Game Recaps: Friday 4/24

Columbus Pounds Out 9-7 Win

Columbus got a hard fought 9-7 win on Friday night, getting very good starting pitching and lots of offense in a game that was not as close as the final score indicated. Some bullpen issues late in the game made it a lot closer than it should have been.

Right-hander Jack Cassel got the win and was very good going seven innings allowing just two runs, six hits, one walk while piling up six strikeouts. Ryan Edell and John Meloan pitched the final two frames and combined to pitch two innings and give up six hits, five runs, and two walks.

Once again it was the Matt LaPorta show on offense as the right-handed slugger went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, a home run, and two RBI. LaPorta is now hitting .370 on the season and his four home runs on the season are tied for 2nd in the International League.

Third baseman Wes Hodges also chipped in going 3-for-5 (all singles) and second baseman Luis Valbuena went 3-for-4 with a double, triple, and three RBI.

Aeros and Curve Split in Twin Bill

AKRON, OH - Akron took game one of Friday's doubleheader 3-2 before Altoona rallied late to claim the nightcap 8-5 in a marathon affair that lasted more than six hours before 3,547 fans at Canal Park. The Aeros are 12-3 on the year while the Curve sit at 4-11.

Steven Wright threw a gem in game one and departed in line for his second win of the season, but Altoona rallied to tie the game with a run in the top of the seventh off closer Vinnie Pestano. The Aeros bailed him out in the ninth however, as John Drennen walked with one out and scored all the way from first on Mickey Hall's game-winning RBI double to left-center. It was Akron's first extra-innings game of the year.

The Aeros were in good shape again in game two, as Drennen's two-run triple in the bottom of the fifth pushed Akron in front at 5-4. Altoona roared back with four runs in the top of the seventh off newcomer Josh Judy however, with Jason Delaney's two-run triple putting the Curve in front for good and RBI hits from Brad Corley and Angel Gonzalez providing insurance.

Randy Newsom (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings in game one for the win, while Altoona's Jean Machi (1-1) took the loss in relief. Eric Krebs (1-2) was the winner in game two as Judy (0-1) allowed three runs in 1.2 innings in his Eastern League debut. Jose Constanza led the offensive charge in game one with a 3-4 performance, while Drennen and Niuman Romero both drove in two runs in game two. Game one started officially at 6:06 p.m. and game two ended at 12:09 a.m.

The clubs are back at it Saturday afternoon at 1:35 p.m., as Akron southpaw Chuck Lofgren (1-0, 1.80 ERA) will square off against fellow left-hander Daniel Moskos (1-0, 6.10 ERA).

Hillcats Scratch Kinston 4-1

Lynchburg held Kinston scoreless for the final eight innings of the game, clipping Kinston 4-1 Friday night at Historic Grainger Stadium.

The K-Tribe got on the board first, as Cord Phelps reached on a double and was driven home by an RBI single from Lonnie Chisenhall. Chisenhall (1-for-4 on the night) now leads the Carolina League with 18 RBI, he has now hit safely in ten straight games. Phelps and Ronald Rivas each had two hits for Kinston.

Lynchburg got all the runs they needed in the top of the third inning. The Hillcats scored three runs on just one hit, using three walks, an error and a hit batter from Kinston starter Ryan Miller to take a 3-1 lead. Miller (0-1) took the loss giving up three unearned runs on three hits and five walks in four innings. Miller struck out four batters. Jonathan Holt gave Kinston a great performance from the bullpen, giving up just two hits and no runs through three innings. Mike Pontius made his first appearance of the season for Kinston, giving up an earned run in 1 2/3 innings. Dallas Cawiezell came in to get the last out in the top of the ninth inning. Lynchburg starter Paul Mildren notched the win for Lynchburg; R.J. Rodriguez got his league leading sixth save of the season.

The K-Tribe returns to Historic Grainger Stadium Saturday night for game two of the four game series. Game time 7pm, Jeanmar Gomez will take the hill for Kinston.

Shorebirds Topple Captains 5-1

Tyler Kolodny had two RBI’s and the Delmarva pitching staff limited the Captains to five hits as the Shorebirds defeated the Captains 5-1 on Friday. The Shorebirds and Captains have split the first two games of the three game series.

The Shorebirds scored two runs in the top of the second inning when Kyle Hudson doubled to left scoring Brendan Monaghan from first base. The Captains threw home trying to get Monaghan and the throw got away allowing Hudson to score to make it 2-0. The Captains cut the lead to 2-1 when Adam Abraham tripled and then scored when Michael Valadez grounded out scoring Abraham.

The Shorebird added a run in the top of the sixth inning on Tyler Kolodny’s first home run of the year and it was 3-1. Delmarva scored two more runs in the top of the eighth inning on a RBI double by Elvin Polanco and a RBI singe by Kolodny and it was 5-1.

Captain’s starter T.J. McFarland took the loss going 4.1 innings and allowing two runs, one earned on six hits, walking four and striking out four. David Roberts came on with one out in the fifth inning and went 2.2 innings and allowed one run on one hit and struck out two. Matt Langwell followed Roberts in the eighth inning and three 1.2 innings allowing two runs. Anillins Martinez came on I the ninth inning and got the final out.

Ryan O’Shea got the win for Delmarva going five innings and allowing one run on six hits, walking two and striking out seven. Patrick Egan pitched two scoreless innings allowing a walk and striking out one. Colin Allen pitched the last two innings and did not allow a run.

The Captains and Shorebirds wrap up the series on Saturday at 6:30 PM with the Captains sending LHP Russell Young (0-0, 6.75) to the mound against LHP Nate Nery (1-0, 2.38) for Delmarva.

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