Game Recaps: Sunday 5/3

Clippers Offense Quiet In Loss

It was a battle of pitching in the final game of the four-game series between Columbus and Durham, but the Bulls were a bit better en route to a 4-2 win over the Clippers to earn the series split.

Durham scored three runs in the second against Kirk Saarloos on only two hits, taking advantage of a walk and a hit batter. Half an inning later, Columbus answered for two runs with Wes Hodges and Andy Marte drive runs home. That was all the Clippers could scrape across against starter Wade Davis and the Bulls 'pen.

Davis went five innings, giving up six hits and three walks. Jason Isringhausen entered in the six inning throwing a 1-2-3 frame and making way for Randy Choate. Choate allowed a one-out double to Jordan Brown, but Winston Abreu came on to strike out the next two batters and pitch a perfect ninth for the save.

Saarloos pitched a complete game in the loss, allowing four runs, three earned on seven hits, while walking two and striking out two.

The Clippers head to Norfolk Monday for a four-game series with the Tides. Jeremy Sowers looks for his second win of the season as he faces off with Norfolk left-hander Rich Hill.

Aeros and Baysox Rained Out Sunday

BOWIE, MD – The Eastern League tilt between Akron and Bowie was rained out Sunday afternoon, thus denying the Aeros a chance at their second straight series sweep. No makeup date was immediately announced.

Akron continues its weeklong road trip at 6:35 p.m. Monday evening in Altoona, as Hector Rondon (4-0, 1.17 ERA) will take on Jared Hughes (0-3, 2.35 ERA) at Blair County Ballpark.

K-Tribe Comes back to beat Lynchburg 6-3

A three-run home run by Kinston’s backup catcher Richard Martinez in the top of the eighth inning erased a one run defecit, as the K-Tribe defeated Lynchburg 6-3 in comeback fashion Sunday afternoon in Virginia. With the win Kinston (13-11) stays in first place in the Carolina League Southern Division. Kinston takes the series from Lynchburg (14-10) winning the final two games of the three game set.

Soggy conditions highlighted the day as both teams struggled through steady rain with the score tied at two until the bottom of the seventh inning. In the seventh Lynchburg’s Miles Durham led off with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Maiko Loyola to put the Hillcats up 3-2. Kinston would comeback in the top of the eight, as Matt McBride led off the inning with a single. Still at first base with two-outs in the inning, McBride was pushed to third base on a two-out single by Roman Pena. The hit extended the inning allowing catcher Richard Martinez to step in and hit a three-run home run one batter later. It was the first long ball of the season for Martinez, giving Kinston a 5-3 lead. The Tribe would then add some insurance with an RBI single by Cord Phelps later in the inning. Every K-Triber in the lineup reached base safely as Kinston banged out eleven hits on the day. Matt McBride extended his hit streak to 17 games, going 2-for-5 with two runs scored; he is now hitting .404 on the season. Kinston is now 5-0 in day games this season.

Kinston starter Zach Putnam put in a gutsy performance, pitching through rain for six innings, giving up three hits and just one earned run in the no decision. Heath Taylor (1-1) picked up the win in relief, giving up one hit and one earned run in two innings. Dallas Cawiezell picked up his second save of the season, pitching a scoreless ninth inning.

Kinston continues their roadtrip heading to Salem, Virginia for four games against the Red Sox. It will be a battle for first place in the Carolina League Southern Division starting Monday at 7:07 pm. Ryan Morris is scheduled to make the start for the K-Tribe.

Captans Race By Intimidators 4-3

Donnie Webb had three hits and drove in two runs to lead the Lake County Captains to a 4-3 defeat of the Kannapolis Intimidators on Sunday. The Captains and Intimidators split the four game series with three of the four games decided by one run. The Captains went 4-3 on the road trip.

The Captains took the lead in the top of the third inning when Matt Willard doubled and then scored on a double by Donnie Webb. Webb scored on a single by Walter Diaz and the Captains led 2-0. The Intimidators cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third inning when Sergio Morales singled home Eduardo Escobar and it was 2-1. The Captains answered with a run in the top of the fourth inning when Webb singled home Willard to make it 3-1.

The Captains added another run in the top of the fifth inning when Adam Abraham singled home Abner Abreu to up the lead to 4-1. The Intimidators inched closer scoring a run in the fifth inning when Tyler Kuhn scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Escobar and it was 4-2. The Intimidators made it 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning when Joe Persichina singled home John Curtis.

Captain’s starter Alexander Perez got his first win (1-0) going five innings and allowing two runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out four. Steve Smith pitched a scoreless ninth inning and got his fourth save.

Intimidator’s starter Charlie Leesman took the loss (3-1) lasting 4.2 innings allowing four runs on eight hits, walking four and striking out three.

The Captains return to Classic Park on Tuesday for an eight game home stand beginning with four games versus the Hickory Crawdads, the class A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. On Tuesday, the Captains will have T.J. McFarland (0-0, 7.13) on the mound against RHP Carlos Pimentel (0-1, 3.92).

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