Game Recaps: Wednesday 5/27

Lake County was postponed due to rain

Clippers take two in a row

Columbus struck first when Tony Graffanino homered to left field, giving the Clippers the early lead. However, Charlotte regained the lead in the top of the second inning via the long ball.

It didn't take the Clippers long as they struck for three runs in the bottom of the third, also coming via the long ball, thanks in part to Michael Aubrey's three run bomb.

Starter Jack Cassel went six innings, allowing three runs and eight hits, while also walking three.

Charlotte tied it again in the eighth, before the Clippers scored two in the bottom of the inning, to give them a 6-4 win.

Masa Kobayashi earned his first victory in the minors.

Aeros suspended

Wednesday’s match-up between the Aeros and Reading Phillies has been suspended due to rain and will be resumed as part of a doubleheader at 10:35 a.m. tomorrow morning (Thursday, May 27th) at Canal Park. Heavy rainfall stopped the game tonight in the top of the third inning with Akron pitcher Chuck Lofgren on the mound and Akron ahead by the score of 1-0. Any fans with tickets to tonight’s game may exchange them for tickets to any future Aeros home game in 2009, subject to availability. Exchanges must be made at Infield Outfitters or the Aeros Box Office.

Nick Weglarz smacked his fifth home run of the season against Reading starter Mike Stutes for the only run of the evening on the second pitch of the bottom of the second inning. Each team had two hits through two-and-a-half innings, and when the tarp came on the field at 7:46 p.m. there were two outs and a runner on first base in the top of the third for the visiting R-Phils.

The official call then came from the umpires at 9:10 p.m. stating this game will resume in its nine-inning entirety tomorrow morning. Approximately 20 minutes following the conclusion of game one, the regularly scheduled game for Thursday will take place as a seven-inning contest.

Thursday’s twin-bill begins at 10:35 a.m. for the final Education Day game of the season. The starters for game one are currently undetermined while Aeros left-hander Ryan Edell (1-0, 2.57 ERA) faces off against southpaw Gustavo Chacin (1-0, 1.80 ERA) of the Phillies in game two.

Kinston sweeps double header

After two straight days of rain, and more than 52 hours between pitches, the K-Tribe and P-Nats finally hit the field Wednesday at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia…it was worth the wait.

The K-Tribe won both games, taking the first 1-0 and the second 7-5 over Potomac. The K-Tribe is now just one game behind Salem for first place in the Carolina League Southern Division.

In the second game of the night, Kinston exploded for six runs on five hits in the first inning. The first seven K-Tribe hitters reached base safely, highlighted by RBI hits from Lonnie Chisenhall, Nate Recknagel, Alex Castillo and a bases loaded, bases clearing triple from Johnny Drennen. Potomac starter Colton Willems did not record an out before being replaced. Kinston ended up with eleven total hits in game two.

Kinston stayed on top, leading 7-3 going into the bottom of the seventh inning. Potomac would not say die, however, scoring two runs on three hits, a walk and a K-Tribe error, all coming with two outs in the inning. Kinston reliever Travis Turek came into the game to protect a 7-5 lead with the bases loaded and two outs. Turek used just three pitches to strike out Potomac’s Sean Rooney and end the game. Matt Meyer (2-1) picked up the win for Kinston.

In game one Kinston squeaked out a 1-0 win. The night’s first contest was a continuation of a suspended game from Monday which lasted just 1 1/3 innings before the rain poured in and halted play.

The game picked up in the top of the second inning with runners on first and second with one out for the K-Tribe. Lucas Montero promptly hit an infield single to load the bases, followed by a Matt Willard sacrifice fly to left field to knock in Johnny Drennen for what would end up being the lone run of the ballgame.

Kinston’s Paolo Espino started the game on Monday, but it was Ryan Morris who toed the rubber to start the remainder of the game on Wednesday. Morris (2-5), who has had an up-and-down year to date, had arguably his best outing of the season, working six innings of scoreless baseball, allowing just three hits while striking out five. Morris walked only one batter.

Potomac’s Tom Milone (3-2), filling in for Monday’s starter Brad Meyers (3-1), was equally as impressive on the hill for the Nationals. Milone pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing no runs, six hits, a walk and two strikeouts. The lone run of the ballgame was an unearned run, charged to Monday’s starter Brad Meyers who ended up with the loss.

The K-Tribe has a scheduled off day on Thursday, then the nine game road trip continues in Winston-Salem on Friday. The K-Tribe will take on the Dash at 7pm on Friday night to begin a three game weekend series.

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