Game Recaps: Saturday 4/11

Columbus Drops Doubleheader

The Columbus Clippers lost both games of their doubleheader on Saturday night, losing the first game 5-1 and the nightcap 5-4. Both games were seven innings because of the doubleheader to makeup the rainout on Friday night.

In the first game, lefty Aaron Laffey only went 3.1 innings and threw 60 pitches before being removed, possibly setting him up for a callup to Cleveland to assume the 5th starter spot with lefty Scott Lewis going on the disabled list. In his 3.1 innings he allowed 5 runs on 6 hits, 2 walks and had 1 strikeout. Right-hander John Meloan was sensational in relief, throwing 2.2 shutout innings allowing just 1 hit, no walks and piled up 4 strikeouts. Outfielder Matt LaPorta went 2-for-3 with a 3B and designated hitter Michael Aubrey was 2-for-3 with a 3B and RBI.

In the second game, right-hander Tomo Ohka got the spot start going 6 innings and allowed 4 runs on 6 hits, 1 walk and had 3 strikeouts. Outfielder Michael Brantley went 1-for-3 with a 3B and 2 RBI, and third baseman Wes Hodges went 1-for-2 with an RBI to lead the offense.

Aeros Claim Unsightly Affair, 12-2

AKRON, OH – Four Aeros drove in two runs apiece and the teams combined to commit seven errors and issue a dozen walks as Akron blew out Bowie 12-2 before 1,853 fans at Canal Park Saturday afternoon. The Aeros (3-1) took three of four from the Sox in the season-opening series.

Walks had been the theme of the series in the first three games, and the finale was no exception as Baysox starter Brandon Erbe issued three free passes in the bottom of the second and watched as all three runners came in to score to stake Akron to an early 3-0 lead. Bowie responded with two runs in the top of the third to cut the margin to a single run, but Akron took control of the contest in the bottom of the fourth.

Nick Weglarz started the rally with a walk from reliever Freddy Deza, and after Jeff Fiorentino made a diving grab in left field to save a double Deza walked Josh Rodriguez and allowed an RBI double to John Drennen to make it 4-2. Damaso Espino followed with an RBI groundout, and Jose Constanza then chopped an RBI triple inside the first base bag and came around to score when Melvin Dorta’s relay throw skipped past Jonathan Tucker at third base and down the left field line, pushing the lead to 7-2.

Carlos Santana laced an RBI single to right in the seventh to make it 8-2, and a bases-loaded walk to Espino, a two-run single from Mickey Hall, and a sac fly from Santana capped the scoring as the Aeros pushed across four more runs in the eighth.

Steven Wright (1-0) earned his first career win at Canal Park after going 0-3 in eight starts here last season (he was 4-0 on the road). Wright allowed two runs and scattered seven hits across five frames, walking one and striking out four. Erik Stiller, Randy Newsom, and Michael Finocchi combined for the final four innings and did not allow a hit. Constanza paced the offense with two hits (he departed in the seventh with hamstring tightness), while Hall, Santana, Drennen and Espino collected two RBI each. Seven of the 10 Aeros who reached via a walk came in to score, and Baysox pitching issued an eye-popping total of 32 free passes in 33 innings in the series.

The Aeros will enjoy an off day on Easter Sunday before returning to action Monday evening with a 7:05 p.m. tilt against Altoona at Canal Park. Left-hander Chuck Lofgren (2-6, 5.99 ERA for Akron in 2008) will start for the Aeros against Curve southpaw Daniel Moskos (7-7, 5.95 ERA with Class A Lynchburg in 2008).

Winston-Salem Beats Kinston 6-0

Behind a solid Carolina League debut for Winston Salem starter Charlie Shirek, the Dash shutout the K-Tribe 6-0 Saturday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. Shirek pitched six innings, giving up just four hits, while striking out two. Dash reliever Matt Zaleski picked up the save, pitching three innings of no hit ball.

The Dash got the only run they needed, when Salvador Sanchez singled with the bases loaded in the third inning, driving in Adam Ricks. Eric Berger picks up the loss for Kinston, giving up four hits and two earned runs in his Carolina League debut. Jonathan Holt pitched two inning of hitless relief for Kinston. Matt Meyer and Dallas Cawiezell came in late from the bullpen for Kinston.

The K-Tribe tries to take the final game of the four game series Sunday afternoon at 2pm at Historic Grainger Stadium. Zach Putnam will make his Carolina League debut, starting for Kinston.

SUNS BEAT CAPTAINS IN 11 INNINGS

(Eastlake, OH) – Ronnie LeBrie singled home Michael Guerrero in the top of the eleventh inning and for the second time in two nights the Hagerstown Suns defeated the Captains in extra innings, this time 6-4. All three games in the series have gone to extra innings.

The Suns took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning on a home run by Derek Norris. The Captains came right back in the bottom of the fourth when Jeremie Tice and Karexon Sanchez hit back to back home runs to give the Captains a 2-1 lead. The Captains added to the lead when Sanchez homered again in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it 3-1. Sanchez would end the game with four hits and three RBI.

The Suns took the lead in the ninth inning when they plated three unearned runs on RBI’s from Michael Guerrero, Marcus Jones and Ronnie LeBrie. The Captains tied it at 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth inning on a RBI singe by Sanchez that scored Mark Thompson from second base and the game went to extra innings.

Alexander Perez got the start for the Captains and went six innings allowing one run on three hits while striking out six and did not factor in the decision. Paolo Espino gave up two runs in the eleventh inning to take the loss. David Slovak pitched 1.2 scoreless relief innings for the Suns to get the win and Justin Phillabaum worked the eleventh inning to notch the save.

Nate Recknagel and Chris Nash both added two hits each for the Captains. The series concludes on Sunday at 1:00PM with LHP Ryan Miller getting the nod for the Captains and LHP Ricardo Pecina for the Suns.

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