Game Recaps: Monday 6/29

Clippers drop fifth straight

The Clippers lost to the Durham Bulls 4-3 Monday in the continuation of a four-game series at Huntington Park.

The third inning started the scoring when Michael Brantley knocked the first hit of the game to center field. After a walk to Trevor Crowe, Jordan Brown reached first on an error to load the bases. Matt LaPorta was hit by a pitch driving home a run.

The Clippers lead did not last; Reid Brignac doubled and came home on Matt Joyce's homer to put Durham up 2-1.

The Clippers regained the upper hand 3-2 in the sixth scoring a pair of runs. Brown and LaPorta opened with back-to-back singles and Tony Graffanino reached on a fielder's choice, forcing-out LaPorta. Andy Marte singled scoring Brown and with two outs Wyatt Toregas scored Graffanino on a hit.

The Clippers once again failed to keep the lead after Jon Weber singled, reached second on a wild pitch and scored on Ray Olmedo's single. The Clippers replaced starter Kenny Ray with Jensen Lewis, who gave up a run scoring double to Reid Brignac and putting the Bulls ahead to stay 4-3.

The Clippers try to avoid the sweep Tuesday when Kirk Saarloos takes the mound against Carlos Hernandez. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm.

Mets Split Series, Win 1-0 in 10 Innings

The visiting Binghamton Mets defeated the Aeros 1-0 in 10 innings Monday night at Canal Park in front of 3,212 fans, earning a split in this four-game series and marking the end of a streak of six consecutive series victories for Akron. It was the third time this month and the eighth time this season that the Aeros were held scoreless, as Binghamton manufactured their only run of the game in the top of the 10th inning. Akron fell to 50-25, holding on to a seven-game lead over Reading in the Southern Division, and the Mets improved to 29-46.

It was a scoreless battle in the early going as starters Jeanmar Gomez and Dylan Owen matched each other pitch-for-pitch. Binghamton nearly got on the board in the first inning, but Gomez picked Emmanuel Garcia off first base after he led off the game with a single. The Mets collected two more singles in the frame, but came away empty handed because of Gomez’s good move. Akron got its first runner in scoring position in the third when a two-out single by Jose Constanza brought Jared Goedert to second base, but Jerad Head struck out swinging to end the rally.

The Aeros threatened again in the bottom of the eighth inning, with left-handed reliever Roy Merritt in the game for Owen. A pair of walks brought Carlos Santana up to the plate with men on first and second and two outs, but he grounded out right to first baseman Ike Davis to end the frame. Akron reliever Carlton Smith followed Gomez with three scoreless innings of his own to keep Binghamton off the board in regulation, but Merritt again worked out of a jam in the bottom of the ninth. Matt McBride doubled with one out, but the Mets intentionally walked Carlos Rivero and the strategy paid off when John Drennen grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

Ruben Tejada began the 10th with a single against Akron closer Vinnie Pestano, before advancing to second base on a sacrifice by Mike Nickeas and went to third on Garcia’s grounder. Josh Thole then poked the game winning single past a diving Goedert inside the third base bag for the deciding run. Akron mounted one last charge in the bottom of the 10th as Goderet led off with a single and eventually made it to third, but Santana grounded out sharply to first to end the game.

Merrit (4-4) earned the win while Pestano (2-3) suffered the loss for the Aeros. Connor Robertson recorded the last two outs in the 10th for his first save. Both starters were superb, although neither factored into the final decision. Gomez earned his sixth quality start of the season in just 11 starts by tossing six scoreless innings. He permitted just five hits, and three walks while striking out four in lowering his ERA to 2.79, ranking eighth in the Eastern League. Owen pitched 7.2 innings in the longest start of his Double-A career while also registering a season-high seven strikeouts and allowing four hits and one walk. Smith’s three scoreless innings in regulation pushed his consecutive scoreless streak to 16.2 frames. McBride and Goedert each knocked two hits for the Aeros, and Nick Weglarz walked to extend his on-base streak to 23 games.

The Aeros hit the road for a game at Prince George’s Stadium Bowie Tuesday night starting at 7:05 p.m. Akron has yet to announce their starter for the contest against the third-place Baysox, who will have Radhames Liz (2-0, 3.00 ERA) on the mound.

Myrtle Beach Beats Kinston 6-5

Myrtle Beach took an early lead and held on, beating Kinston 6-5 in an eventful game Monday night from Historic Grainger Stadium.

The Pelicans put up four runs on five hits in the top of the first inning, getting to K-Tribe starter Paolo Espino. Espino (1-5) took the loss, giving up six hit and four runs in four innings. Espino walked two and struck out three. Espino started the fifth inning, but was ejected by the home plate umpire after two pitches to leadoff batter C.J. Lee. The Espino ejection emptied the benches, but the two teams stayed separated. K-Tribe manager Chris Tremie was also ejected in the fifth inning. The Pelicans would go on to score two runs in the inning off of K-Tribe reliever David Roberts. Roberts gave up just one hit and two runs (one earned) in three innings. Roberts walked two and struck out two.

The eventful top of the fifth inning fired up the K-Tribe as Kinston batted around in the bottom of the frame, scoring four runs on four hits and three walks. RBI hits from Cord Phelps, Lonnie Chisenhall (1-for-4) and Ole Sheldon helped Kinston cut the Pelican lead from 6-0 to 6-4. Kinston would have multiple base runners in the final three innings, scoring another run on an RBI single by Phelps in the eighth, but could not make the comeback complete. Phelps ended the night 3-for-4 with three RBI for Kinston.

The K-Tribe (1-4 second half) will take on Myrtle Beach (3-2) again Tuesday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. Game time 7pm, Ryan Morris will take the hill for Kinston.

Captains in First Place With 9-6 Win

The Lake County Captains erupted for seven runs on seven hits in the second inning on their way to a 9-6 win over the Hagerstown Suns on Monday night. The Captains are in sole possession of first place with the win with a 4-1 record.

The Suns scored twice in the first inning for the second straight night in a row when Steve Lombardozzi doubled and scored when Tyler Moore doubled him home. Moore score on a single by Steven Souza and it was 2-0. The Captains cut the lead to 2-1 when Karexon Sanchez doubled. He went to third on a wild pitch and scored when the catchers throw went into left field.

The Captains scored seven times in the bottom of the second inning when Chris Nash led off the inning with a home run to tie the game. After two singles, Bo Greenwell collected his first hit as a Captain and drove in Mark Thompson. Delvi Cid followed with a two run double. A couple of batters later, Nate Recknagel singled home two runs as well. Donnie Webb ended the onslaught with a RBI double and the Captains led 8-2.

The Suns cut the lead to 8-4 in the top of the sixth when Tyler Moore led of the inning against Captains reliever Travis Turek with a home run. Steven Souza would later score when Turek balked him home. The Captains tacked on a run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Recknagel doubled home Sanchez and it was 9-4. The Suns made it 9-5 in the top of the seventh inning when James Keithley singled home a run. It was 9-6 in the top of eighth inning when Lombardozzi grounded out and another run scored.

Captains' starter T.J. McFarland (4-3) got the win working five innings and allowing two runs, on seven hits, walking one and striking out two. Steve Smith picked up his twelfth save pitching a scoreless ninth inning. Suns starter Patrick McCoy (2-2) took the loss allowing nine runs in 5.2 innings of work.

The Captains welcome the West Virginia Power to Classic Park for a four game series beginning on Tuesday with the Captains sending RHP Alexander Perez (5-2, 2.89) to the mound against Power LHP Rudy Owens (8-1, 2.05).

Early Lead Too Much For Scrappers

Monday night the Scrappers were never able to overcome the quick start of the State
College Spikes and dropped their third of five games on the road trip 6-1.

The Spikes scored four in the first off of starter Ryan Anthony and added two more in the second off of reliever Jose Urena. The lone Scrapper run scored in the sixth inning when John Allman drove home his team leading eighth run of the season.

Now at 2-3 on the road trip the Scrappers wrap things up for the first trip on Tuesday night in State College, game time is 7:05 PM.

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