Game Recaps: Tuesday 4/21

Columbus loses late again, 3-2

On a night when the weather was suited more for playoff hockey than baseball, the Columbus Clippers couldn't hold two separate early leads and lost 3-2 Tuesday night to the Louisville Bats. Homer Bailey pitched six innings, allowing only two earned runs and six hits for the win.

Tomo Ohka had the start for the Clippers and looked good through 5 innings but ran into trouble in the sixth. Singles by Norris Hopper and Adam Rosales preceded a walk to Kevin Barker to load the bases for the Bats. Wes Bankston then lined a 1-1 pitch to center field to score Hopper and Rosales, giving the Bats the lead for good and ending the night for Ohka.

The scoring started in the second inning on a single by Stephen Head that plated Matt LaPorta. LaPorta would also have an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning that scored David Dellucci. The Bats other run came in the top of the fifth when Craig Tatum doubled down the left field line. Wes Bankston would score on the hit, but a relay throw by Valbuena would catch Daniel Dorn at the plate for the inning’s final out.

The Columbus Clippers and Louisville Bats will wrap up the three game series Wednesday morning at 11:35 am. Kirk Saarloos (0-2, 6.00) will take the mound for the Clippers and the Bats will counter with Ramon Ramirez (0-1, 6.30).

Aeros and Senators Rained Out Tuesday

Tuesday’s Eastern League contest between Akron and Harrisburg has been postponed because of rain. The game has been rescheduled as part of a doubleheader (two seven-inning games) on Wednesday, April 22nd starting at 10:30 a.m. Please note that this does not change the start time for the game already scheduled for Wednesday.

The Aeros and Senators will try again in the morning, with Akron sending Hector Rondon (2-0, 1.59 ERA) in game one and Frank Herrmann (1-1, 1.38 ERA) in game two against Harrisburg left-handers Mike O’Connor (0-0, 3.00 ERA) and Justin Jones (1-0, 0.00 ERA).

K-Tribe Wins, Take Over First Place

Kinston’s hot bats continued to sizzle as the K-Tribe pounded the Pelicans 15-5 Tuesday night in South Carolina. Kinston knocked out 12 hits on the evening as every player in their starting lineup reached base safely for the second straight night. The K-Tribe has now banged out double digit hits in six straight games. With their third straight win, Kinston (7-6) takes over first place in the Carolina League Southern Division.

The contest was close early as Kinston took a 3-0 lead into the sixth inning. The K-Tribe then sent ten men to the plate, scoring six runs. In the inning, Kinston took advantage of three Myrtle Beach walks and one hit batter. Kinston padded their lead in a five run seventh inning highlighted by a grand slam home run by Lonnie Chisenhall. Chisenhall went 1-for-5 with five RBI; it was his first home run of the season. Cord Phelps, Matt McBride, Matt Brown and Lucas Montero each had two hits for Kinston.

Eric Berger (1-1) pitched great for Kinston, giving up just one hit in five innings while striking out seven. Chen Chang Lee and Garrison Campfield finished up from the Kinston bullpen.

The K-Tribe will go for the three game sweeps Wednesday night in Myrtle Beach. Ryan Morris will take the hill for Kinston with a 7:05 pm start time.

Captains Blank BlueClaws 2-0

Nate Recknagel doubled home Karexon Sanchez and Chris Nash drove home Recknagel as the captains scored two runs in the ninth inning on their way to a 2-0 win over the Lakewood BlueClaws on Tuesday. All three wins on this current road trip have come in the Captains final at bat and it was the Captains third shutout of the season.

Captain’s starter Joey Mahalic threw five shutout innings allowing two hits and striking out one and did not get a decision. David Roberts came on in the sixth inning and went 2.2 scoreless innings striking out three. Steve Smith recorded the last out of the eighth inning and closed out the ninth inning to pick up the win and up his record to 1-1.

Jason Knapp started for Lakewood and did not get a decision either despite pitching seven scoreless innings and allowing only one hit and striking out thirteen. Ryan Bergh came on for the Claws in the eighth inning and went the final two innings allowing the games only runs and suffering the loss.

The series concludes on Wednesday at 6:35 PM when the Captains send LHP T.J. House (0-0, 2.08) to the mound against the Claws RHP Rob Roth (0-0, 2.70).

Posted in: