Daily Recap: 7/27

Jackson's Thriller pitches Herd past Knights

LHP Zach Jackson is a former first round pick and was traded for a reigning Cy Young award winner - maybe the change of scenery is starting to show us why! Jackson retired the first 16 batters he faced on his way to 6 scoreless innings leading the Buffalo Bisons to a 5-0 win over the Charlotte Knights.

Jackson (2-0), making only his 6th appearance (2nd start) for the Herd, was masterful through the first 5 innings and didn't allow a hit until Knights SS Fernando Cortes grounded a clean single up the middle with one-out in the 6th. CF Jerry Owens added a 2-out single before Jackson got 1B Brad Eldred to fly out to CF and end the only Knights threat of the game and to end Jacksons night with 6IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 2K. Jackson lowered his ERA to 1.08 as a Bison and has allowed just 1ER over 10IP in his two starts.

The Bisons got on the board in the 4th inning as 1B Jordan Brown lead off the inning with a walk before advancing to 2B on a 1-out walk to LF Jason Cooper. After a pop-out by 3B Morgan Ensberg, CF Brad Snyder stroked an opposite field RBI single scoring Brown to put the Herd in front 1-0.

It would stay that way until the 8th inning when the Bisons broke the game wide open. After Jorge Velandia lined out against former Indians LHP Scott Sauerbeck for the first out of the inning, Jordan Brown would again ignite the rally with an opposite field double (24). After an intentional walk to DH Todd Linden, Jason Cooper foiled the lefty-lefty match-up by singling to load the bases with 1-out and end Saurbecks day. The Knights brought in RHP Derek Rodriguez to face Ensberg who quickly ruined that plan by launching a grand slam to left-field on a 1-1 pitch to put the icing on the game for the Bisons.

RHP Brenden Donnelly worked a scoreless 7th inning in his continuing rehab from Tommy John surgery and RHP Brian Slocum worked the final 2 scoreless innings, getting Knights SS Fernando Cortes to line out to second with the bases loaded to end the game and preserve the back-to-back shutouts, allowing just 8 hits, for a Bisons team that prior to which had allowed 15 runs off 19 hits in the series opener.

Jordan Brown (2-for-4, 2B, BB), Brad Snyder (2-for-4, RBI) and Morgan Ensberg (1-for-4, HR, 3RBI) the offensive standouts for a Bisons team who will look to win the 4 game series in a 12.15pm start on Monday. LHP John Halama is scheduled to start for the Herd.

Mills and Rondon lead K-Tribe past Mets

1B Beau Mills launched a first inning HR and RHP Hector Rondon worked 5 strong innings to lead the Kinston Indians to a 4-3 win over the Wilmington Blue Rocks at Frawley Stadium. The win avoided a 3-game sweep for the K-Tribe and ran their 2nd half record to 20-15.

Kinston jumped on the board early as 2B Nuiman Romero singled to RF to lead off the game before Mills drove his 16th HR of the season to right off Blue Rocks starter Everett Teaford. RF Ryan Goleski added on another run leading off the 4th inning with his 1st HR of the year for Kinston since being sent back down from AA. The K-Tribe would finish their scoring in the 7th inning as Nick Weglarz walked, took 2nd on a balk, advanced to 3rd on a single by DH Matt McBride and scored what proved to be the winning run on another balk by Blue Rocks reliever Henry Barrera.

Hector Rondon (9-4) worked 5 strong innings for Kinston allowing just 2 runs off 5 hits with 2BB and 4K. The solid start was a good sign for Rondon after he'd allowed 6ER in two of his last 3 starts. The only damage coming on a 2-out RBI triple in the first and a sac fly in the 3rd by Wilmington RF Cody Strait.

Neil Wagner allowed 1ER in 2 innings of work in relief, Mike Finocchi worked a scoreless 8th inning (9IP,1ER in last 7games) and Vinnie Pestano struck out a pair in a perfect 9th to record his 5th save for the Indians (20th overall).

1B Beau Mills has now reached base safely via a hit or a walk in 19 straight games.

Kinston will now return home for a 3-game series with Myrtle Beach at Grainger Stadium, but they will do so without LF Nick Weglarz who is scheduled to join up with Canada in preparation for the Beijing Olympics. LHP Kelvin De La Cruz will make his 2nd K-Tribe start at 7.00pm on Monday.


LaPorta, bullpen end Aeros skid

LF Matt LaPorta delivered a clutch 2-out RBI single in the 8th inning and the Aeros bullpen worked 4 scoreless innings to send Akron to a 2-1 win over the Binghamton Mets at Canal Park on Sunday.

The game was tied at 1-1 heading to the bottom of the 8th when Akron C Damaso Espino walked to lead-off the inning against Mets starter RHP Robert Parnell. SS Brandon Chaves popped out trying to bunt and 2B Josh Rodriguez flied out against reliever LHP Edgar Alfonzo. A walk to RF Bronson Sardinha put runners on first and second setting the stage for LaPorta to be the hero. LaPorta stepped up to the plate and lined an opposite field single to RF scoring pinch runner Jose Constanza as the eventual winning run.

The Aeros had taken a 1-0 lead in the 3rd inning on a solo HR by CF Nathan Panther. But, the Mets answered back with a run of their own scoring on a 2-out fielding error by Branson Chaves who had only just entered the game as a defesive replacement for injured 2B Brandon Pinckney.

RHP Steven Wright started for the Aeros working 5 strong innings. Wright allowed only an unearned run off 3 hits with a walk and 5 strikeouts. The strong outing marked the 3rd straight start allowing 2 earned runs or fewer for Wright (16IP, 3ER). RHP JD Martin (8-3) came on in relief of Wright to pick up the win and spun 3 scoreless innings. Martin escaped danger in the top of the 8th getting Mets SS Jose Coronado to ground into an inning ending double play with runners on the corners. LHP Scott Roehl worked around a pair of 2-out singles in the 9th inning to pick up his 5th save of the year.

LaPorta finished the night 1-for-4 and will now leave the team to join up with Team USA in preparation for the Beijing Olympics.

The Aeros begin a 4-game series against the Erie Seawolves on Monday at Canal Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7.05pm ET. LHP Ryan Edell will start for Akron against Erie LHP Juan Cedeno.


In other games....

- Lake County cruised to a 7-3 win over the West Virginia Power snapping their losing streak at 7. RHP Joey Mahalic struggled through 4 innings (4IP, 6H, 3R/ER, 3BB, 4K), but Gary Campfield (5-3), Rob Bryson and Kyle Landis worked the final 5 scoreless innings. RF Matthew Brown delivered the big blow with a 5th inning grand slam (6) as part of a 3-for-4, 2B, HR, 6RBI performance. Brown is 7-for-9 with 3 doubles, a homerun and 9RBIs over his last 2 games.

- Scrappers lose the resumed game suspended on Saturday by a score of 8-0. RHP Carlos Arias (2IP, 1R) took the loss, but most of the damage was done against RHP Austin Creps (0.2IP, 5ER). 2008 18th round pick LHP Kaimi Mead worked 5 strong innings to lead the Scrappers to a 9-4 win in the regularly scheduled game. Mead (4-4) allowed 2 runs off 4 hits and a pair of walks with 3Ks. 2008 3rd round pick 2B Cord Phelps made his Scrappers debut going 2-for-4 with a double and 2RBI. DH Lonnie Chisenhall (2-for-4, RBI) and 3B Jeremie Tice (2-for-3, 2RBI) provided much of the Scappers scoring.

- DSL Indians are on their All-Star break

- GCL Indians with a scheduled day off

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