

RHP Kevin Dixon started for Akron and took the tough luck loss in working 7 strong innings allowing all 3 runs on 8 hits. All the damage was done against Dixon in the 4th inning in which he gave up the 3 runs off a walk and 4 hits. RHP John Dale (JD) Martin worked the 8th in his first appearance since being sent back down from AAA.

In case you missed it earlier, Trevor Crowe was promoted to AAA Buffalo after the game in which he banged out his 16th double as part of a 2-for-4 night.


McBride showing he's ready to go?

Fully healthy, Matt McBride is years ahead of the competition in the GCL. Well, he's starting to show that may well be the case right now.

C McBride, who had shoulder surgery in the off-season - prior to which he was considered a top 10 prospect in the organisation, lead the GCL Indians to a 13-9 win over the GCL Yankees with a 3-for-4, 2B, 2RBI performance. McBride has hit a healthy .500 (15-for-30) over his last 10 games, but more importantly was back in the lineup after being inexplicably pulled after 1AB in his last appearance on July 22. However, the bat will not determine when McBride gets promoted - it's expected he will need to show he can at least catch back-to-back 9 inning games before getting the call to a full-season squad.

Helium 3B prospect Abner Abreu finished the night with 2 doubles (11) in 5ABs capped off by a 2-run 2B in a 5-run 8th inning that proved to be the difference in the game after the Yankees rallied for 3 runs in the top of the 9th.

18-year old Australian SS Jason Smit was back in the lineup after missing 13 days and finished 2-for-2 with a 2B and RBI.

19-year old LHP Chris Jones started for the GCL Indians picking up his first professional win. Jones, the Indians 15th round pick in the 2007 draft, worked 5.1 innings allowing 3 runs off 5 hits with a walk and 6Ks.


K-Tribe score early and often, hang on for win and series split

The Kinston Indians took advantage of some sloppy Nationals defense to defeat Potomac 7-5 on Thursday night and earn themselves a split of the 4 game series.

The Indians jumped on the board in the first inning after LF Nick Weglarz drew a two-out walk, took 2B on a single by 3B Jared Goedert and scored on SS Carlos Riveros RBI base hit to center. The K-Tribe then tacked on 3 more in the second inning; RF Ryan Goleski lead off the inning with a single and scored on C Brian Juhl's 3rd HR of the season. After back-to-back HBP for John Drennen and Beau Mills, Nick Weglarz stroked an RBI single to right to put the K-Tribe up 4-0.

The Tribe then took advantage of some poor Nationals defense in the 5th inning to tack on 3 more and finish their scoring for the night. Jared Goedert reached on an error leading off the inning and advanced to 2nd on a Carlos Rivero single. Nuiman Romero and Ryan Goleski made quick outs before Brian Juhl walked to load the bases with 2 down when things fell apart for the Nationals infield; Cirillo Cumberbatch hit a grounder to 3rd that was thrown away by Nationals 3B Trevor Lawhorn scoring 2 runs, John Drennen followed with a ground ball that was booted by 1B Andrew Lafave allowing another run to score.

The 3 unearned runs made a winner of RHP Carlton Smith (8-5) who worked 5.2 innings allowing 5 runs off 7 hits and a loser of LHP Ross Detwiler (5-7) who allowed all 7 runs (4 earned) over his 4.2 innings of work.

Both bullpens shut the door from then on with Nationals RHP Clint Everts the major standout striking out 8 Indians in his 3.1 scoreless innings. RHP Neil Wagner worked 2.1 scoreless for the K-Tribe before Vinnie Pestano worked a hitless 9th with 2K to record his 4th save for the Indians.

Kinston now travel to Wilmington for a 3-game series with the Blue Rocks in what will be the final series before LF Nick Weglarz joins up with Team Canada in preparation for the Olympic games.



In other games...

- Mahoning Valley lose both ends of a DH 5-2 & 4-3 to Aberdeen. RHP Russell Young took the loss in game 1 allowing all 5 runs in 5IP. LHP Garrett Rieck took the loss in relief in game 2. 1B Brock Simpson hit his first HR of the year in game 1, but couldn't stop the Scrappers falling to their 4th straight loss.

- DSL Indians lose 4-2 to DSL Cubs1. 6'6" 17-year LHP Elvis Arajuo picked up his first loss allowing 3 runs (1 earned) in 4IP. CF Augustin Avila (2-for-3) providing the only real offense for the Indians who managed only 6 hits.

- Buffalo game cancelled due to wet grounds.

- Lake County with a scheduled off-day.

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