Daily Recap: 7/28

2008 Draftees power Scrappers past Spikes

Lonnie Chisenhall and Jeremie Tice both homered to lead the Mahoning Valley Scrappers to a 7-6 win over State College Spikes on Monday night.

Chisenhall, the Indians 1st round pick (29th overall) in the 2008 draft, got the Scrappers on the board in the first inning. After back-to-back walks to 2B Isaias Velasquez and DH Cord Phelps, Chisenhall launched a 3-run HR to right field for his second HR as a professional. The Scrappers would add on another run in 2nd on an error by Spikes C Miguel Mendez and another in the 3rd inning on an RBI double by 1B Brock Simpson scoring Chisenhall who had doubled to lead off the inning.

The Scrappers would finish their scoring in the 7th inning; after Chisenhall singled with one out, 2008 6th round pick (201st overall), Jeremie Tice homered off Spikes reliever Wilson Ortiz for his 3rd HR of the year and what proved to be the much needed insurance of a 7-2 Scrappers lead.

2008 11th round pick RHP Matt Langwell (1-1), making only his 4th start as a pro, worked 5 strong innings allowing only 2 runs off 7 hits with no walks and one strikeout to pick up his first win as a professional. He was relieved by Brad Hinkle who worked 2 scoreless innings before turning the ball over to 2008 38th rounder Brian Grening. After a scoreless 8th inning, the Spikes would make it interesting against Grening in the 9th. Grening allowed 4 runs off 2 walks and 3 hits, capped by a 2-out, 2-run double by Spikes LF Quincy Latimore to cut the defecit to 7-6 and move the potential tying run into scoring position. The Scrappers brought in LH reliever Wilfredo Ramirez who struck out CF David Rubenstein to record his 3rd save of the year.

Chisenhall finished the night 3-for-5 with a 2B, HR, 3 runs scored and 3RBI and is hitting .317 (13-for-41) over his last 10 games. Tice was 2-for-5 with a HR and 2RBI.


Aeros bullpen blows lead late, but Hodges walks off against Seawolves

3B Wes Hodges hit his 12th home run of the season leading off the bottom of the 9th to send the Akron Aeros to a walk-off 8-7 win over the Erie Seawolves in front of 9,006 fans at Canal Park.

Hodges HR saved the blushes of an Akron bullpen that had allowed 5 runs over 3 innings of work to undo all the good work done by Aeros starter LHP Ryan Edell. Edell worked 6 sparkling innings allowing only 2 runs off 2 hits (solo HRs in the 3rd & 6th innings) with one walk and an impressive 8 strikeouts, only to be robbed of his 6th win of the year after the bullpen meltdown. Edell has now turned out 7 straight excellent starts amassing a 2.14ERA over that span (42IP, 10ER), but is only 2-1 over that stretch.

The Aeros jumped out to a 4-0 first inning lead on a 2-run double by Hodges, an RBI double by RF Stephen Head and a Ryan Goleski sac fly. They would add on another run in the 4th on an RBI double by 1B Matt Whitney staking Edell to a 5-2 lead as he left the game after 6.

LHP Reid Santos relieved and immediately gave up the lead in the top of the 7th. A HBP, single and a walk loaded the bases with no-one out setting the stage for a 2-run double by Seawolves 3B Santo De Leon and an RBI groundout by SS Caonabo Cosme to tie the game at 5.

The Aeros offense would bounce straight back in the bottom of the 7th; after Whitney lead off the inning with a single, Stephen Head launched his 9th HR of the season off Erie reliever Benjamin Fritz to put Akron back on top 7-5.

The lead would be short-lived though as Santos, in for his second inning of work, would give it straight back in the 8th on a 2-out, 2-run HR by Erie 1B Ryan Roberson.

LHP Erik Stiller (6-3) struck out the side in the 9th setting the stage for Hodges heroics and recording his 6th win of the year.

Hodges (3-for-5, 3R, 2 2B, HR, 3BI), Whitney (3-for-4, 2B, 3B, RBI) and Head (2-or-4, 2B, HR, 3RBI) all shone on offense for an Aeros team that leads the Southern Division of the Eastern League by 4.5 games over the Bowie Baysox.


De La Cruz struggles, K-Tribe blanked by Pelicans

In only his second start for the Kinston Indians, Kelvin De La Cruz didn't make it out of the first inning as the K-Tribe fell by a score of 4-0 at the hands of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans at Grainger Stadium.

De La Cruz faced only 8 hitters, striking out 2, walking 3 and allowing 3 hits to leave the game with the bases loaded in the first inning with 2 outs and 3 runs already in. Josh Tomlin relieved and ended the threat with a lazy fly ball to RF.

The Indians bullpen gave the team every chance to come back in the game as Tomlin (3.2IP, 1R, 4K), Matt Meyer (1.2IP, 0R, 3K), Mike Pontius (2IP, 0R, 3K) and Mike Finocchi (1IP, 0R, 1K) worked a sparkling 8.1 combined innings as K-Tribe pitchers struck out 13 Pelicans.

The K-Tribe offense couldn't muster anything of note though managing only 5 hits. 1B Beau Mills (2-for-4, 2B) was the only standout with the bat. C Carlos Santana made his Indians debut finishing the night 0-for-4 with 3Ks, but he did pick a runner off first base.


In other games...

- Buffalo shut-out 3-0 by Charlotte. LHP John Halama (7-3) allowed 3 runs in 7 innings. RHP John Meloan made his Indians organisation debut working a scoreless 8th inning. DH Michael Aubrey 2-for-4 the only offensive performer of note.

- Lake County rally to a 6-5 win in 13 innings on a 2-out, bases loaded RBI single by Cristo Arnal. Chris Archer worked 5 innings allowing 4 runs off 10 hits with no walks and 7Ks. RHP Jon Holt (3IP, 0R, 6K) a standout in the bullpen. RHP Josh Judy (9-1) worked a scoreless 13th for the win. SS Ron RIvas (2-for-6, 3RBI) the top offensive performer for a Captains team that was out-hit 18 to 9.

- DSL Indians win 8-6 over Diamondbacks. Francisco Jimenez (6IP, 2ER) with a strong start. Jose Pena recorded his 11th save. C Rolando Petit (2-for-3, 2 2B, 4RBI) paced the offensive attack.

- GCL Indians lose 6-1. 2008 9th round pick LHP Clayton Cook worked 3 scoreless innings (14.1IP, 16K, 1.26ERA in 6 games). Jose Urena allowed 6 runs in 4IP to take the loss. 2008 13th round pick 3B/DH Adam Abraham the top performer on offense going 3-for-3 with his 3rd HR in 72 pro at bats.

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