Daily Recap: 8/21

Herrmann Sublime in 4-2 Win
Hodges Now Tied for Second in Single-Season RBI Race

NORWICH, CT – Frank Herrmann carried a one-hit shutout into the eighth and two big swings from Wes Hodges and Bronson Sardinha provided all the offense in Akron’s 4-2 triumph over Connecticut before 4,068 fans at Dodd Stadium Thursday night. The Aeros improved to 75-57 and cut their magic number down to four with Harrisburg’s 5-3 loss in Trenton. The Defenders fell to 65-65.

Herrmann and Connecticut starter Dave McKae matched each other pitch for pitch through the first five innings, but the Aeros finally broke through in the sixth. Brandon Pinckney beat out a slow roller up the third base line to start the frame, and Hodges then got ahead in the count 3-1 and bombed a hanging curveball out to left for a 2-0 advantage. It was Hodges’ 14th home run of the year and gave him 89 RBI on the season, tying him with Scott Morgan and Tony Mitchell for second on the single-season RBI list, trailing only record holder Chan Perry (96 RBI in 1997).

McKae gave way to reliever Ronnie Ray after seven innings, and singles from Pinckney, Hodges and Matt Whitney loaded the bases with one away for Sardinha. Ray got ahead in the count quickly, but Sardinha spoiled a trio of two-strike offerings before poking a two-run single into left field to double the cushion to 4-0.

Those insurance runs loomed large when the Defenders tallied twice in the eighth, but Neil Wagner came on in relief and struck out Julio Cordido on three pitches with runners at first and second to end the inning. Wagner then got the first out in the ninth before Eliezer Alfonzo singled, but Akron brought Reid Santos out of the pen and the southpaw struck out Adam Witter and Simon Klink to end the game.

Herrmann (10-6) reached double-digit victories for the second straight year, following an 11-win campaign for Kinston last season. The native of Rutherford, NJ allowed just one run and two hits in 7.1 innings, walking one and striking out seven. He retired the first nine hitters he faced, and also set down 11 straight batters later in the game. McKae (7-8) made just the mistake to Hodges, allowing two runs and six hits in seven innings. Santos notched his second save. Hodges finished 3-4 with his home run, and Pinckney chipped in a pair of hits and scored twice.

The Aeros continue this six-game road trip Friday night at 7:05 p.m. with the opener of a three-game series in New Britain. Lefty Ryan Edell (6-7, 3.97 ERA) will go for Akron against New Britain’s Jeff Manship (2-6, 4.93 ERA). The game broadcast begins at 6:50 p.m. on SportsRadio 1350 AM and online at www.akronaeros.com.

K-Tribe Falls 4-1 to Wilmington

The Kinston Indians lost their six straight game, falling to Wilmington 4-1 Thursday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. Even with the losing streak Kinston is still in the playoff hunt, just one and a half games back of Winston-Salem for the wildcard spot in the Southern Division. Kinston will play Winston-Salem in a four game series next week.

Kinston was no hit through five innings by Wilmington starter Ray Liotta (1-0). Liotta was effectively wild, walking four, striking out three and not allowing a run. Wilmington got three solid innings of relief from Greg Holland, who allowed just one hit while striking out five. Kinston finally got on the board in the bottom of the ninth when Jared Goedert drove in Lucas Montero with a two-out double. Kinston managed just two hits on the night.

Wilmington got on the board in the top of the third thanks to back to back double by Adrian Ortiz and Paolo Orlando. The Blue Rocks added their second run of the game without a hit in the top of the fourth inning. Two errors and a sacrifice bunt scored Cody Straight to put Wilmington up 2-0. Wilmington finished the scoring on back to back singles in the bottom of the ninth inning off of K-Tribe reliever Vinnie Pestano. Kinston starter Jeanmar Gomez (4-9) is the tough luck loser, giving up three hits and two runs in five innings. The Indians Josh Judy pitched two solid innings of relief, giving up two hits and striking out five batters.

Kinston will take on Wilmington in game two of the three game series Friday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. The second to last home game of the regular season features fireworks after the game. Kinston hurler Hector Rondon will take the mound going for his Carolina League leading 12th win of the season.

CAPTAINS DROP 3RD STRAIGHT

(Eastlake, OH) – Lakewood BlueClaws scored three runs in the third innings and got a strong pitching performance from Julian Sampson on their way to a 5-1win over the Lake County Captains on Thursday. Matt Brown had two hits for the Captains and has had at least two hits in six of his last seven games.

The BlueClaws scored three times in the third inning off of Captains starter Ryan Morris when they loaded the bases with one out. Freddy Galvis and Matt Rizzotti singled home runs and the third scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Travis D’Arnaud and it was 3-0. It went to 4-0 in the fifth on Derrick Mitchell’s ninth home run of the year. The BlueClaws made it 5-0 in the sixth inning on a RBI single by Travis Mattair.

The Captains broke up the shutout in the bottom of the ninth inning on Chris Nash’s fourth home run of the year to end the scoring at 5-1.

Morris saw his record fall to 8-5 going 5.1 innings and allowing five runs on seven hits, walking four and striking out one. Julian Sampson pitched six shutout innings and upped his record to 10-4.

The Captains and BlueClaws play game three of the five game series on Friday with the Captains sending LHP Ryan Miller (7-7, 3.27) to the mound to face the BlueClaws RHP Chance Chapman (7-5, 3.50). Game time is 7:05 PM. All Captains games can be heard on AM 1330 WELW, WELW.COM or CAPTAINSBASEBALL.COM.

SCRAPPERS DROP GAME ONE IN BATAVIA 4-2

BATAVIA, NY- In the first game back after the All-Star Game the Scrappers traveled to Batavia, New York to take on the Muckdogs. Batavia scored first in the bottom of the second, when Edwin Gomes delivered a two RBI double and after tow it was 2-0 Muckdogs.

In the bottom of the fourth the Muckdogs added another run when Chris Swauger delivered a one out RBI single and after four it was 3-0 Muckdogs. In the middle innings, both teams kept putting up zeros and we went to the eighth still 3-0 Muckdogs.

In the eighth the Scrappers threatened putting two on with one out, but could not score. The Muckdogs added a solo run in the eighth and the game went to the ninth now 4-0 Batavia.

In the ninth the Scrappers plated two runs on a RBI ground out by Cord Phelps and a RBI double by Lonnie Chisenhall, but could not score any more and dropped game one to the Muckdogs 4-2.

In Other Games...

- Buffalo lost 7-3. Human sacrifice John Halama went 6 innings and allowed 13 hits, 7 runs, 1 walk and had 2 strikeouts. LHP Rich Rundles threw a scoreless inning of relief, now at 12-scoreless outings in a row. 1B Michael Aubrey went 2-for-5 with a 2B and 3 RBI.

- The GCL Indians were (again) rained out.

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