Game Recaps: Thursday 5/7

Captains swept in double-header

The Clippers continued the recent history of struggles against the Norfolk Tides in double-header sweep Thursday afternoon, falling 5-2 and 4-3.

David Huff (4-1 4.05), pitching from behind in the count most of the day, found a way out. He allowed two runs in the first inning, but followed by retiring ten consecutive batters.

The Clippers tied the game in the third when Wes Hodges and Michael Aubrey hit back-to-back RBI singles. The offense dinged Tides starter Chris Tillman for seven hits in six innings, but Columbus couldn't string anything together against him outside the third.

The sixth inning was the difference in the game. With the score tied at two, the Clippers threatened Tillman with runners on the corners, but could not break the tie. In the bottom of the sixth, Huff walked the leadoff man and Matt Weiters doubled him home to put Norfolk ahead. After another walk, Huff left in exchange for Randy Newsome who proceeded to walk the first batter he faced. Newsom then allowed a two-run single to Mike Costanzo to make it 5-2.

Columbus loaded the bases in the seventh, but came way scoreless in a 5-2 defeat.

In the second half of the twin bill, the Tides jumped out to a 2-0 lead after scoring twice in the third off Frank Herrmann (0-0 6.00). Herrmann relieved starter Greg Aquino after just one inning of work.

The Clippers battled back to score three in the fourth thanks to the bottom-third of the order. After a lead-off double by Michael Aubrey and a one-out walk to Wes Hodges, Wyatt Toregas drove home Aubrey with a sacrifice fly. Cristo Arnal followed with a double and Wilson Valdez drove in two runs with a single.

Herrmann left with the lead after the fourth inning, but once again the bullpen could not seal the deal. Ryan Edell entered and quickly gave up two runs on a Scott Moore double to give the Tides the advantage. The Clippers got the tying run on base in the seventh, but could not score, falling 4-3.

Aeros split double-header

The Akron Aeros and the Altoona Curve split Thursday’s doubleheader after three straight days of rain postponed games. The Aeros took game one by the final score of 5-1 to extend their winning streak to six games. In game two, the Curve snapped that streak with an 8-2 victory before 4,724 fans at Blair County Ballpark. Akron now stands at 19-5 on the season, while Altoona is 7-18.

In game one, Hector Rondon (5-0 1.23) came to the mound after eight days of rest, and proceeded to retire the first 14 hitters that he faced. He carried a perfect game into the fifth inning before a Steve Lerud bloop single to center field broke up the gem. The Aeros got Rondo a run immediately in the first with a two-out single to right by Beau Mills. Carlos Santana followed that up in the third with an RBI double to the wall in left-center to give the Aeros an early 2-0 advantage.

Another run came in the third as Jose Constanza put down a bunt single to open the inning, and eventually came around to score on a double play ball hit by Mills. Two more runs came around in the fifth inning on a Carlos Rivero sacrifice fly scoring Jerad Head and a wild pitch scoring Constanza. Then in the seventh inning, two straight hits chased Rondon out of the game and Neil Wagner came on to close the books on a 5-1 victory for the Aeros.

The Aeros never led in game two of the doubleheader, as Altoona picked up three runs in the first inning off spot-starter Erik Stiller (1-1 4.60) despite only having one infield single in the entire frame. One run scored on a fielder’s choice, while the other two came around on a Damaso Espino throwing error and then an Espino pass ball. The Aeros cut the lead to a single run in the top of the third on an RBI single from Constanza and an RBI groundout from Rivero.

Altoona answered back with two runs in the bottom of the third. Pedro Lopez scored on the first Aeros balk of the year, courtesy of reliever Carlton Smith. Brad Corley then came around to score on a sacrifice fly to give the Curve a 5-2 advantage. Corley struck again with a solo home run in the fifth inning to bump up the lead, and then the Curve brought in two more runs in the bottom of the sixth off Josh Judy to bring the final score to 8-2 on the afternoon.

Game two ended the Akron Aeros six-game winning streak, while also two hitting streaks were snapped during the games. Niuman Romero ended his five-game hitting streak by going 0-3 in game one, and then Damaso Espino brought an end to his five-game streak with an 0-3 performance in game two.

Kinston sweeps double-header

Kinston jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first off an RBI single from Lonnie Chisenhall.

In the fifth, the K-Tribe struck for four more runs. Cord Phelps hit an RBI single, driving in Roman Pena. The next man to the plate, Lonnie Chisenhall, doubled to center field, scoring Alex Castillo and Cord Phelps. It didn't stop there. Then, Matt McBride doubled to center, scoring Chisenhall.

The K-Tribe could not ask for a better pitching performance in game one. Starter Eric Berger (3-1 1.55) pitched six strong innings, allowing two hits, while walking two and punching out four.

Kinston scored two more in the seventh when they hit for four straight hits. With one out, Cord Phelps singled to left. Next at bat, Lonnie Chisenhall, hit his second double of the game. Matt McBride followed that up by singling to right, scoring Phelps and Chisenhall. Matt Brown also doubled, but McBride stopped at third and he would not score.

Kinston would go on to win the first game 7-0.

In the second game of the double-header, the K-Tribe struck for two early runs with a sac fly off the bat of Matt McBride and a single from John Allman. They would give a run back in the bottom half of the first.

Starter Russell Young (0-1 7.00) went five innings, allowing three hits, an unearned run, and a walk, while striking out one.

Heath Taylor replaced Young in the sixth and gave up two runs, giving Salem a 3-2 lead.

Kinston didn't go down easy and fought back in the top of the seventh. Matt McBride hit a bomb of a home run, which scored Chisenhall, giving them a 4-3 in which they didn't relinquish.

McBride is now hitting .421 on the year, which leads the Carolina League. He also leads the league with his 48 hits, 14 2B, 35 RBI, 1.170 OPS, and .720 SLG; nearly every offensive category.

Captains win big

Chris Nash had two doubles and five RBI's and Abner Abreu added three extra base hits and four RBI's as the Captains rolled to a 14- 6 victory over the Hickory Crawdads on Thursday in front of the largest crowd of the year at Classic Park. Every Captain in the starting line up reached base at least twice.

The Captains got to Hickory starter Cliff Springston in the first inning when with two runners on, Chris Nash doubled scoring Donnie Webb and Mark Thompson. Abner Abreu scored Nash with a double and the Captains led 3-0. The Captains added to the lead in the bottom of third inning when Abreu doubled and scored on a single by Jeremie Tice. Tice was thrown out trying to go to second on the play. Michael Valadez followed with a solo home run, his first of the year, and it was 5-0.

The Captains added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning when Adam White led off the inning with his first home run of the season. With Webb at second and Karexon Sanchez at first, Nash doubled which scored both runners and it was 8-0.

The Crawdads came storming back in the top of the fifth inning. Doug Hogan led off the inning with a home run and Jake Kaase followed with a three run shot and it was 8-4.

The Captains added six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning highlighted with by a three run triple by Abreu and the Captains led 14-4. The Crawdads picked up a run in the eighth and ninth inning to end the scoring.

Captain's starter Joey Mahalic did not get a decision going 4.1 innings and allowing four runs on six hits, walking two and striking out five. Mike McGuire got the win hurling 2.2 innings and allowing a run on one hit, walking one and striking out three.

Springston took the loss going 3.1 innings and allowing eight runs on eight hits walking three and striking out two.

The Captains and Crawdads will play a doubleheader at Classic Park on Friday with the first game starting at 4:30 PM.

Posted in: