Daily Recap: 8/04

Brown delivers in pinch to lead Bisons to win

Jordan Brown delivered a clutch 2-out, pinch-hit, 3-run double in the 7th inning to lead the Buffalo Bisons to a come from behind 5-4 win over the Indianapolis Indians on Monday night at Dunn Tire Park.

Heading into the bottom of the 7th inning the Bisons trailed 4-1 after not being able to muster anything of note against Indians starter Tom Gorzelanny, before rallying against John Van Benschoten (7-3). Chris Gimenez lead off the inning with a single against Gorzelanny, before Morgan Ensberg reached on a throwing error by Indians 3B Neil Walker to put runners on the corners and end Gorzelanny's night. After Jorge Velandia had flied out to shallow center for the first out of the inning Brad Snyder lofted a sac fly to center to cut the deficit to 4-2 with 2 outs. Newly acquired Bisons 2B Andy Cannizaro singled and Trevor Crowe walked to load the bases, setting the stage for Brown. Pinch-hitting for Tony Graffanino, Brown fouled off a pair of 2-strike pitches before lining a 2-2 pitch into the gap in right-center to clear the bases and put the Herd up 5-4. The double was Browns 25th of the season as he was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple to end the inning.

The late inning rally took Aaron Laffey off the hook; Laffey, making his first start since being sent down from Cleveland, was solid over 6 innings but was victimized by a couple of big 2-out run scoring hits. The Indians got to Laffey for 3 runs in the 3rd inning as a single and a pair of walks loaded the bases with 2-outs before Neil Walker lined a 3-run triple on an 0-2 pitch to put the Indians up 3-0. They added on one more in the 4th on a 2-out RBI single by Nyjer Morgan to make the score 4-0 and complete all the damage they would do against Laffey who finished the night with 6IP, 7H, 4R/ER, 3BB, 4K and threw 61 of his 89 pitches for strikes.

Brenden Donnelly (1-0), continuing his rehab from TJ surgery, worked a scoreless 7th inning to pick up his first win in the Cleveland organisation. Donnelly has a clause in his contract that he must be called up to Cleveland by August 6th or he can become a free agent - so, don't be surprised to see a roster move coming soon.

Preston Larrison worked a scoreless 8th inning and Ed Buzachero worked around a single and a walk in the 9th, getting former Bison Ryan Mullhern to ground back to the mound with the tying run in scoring position to end the game and record his 3rd save of the year.


Lewis continues to dazzle, Aeros blank Curve

Scott Lewis was brilliant working into the 6th inning and the Akron Aeros routed the Altoona Curve 7-0 on Monday night. The win extended the Aeros Southern Division lead to 2.5 games as Bowie fell 6-3 in 12 innings at the hands of the Binghamton Mets.

Lewis (6-2), allowed a single and a walk with one out in the 1st before retiring the next 13 hitters he faced - 8 on strikes - on his way to yet another dazzling performance. Lewis finished the night with 5.2IP allowing only the 1-hit with a pair of walks and a season high 10 strikeouts. The brilliant outing marked the 6th straight fantastic performance by Lewis who has gone 3-0 with a 0.49ERA over that span (36.2IP, 25H, 2ER, 5BB, 36K).

The Aeros would get all the offense they needed in the 1st inning as C Wyatt Toregas stroked a 2-out RBI single scoring Bronson Sardinha. A Ryan Goleski RBI double in the 4th inning made the score 2-0 before the Aeros put the game out of reach in the 5th, scoring 4 runs against Curve starter Kyle Bloom (2-7) on RBI hits by Sardinha, Wes Hodges and Toregas and an RBI walk by Josh Rodriguez.

Reid Santos and Scott Roehl worked the final 3.1 scoreless innings to complete the 3-hitter.


Morris continues no-hit stretch, Captains bullpen blows lead(s) late

Fresh off the back of a 6-inning no-hit performance in his last start, Ryan Morris was brilliant for 5 innings on Monday night not allowing a hit again, but the Captains bullpen twice blew leads late falling 3-2 at the hands of the Lexington Legends.

Morris finished the night with 5IP, 0H, 2BB and 7K to stretch his personal hitless streak to 11-innings as he left the game with a tenuous 1-0 lead after the Captains got on the board in the top of the 6th on a 2-out RBI double by Mark Thompson.

The lead would be short lived as the Legends rallied in the bottom of the 6th against Josh Judy; Judy allowed a single to the first hitter he faced to quickly end the no-hit bid before allowing a 2-out RBI single to Jonathan Fixley to tie the game 1-1.

The see-saw game continued in the top of the 7th as the Captains led off with back-to-back doubles by Roman Pena and Richard Martinez to regain the lead at 2-1, but that lead wouldn't hold up against the Captains pen.

Garrett Rieck (0-1) came on in the 8th and allowed 2-runs, capped off by another 2-out RBI single by Fixler to put the Legends on top for good 3-2.


In other games...

- Kinston routed 17-2 by Myrtle Beach. Shawn Nottingham (1-3) banged around for 6 runs in 4.2IP. Mike Pontius (1IP, 2ER) and Mike Finocchi (1.1IP, 4ER) also banged around before a combination of INF Jansy Infante and OF Jared Head allowed 5 runs in the 9th inning as the K-Tribe attempted to save some pen arms. Tom Glavine started for the Pelicans allowing 1 run in 4IP.

- Scrappers beat Spikes 8-5. PJ Zocchi (3-2) allowed 2 runs over 5IP. 2008 3rd rounder Cord Phelps with a big night finishing 4-for-5 with a 2B and 2RBI. C Robbie Alcombrack (2-for-5) hit his first HR of the year.

- GCL Indians win 8-5 over Blue Jays. Alexander Perez (5.2IP, 2R) strong again. Abner Abreu launched his 8th HR as part of a 2-for-5 night. 1B Adam Abraham 3-for-5 with his 4th HR.

- DSL Indians lose 4-1 to Cubs in a game called in the 6th due to rain. Jesus Quintero (1-2) allowed 3 runs in 3.1IP to take the loss.

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