Game Recaps: Friday 6/12

Columbus tops Louisville 2-1 in extras

The Clippers beat Louisville 2-1 in ten innings on Friday at Huntington Park.
Jack Cassel and Homer Bailey put on a pitching clinic for the 10,751 fans in attendance. Neither factored in the decision, but the third largest crowd this season witnessed the first extra inning game in Huntington Park history. Niuman Romero scored from second on an error by the Louisville's Kevin Barker with one out in the tenth for the Clippers victory.

Cassel pitched seven spectacular innings for the Clippers, allowing only four hits and one unearned run while striking out five. Tony Sipp and Vinnie Chulk combined to pitch three perfect innings in relief and the trio combined to retire the last 17 Bats of the game.

The Bats scored an unearned run in the second when Matt LaPorta committed an error on a hard grounder at first base. Darnell McDonald followed with a single and Danny Richer brought home the run with a bunt single.

Bailey was impressive for Louisville, leaving with two outs in the ninth after allowing six hits and one run. The run scored against Bailey in the sixth inning was the first allowed in over twenty consecutive innings by the right-hander.

After Cannizaro started the sixth inning with a single, Aubrey followed with a single and Andy Marte singled home the tying run. Aubrey was thrown out trying to score following Cannizaro, but the game was tied at 1-1.

Romero led off the tenth with a single off Bats reliever Jeff Kennard, who replaced Bailey in the ninth. Michael Brantley followed with a sacrifice bunt, Cannizaro walked and Aubrey's ground ball went through Kevin Barker's legs to end the game.

The Clippers earned the first extra innings win at home win since September 1, 2006. The series continues Saturday at 7:05pm with lefty Zach Jackson (3-4, 3.24) facing right-hander Justin Lehr (7-2, 4.22).

Sea Dogs Shutout Aeros 1-0

The 6,612 fans at Canal Park Friday night witnessed a pitcher’s duel throughout as the Portland Sea Dogs defeated the Aeros by the final score of 1-0. Jake Westbrook was impressive in his four innings of work in his second rehab start for Akron, but the Sea Dogs manufactured the only run of the evening in the sixth as their pitching staff allowed just five hits. It was the seventh time this season the Aeros were shutout, and while they dropped to 38-21 they maintained a three-game lead over Reading in the Southern Division. Portland improved to 31-29.

The lone run of the evening came through in the top of the sixth inning against Akron relief pitcher Zach Putnam. Putnam walked Reid Engel, and Mark Wagner’s two-out double broke the scoreless tie and gave the Portland pitching staff all the support they would need. It was also the second time this year that the Aeros lost by the final score of 1-0 at home, a feat that also occurred May 22nd against the Erie SeaWolves.

Westbrook, who made his second rehab start on the one-year anniversary of his Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery, held the Sea Dogs to three hits while striking out three in four innings of work. He needed only 45 pitches to get through the Portland lineup, and was helped in the fourth when catcher Carlos Santana blocked the plate and tagged out a sprawling Argenis Diaz to keep the Sea Dogs off the board. Westbrook has now worked seven scoreless innings in his two rehab starts with the Aeros, and will continue his trek back to Cleveland with the Class AAA Columbus Clippers next week.

Portland’s Felix Doubront (4-2) matched Westbrook’s impressive start with five shutout frames of his own, allowing only four hits while striking out a pair. Sea Dogs relievers Chris Province and Andrew Dobies preserved the lead up until closer T.J. Large recorded the final two outs and earned his seventh save of the season. Putnam (1-2) took the loss for the Aeros, as they dropped only their second game in their last seven.

Cristo Arnal, Beau Mills, Carlos Rivero and Santana all registered singles for Akron, while scorching John Drennen knocked his 12th double of the year and his seventh in 11 games during the month of June. The Aeros were only 1-6 with men in scoring position for the night, as their best rally came in the eighth inning against Dobies. Santana’s single came with runners on first and second, but Portland’s Iggy Suarez, in his first game at left field on the season, threw out Arnal at home plate to end the eighth.

Game two of this series is Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. for Busson Digital Printing Team Poster Giveaway Night and the second U.S. Army night of the season. The first 2,500 fans inside the gates will receive free team posters courtesy of Busson, and the Aeros will be sporting their new alternate camouflage uniforms for the occasion. Left-hander Ryan Edell (1-0, 2.56 ERA) takes the mound for the Aeros against Portland’s Junichi Tazawa (7-3, 2.67), who is currently tied for the Eastern League lead in wins.

Lynchburg Spoils Pink in the Park Night, Wins Opener 6-2

A five-run fifth inning was all the Hillcats needed to win the series opener at Historic Grainger Stadium over the K-Tribe, 6-2, on Kinston’s the first ever Pink in the Park night.

Kinston’s pink jerseys didn’t bring them any luck as Kinston starter Ryan Morris (3-7) gave up five runs on six hits, five walks and three strikeouts in just 4 1/3 innings of work. All those five runs came in the fatal fifth inning, where Lynchburg had six straight batters reach with one out before a two-out two RBI single from Alex Presley.

Kinston’s offense was held in check by Lynchburg starter Ronald Uviedo (4-3) who worked five shutout innings, allowing just three hits, a walk and five strikeouts.

Kinston’s two runs came in the eighth inning when Adam Davis knocked in Lucas Montero with an RBI groundout, and then Cord Phelps singled home Nate Recknagel to cut the lead to three. The Indians brought the tying run to the plate in the form of Matt Brown, but on the first pitch he saw from Hillcats reliever Michael Dubee, Brown grounded out to first base.

Lynchburg is now an incredible 18-1 in series openers.

Kinston and Lynchburg do battle again in game two of this three game series tomorrow night at 7 pm. Kinston’s Bryce Stowell (0-1) will take the mound for the K-Tribe.

BlueClaws Stop Captains 5-2

The Lake County Captains rallied back in the bottom of the ninth inning but fell short falling to the first place Lakewood BlueClaws 5-2 on Friday. The Captains were able to get the tying run to the plate but could not get any closer.

The BlueClaws got to Captains starter T.J. House quickly scoring a run in the first inning when Anthony Gose tripled and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Travis d’Arnaud and it was 1-0. In the top of the sixth inning with the bases loaded, Captains reliever David Roberts uncorked a wild pitch that scored d’Arnaud and it went to 2-0. Roberts had inherited a bases loaded situation. The BlueClaws made it 4-0 in the top of the seventh inning when Harold Garcia tripled home a run and then scored on a single by d’Arnaud.

The Captains got on the board in the bottom of the seventh inning when Abner Abreu reached on an infield single that scored Karexon Sanchez to make it 4-1. It went to 5-1 in the top of the ninth inning when Travis Mattair tripled and scored on a wild pitch by Eddie Burns.

Captains’ starter T.J. House (1-7) took the loss working 5.1 innings and allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits, walking two and striking out five. BlueClaws starter Jesus Sanchez (2-4) got the win pitching six innings and allowing one run on four hits, walking one and striking out four. B.J. Rosenberg inherited two runners on in the ninth with no outs and was able to close out the game to pick up his ninth save.

The Captains and BlueClaws play game two of the three game series on Saturday at 7:00PM. The Captains will start LHP Chris Jones (1-0, 0.00) and the BlueClaws will counter with RHP Jon Velasquez (5-2, 4.76).

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