Daily Recap: 8/28

Aeros split doubleheader, clinch Eastern League Wild Card Berth

The Akron Aeros split a doubleheader with the Altoona Curve on Thursday night and in the process clinched their spot in the Eastern League Playoffs. Coupled with Bowie clinching first place in the division the Aeros will begin their playoff series with the Baysox on September 3rd at Prince George's stadium in Bowie.

The Aeros won game one 3-0 behind a strong outing from Ryan Edell. Edell (7-8) worked 5.2 scoreless innings to pick up the win recording 7 strikeouts in the process. Scott Roehl recorded the final 4 outs of the 7 inning affair to pick up his 7th save of the year.

The Aeros got all their offense on a 5th inning HR by Wyatt Toregas (12) and a 6th inning 2-run triple from Matt Whitney. Matt LaPorta, fresh from Olympic duty, was back in the starting lineup for game 1 and ended the night 1-for-2 with an IBB.

The Aeros were blanked themselves in game 2, losing by a final score of 1-0. Chuck Lofgren worked the first two scoreless innings before Neil Wagner (0-2) allowed the only run of the game in his 2 frames to take the loss.

The Aeros will begin their final series of the season starting Friday with a 3 game set against Erie.


K-Tribe swept in double-dip, on the verge of elimination

The Kinston Indians lost both games of a double header, both by a 3-1 margin, at the hands of the Winston-Salem Warthogs on Thursday night. The sweep put the Warthogs 3.5 games up on the K-Tribe with only 4 Indians games left to play, lowering the Warthogs magic number to 1.

In game 1, resuming in the 3rd inning with the game scoreless after being suspended on Wednesday night, the Indians got on the board first in the 4th inning on an RBI groundout by John Drennen scoring Carlos Rivero. That lead wouldn't last long as the Warthogs tallied two runs of their own in the bottom of the 4th against K-Tribe reliever Sung-Wei Tseng (0-8). The Warthogs added on another run in the 5th against Josh Judy to end the scoring.

In game 2 Hector Rondon was masterful, no-hitting the Warthogs into the 5th inning, before allowing a 1-out double to Joe Persichina. Again the Indians took the lead, this time in the 6th inning on a RBI double by Carlos Rivero scoring Nick Weglarz. But, once again the Warthogs responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame to tie the score at 1-1.

The Warthogs would pull away for good in the 8th against LHP Matt Meyer (4-2) scoring 2 runs on an RBI groundout and a two out RBI single to saddle Meyer with the loss.

Rondon finished the night with 6IP, 3H, 1R/ER, 1BB, 8K to bring to an end what has been a breakout season for the Venezuelan right hander (11-6, 3.60ERA, 145K in 145IP). This is a little wild(ish) speculation on my part, but with the Indians almost eliminated for the playoffs I would not be surprised to see Rondon promoted to pitch for Akron in the AA playoffs.


In other games...

- David Huff brought his 2008 season to a close pitching the Buffalo Bisons to a 3-2 win over Scranton on Thursday night. Huff (6-4) worked 5 innings allowing 2R/ER on 2 hits with a walk and 4K. Brian Slocum, Jeff Weaver, Rich Rundles and Ed Buzachero combined for the final 4 scoreless innings. DH Travis Hafner was back in the lineup finishing 1-for-3 with a 2B. Trevor Crowe ended the night 2-for-4 with 2 2B.

- Captains lost completion of a game from August 9th 7-2 with LHP Ryan Morris taking the loss (8-5). Also lost regularly scheduled 7-inning affair 4-3. Joey Mahalic (7-6) picked up the loss allowing all 4 runs in 4.2IP.

- Scrapper lose 4-3 in 10 innings against State College. RHP Eddie Burns made his 2nd career appearance allowing just 1 run in 4IP with 7K. The Scrappers took a 3-2 lead in the top 10th on an RBI single by Tim Fedroff, but the Spikes rallied for 2 runs in the bottom of the frame against Brad Hinkle (0-1) on a walk, double and single with nobody out.

Posted in: