Game Recaps: Thursday 5/28

The Kinston Indians had a scheduled day off, while the Lake County Captains game was postponed due to rain conditions.

Clippers win third straight

Five Clippers pitchers combined for a 6-4 win over the Charlotte Knights on Thursday.

The game was scoreless until the fifth inning when the Knights jumped on Clippers pitcher Frank Herrmann for four runs. Singles by Andy Phillips and Donny Lucy were followed by a three run home run by Brent Lillibridge. Another run was added after a double by Gordon Beckham and an RBI single by Dewayne Wise.

Chris Gimenez got the Clippers first hit in the fifth against Jose Contreras, smacking a double. After Andy Marte walked, Clippers newcomer Nuiman Romero blooped a double down the left field line plating Gimenez and Marte. Charlotte Manager Chris Chambliss was ejected after arguing that Romero was tagged out at second. Michael Brantley then stroked a two run homer tying the score 4-4. Knights second baseman Andy Phillips was tossed after Brantley's homer, still disputing the previous play.

Mickey Hall slammed his first home run in the seventh, a solo blast to left. Brantley reached, stole second and scored on a single by Josh Barfield to put the Clippers up 6-4.

Vinnie Chulk then pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up the save. Rich Rundles earned the win after two scoreless innings. Steven Wright, making his first start delivered three innings of shutout work.

Aeros split double header

The Aeros and Reading Phillies split Thursday's doubleheader, with Akron taking game one 6-5 and losing game two by the final of 2-1 in front of 8,730 fans on the final Education Day of the season at Canal Park. Wednesday's suspended game resumed with two outs in the top of the third inning, and a seven-inning affair following the nine-inning continuation. The Aeros won game one in stunning fashion with a three-run final frame thanks to the contributions of Nick Weglarz, while the offense sputtered in game two against the Reading pitching staff. The Phillies won two of three in the series, as Akron now stands at 32-13 on the season while Reading is 25-20.

Akron came into today's first game on top 1-0 thanks to a Weglarz home run in the bottom of the second yesterday evening, but Reading immediately struck back with a three-run third inning against Aeros reliever Scott Roehl. Roehl permitted three consecutive hits, including a two-out, two-run double to Neil Sellers to give the visitors the 3-1 advantage. Reading put up two more runs in the top of the sixth inning on back-to-back home runs against Roehl to push the edge to 5-1.

The furious rally from the Aeros began in the bottom of the sixth when Weglarz hit his second home run of the game scoring Matt McBride. Down 5-3 entering the ninth inning, the Aeros charged back with one out, as an error by Ozzie Chavez at short brought McBride to first. Weglarz walked to put two men on base, and Jared Goedert then plated McBride with a single to give the Aeros their first run of the inning. Pinch-hitter Carlos Santana grounded out to first for the second out, but Weglarz broke up the double play by pummeling through Phillies catcher Tuffy Gosewisch, scoring the tying run and keeping the inning alive. Damaso Espino ended it immediately afterwards with a single to left, scoring Goedert and giving the Aeros their third walk-off victory this year.

Zach Putnam (1-0) earned the win for the Aeros in the first game by pitching a scoreless ninth to improve his scoreless streak to eight consecutive frames. Francisco Butto (1-1) of the Phillies took the loss by permitting all three runs (none earned) in the ninth, blowing his second save of the season and ending Reading's five-game winning streak. Beau Mills, Weglarz, Goedert and Espino all had two hits on the afternoon, while Weglarz led the way with his three RBI and three runs scored.

The second game was a classic pitcher's duel between Akron starter Ryan Edell and Alex Concepcion of the Phillies, as the game remained scoreless entering the seventh inning. Aeros closer Vinnie Pestano came in to pitch the top of that frame and allowed a leadoff double to Gus Milner before walking Brian Stavisky. Both runs came around on an Ozzie Chavez single, and Weglarz's third home run of the day in the bottom the inning was not enough to give the Aeros the doubleheader sweep.

Pestano (2-1) took the loss in his first action since May 23rd, while Chance Chapman (1-0) picked up the win for Reading by delivering a shutout sixth inning. Reading closer Mike Zagurski permitted the home run to Weglarz but survived with his second save.

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