Daily Recap: 8/29

Indians eliminated from post-season play

The Kinston Indians lost 10-6 at the hands of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on Friday night, but the result was moot as the Winston Salem Warthogs cruised to a 12-4 win over Frederick earlier in the evening to eliminate the Indians from post-season play.

The K-Tribe jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first on back-to-back home runs by Carlos Rivero (a 3-run shot) and Jerad Head.

The Pelicans responded with 3 of their own in the bottom of the first against Indians starter Kelvin De La Cruz, before tying the game in 3rd inning on a 2-out RBI single by Jason Hayward to end De La Cruz night at 2.2IP allowing 4 runs (3 earned) off only 3 hits, but also 3 walks and 5Ks.

RHP Kyle Landis relieved and allowed the game to get away from the Indians in the 4th; Landis (0-2), allowed 4 runs in the 4th off 3 hits and a pair of walks to put the Pelicans ahead for good and saddle Landis with the loss.

The loss, coupled with the Warthogs win, snapped a streak of 7 straight years of making the Carolina League playoffs for the Indians.


Captains pitching pile-up Ks, but fall 2-1

Joanniel Montero struck out a team season-high 9 batters in 5 innings of work, but was saddled for a tough luck loss 2-1 at the hands of the Delmarva Shorebirds. Montero (4-7) allowed both runs on a 2-out, 2-run HR by Shorebirds CF Joseph Nowicki in the 3rd inning on his way to a 5IP, 3H, 2R/ER, 2BB, 9K night.

Paulo Espino relieved in the 6th and worked 2 hitless innings, walking 4 and striking out 5, before making way for Rob Bryson to begin the 8th. Bryson, acquired in the trade that sent CC Sabathia to Milwaukee, was making his first appearance since going on the DL on July 29th with a strained rotator cuff and ending up working a perfect inning with 2 strikeouts to give Captains pitching a combined 16Ks in their 8 innings of work.

Offensively the Captains did all their damage in the top 3rd on an RBI double by C Matt McBride. McBride, making a rare start behind the plate in his continued rehab from off-season shoulder surgery, finished the night 2-for-3 before being lifted in the 6th inning.

The Captains begin their final series of the regular season Saturday night, beginning a 3-game series in Hagerstown. The Captains will send RHP Chris Archer to the mound to start the series.


LaPorta, Hodges power Aeros to win

Matt LaPorta and Wes Hodges both homered and Stephen Wright pitched 6 brilliant innings to lead the Akron Aeros to a 3-1 win over the Erie Seawolves on Friday night.

The Aeros wasted no time getting on the board, jumping out in front in the very first inning. 2B Josh Rodriguez lead off the the game with a single and 1-out later he scored on Hodges 17th home run of the year and 4th in his last 8 games to stake the Aeros to a 2-0 lead and give Hodges 93RBI on the season, just 3 behind Chan Perry's franchise record set in 1997.

LaPorta followed that with a HR of his own to give the Aeros back-to-back HRs against Seawolves starter Luis Marte (4-4) in just LaPorta's second game since returning from Olympic duty.

The early 3 run lead would be more than enough cushion for the Aeros pitching staff; Stephen Wright (4-3), making his 15th start of the year for Akron, allowed just a first inning run on his way to a 6IP, 6H, 1R/ER, 1BB, 7K performance. LHP Tony Sipp came on to work the 7th and 8th innings allowing only one hit without a walk and recorded 5 strikeouts. Sipp, after some early struggles in AA following his return from TJ surgery, has been excellent over his last 10 appearances amassing a 0.60ERA (15IP, 1ER) with a very impressive 25:3 strikeout to walk ratio.

Randy Newsom worked a perfect 9th inning to record his 28th save with the Aeros on the season.

LaPorta finished the night 2-for-3 and Hodges 2-for-4 as the Aeros continue to tune up for their playoff series with Bowie beginning on Wednesday.


In other games...

- Buffalo defeat Pawtucket 2-0. LHP Scotty Lewis brilliant again with 6 scoreless innings (2H, 0BB, 6K) - Lewis, since scuffling in his AAA debut (4IP, 8H, 4ER), has combined for a 1.35ERA in the 3 starts since (20IP, 11H, 3ER, 1BB, 18K). Jeff Stevens made his return to the Herd from Olympic duty with a perfect inning recording 2Ks. Trevor Crowe (2-for-4), Josh Barfield (2-for-5) and Chris Gimenez (2-for-4) with multi-hit nights.

- Scrappers lose 9-4 at the hands of State College. PJ Zocchi (3-5) took the loss allowing 5ER in 4IP. Trey Haley made an unceremonious Scrappers debut allowing 3 runs in 1IP. Isaias Velasquez (3-for-5) and Cord Phelps (2-for-5) the only offensive standouts.

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