Game Recaps: Saturday 4/18

Constanza Everywhere in 7-3 Victory

BOWIE, MD – Jose Constanza collected three hits, scored three runs, stole two bases and made a pair of great catches in center field and Akron scored six times in the final four innings en route to a 7-3 win over Bowie before 6,418 fans at Prince George’s Stadium Saturday night. The Aeros improved to a season-high five games over .500 at 7-2, while the Baysox slipped back to the .500 mark at 5-5.

The teams traded runs in the first inning, and the Baysox pulled ahead in the third as Aeros starter Steven Wright lost command of the strike zone. With one away and the bases empty Wright walked Jonathan Tucker on four pitches and Brandon Snyder on five pitches before hitting Dave Krynzel to load the bases. Miguel Abreu then hit a slow roller to second to plate Tucker and put Bowie in front 2-1.

The Aeros took the lead for good in the top of the sixth, as Jerad Head led off with a double and Constanza beat out a bunt to put men on the corners. After Constanza stole second, Carlos Rivero tied the game with an RBI groundout to second as Constanza advanced to third with one away. Beau Mills followed with a ground ball to first that Brandon Snyder gloved cleanly and stepped on first for the out, but his throw to the plate sailed over the head of catcher Adam Donachie as Constanza scooted home to make it 3-2. Carlos Santana then capped the inning with a solo home run to left.

Bowie cut the margin to a single run in the seventh on Dave Krynzel’s two-out RBI single, but Head answered immediately with a solo bomb to left on the first pitch in the top of the eighth, restoring the two-run margin at 5-3. Constanza then beat out an infield single before swiping second, and after Rivero walked Mills ripped a two-run double into the right field corner to account for the final margin.

Akron relievers Carlton Smith and Michael Finocchi navigated some turbulent waters in the final two frames, as Smith gave up a walk and a single in a scoreless eighth and Finocchi issued a pair of walks in the ninth before Rivero and second baseman Josh Rodriguez teamed up for a pretty 6-4-3 double play for the final outs.

Erik Stiller (1-0) earned the win in relief, allowing two hits over two scoreless innings. Baysox starter Bobby Livingston (1-1) took the loss, giving up four runs and five hits in 5.2 innings. Constanza finished 3-4 with three runs scored, and also took away extra bases with fantastic running catches in the fourth and eighth, robbing Melvin Dorta and Donachie, respectively. Mills, who entered the game with three RBI on the season, went 2-4 with three RBI in the game and Head finished 2-3 and became the first Aero to notch two extra-base hits in a game this season.

The finale of this four-game series is set for 2:05 p.m. Sunday, as Akron left-hander Chuck Lofgren (0-0, 2.25 ERA) will look for his first win against Bowie’s Jason Berken (1-1, 5.63 ERA).

McBride Goes 3-for-5 with two homeruns for the K-Tribe

Kinston’s Matt McBride went 3-for-5 with two homeruns and three RBI, but Winston-Salem shut down the Indians bats late and escaped with a 4-3 victory Saturday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. McBride hit a solo shot to lead off the second inning, then followed it up with a two-run bomb in his next at bat in the third inning. With Kinston trailing by one with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, McBride drove one to the warning track but it was corralled by Winston-Salem’s Kyle Shelton to end the game.

The Dash scored their first three runs in the third inning on a bases loaded, three RBI triple by Greg Paiml. Before the big hit, K-Tribe shortstop Ronald Rivas mishandled a throw on a potential inning ending double play. Rivas was tagged with an error and the inning continued. Ryan Morris gave Kinston a strong start from the mound giving up four hits and three runs (two earned) in five innings. He walked three and struck out one. Dallas Cawiezell provided two innings of no hit relief, walking one and striking out two.

With the game tied at three, Chen-Chang Lee gave up a lead off double to Winston-Salem’s Jordan Danks in the top of the eighth. A sacrifice bunt by Paiml got Danks to third and an RBI sacrifice fly by James Gallagher drove in the winning run for Winston-Salem. Lee (0-1) picked up the loss for Kinston and Henry Mabee (1-0) got the win for Winston-Salem. Santo Luis notched the save fro the Dash.

The rubber match of the three game series comes up on Sunday afternoon at 2pm at Historic Grainger Stadium.

Shorebirds Beat Capains 2-1

(Salisbury, MD) – The Delmarva Shorebirds scored an unearned run in the bottom of the eighth inning and beat the Captains 2-1 on Saturday. The loss snapped a season high three game winning streak for Lake County.

The Captains took the lead in the top of the sixth inning when with runners at second and third and one out, Chris Nash grounded out to third scoring Abner Abreu and the Captains led 1-0. The Shorebirds tied it up in the bottom of the sixth inning when with two outs Ron Welty delivered a single that scored Jacob Julius.

Captain’s starter T.J. McFarland threw 5.2 innings and allowed one run on three hits, walking one and striking out four but did not factor in the decision. Mike McGuire followed McFarland and took the loss giving up an unearned in 2.1 innings of work allowing two hits and striking out one.

Nate Nery started for Delmarva and did not get a decision going 5.1 innings and allowing one run on five hits, walking two and striking out three. Raul Rivero relieved Nery and got the win pitching 2.2 scoreless innings walking two and striking out one. Brandon Cooney pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his second save.

The series concludes on Sunday 2:05 PM with the Captains sending LHP Russell Young (0-0, 11.25) to the mound against the Shorebirds RHP Oliver Drake (0-0, 1.50).

Other Games

Columbus lose their home opener 3-1. Lefty Jeremy Sowers went 6 innings and allowed 2 runs on 7 hits, 1 walk and had 8 strikeouts. Catcher Chris Gimenez broke out of an 0-for-22 slump to start the season before collecting three straight hits to end the game and finish 3-for-4 with a 2B. (More on this game in yesterday's post about the new ballpark)

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