Game Recaps: Sunday 6/13

Aeros Smash Sea Dogs 5-1

Rain could not halt the Aeros’ bats Saturday night, as they exploded against the Portland Sea Dogs pitching staff en route to a 5-1 victory in front of 4,564 fans at Canal Park. After being shut out while mustering only five hits in the series opener Friday, and kicking off Saturday with a 58-minute rain delay, Akron pounded 11 hits and smacked five extra-base hits for the fourth time in 12 games this month. The Aeros improved to 39-21 with the win, while Portland dropped to 31-30.

Akron, sporting their new alternate camouflage uniforms for just the second time this season, jumped on Sea Dogs starter Junichi Tazawa in the second inning. Tazawa came into the game with a 6-1 record and a 1.96 ERA through his past eight starts, but allowed a leadoff home run to Matt McBride to begin the second frame. John Drennen collected a one-out single, and Jose Constanza scored him with a triple before Jerad Head drove in Constanza with a double. The Aeros as a team hit for the cycle in the inning for the first time all season, giving them the early 3-0 advantage.

The next run came through in the top of the fourth inning for Portland, when Bubba Bell singled to start things against Akron starter Ryan Edell. Lars Anderson followed up with a single, but right fielder Drennen nailed Bell at third with a perfect throw to Jared Goedert. Jon Still then doubled to left field to score Anderson, but Edell struck out the final two batters of the inning to keep the score at 3-1.

The Aeros offense put the final touches on the victory by putting a two-spot on the scoreboard in the fifth inning. Nick Weglarz singled, Carlos Santana walked with one out against Tawaza, and Beau Mills followed with a single to score Weglarz and bring in the Portland bullpen. Left-hander Dustin Richardson promptly allowed a scorching double to left field by McBride, providing for the final margin of the evening.

Four Akron pitchers combined to hold the Sea Dogs to seven hits while striking out 10. Edell improved to 2-0 in his seventh start of the season, allowing the lone run of the evening but striking out six and allowing only four hits in five innings. Josh Judy and Neil Wagner kept Portland scoreless, and Vinnie Pestano earned the well-deserved save by stranding the bases loaded in the eighth before recording the final three outs in the ninth. The Cal State-Fullerton product now leads the Eastern League with 16 saves on the year.

Constanza, Head, Mills and McBride all had multi-hit outings as the Aeros offense was at full-strength for the first time in a week. McBride, who missed a week with a left knee injury, went 2-3 with his first home run as an Aero in 22 games, along with a double and a walk. Mills picked up his team-leading 19th multi-hit game of the season with a 3-4 performance, including his Akron-high 16th two-bagger.

This three-game series ends Sunday afternoon at 1:35 p.m., as all fans can purchase Family Packs including four tickets, four hot dogs, four chips and four sodas for only $48. Akron starter Hector Rondon (6-4, 3.31 ERA) will take on Portland’s Ryne Lawson (1-4, 6.11 ERA) as the Aeros aim for their third consecutive series victory and their seventh win in nine contests.

Kinston gives up most runs this season, loses 16-5

Lynchburg scored a season high 16 runs on 11 hits to defeat Kinston 16-5 in front of the largest crowd of the season at Historic Grainger Stadium.

It was a home run parade for both squads Saturday night, but Lynchburg’s three long balls produced 10 runs as Pedro Alvarez hit a grand slam and three-run homer coupled with a Kris Watts three-run blast of his own.

Kinston also had three home runs, tied for the most they’ve hit in a game this season. Richard Martinez and Adam Davis went back-to-back in the seventh inning and Tim Fedroff added a two-run homer run in the bottom of the ninth.

For the second straight night, one poor inning did the K-Tribe in as it was a seven-run 6th inning that was fueled by four walks, two hit batters and the grand slam by Alvarez to top it off. Miles Durham and Kris Watts walked with one out against Kinston reliever Jonathan Holt. Holt then hit Jared Keel with a pitch to load the bases. After Kinston first baseman Ryan Blair threw out Durham on a force play at home on a ball off the bat of Eddie Prasch, the Indians looked like they would escape the inning unscathed. But a walk to Alex Presley would score the first run of the inning and end Holt’s night. Chen-Chang Lee then came in and on his first pitch, hit Jose De Los Santos. He then delivered four straight balls to Jordy Mercer to walk in another run before the four-run bomb by Alvarez.

Kinston starter Bryce Stowell (0-2) took the loss in just three innings of work, allowing just one run on three hits, a walk and five strikeouts. Lynchburg starter Bryan Morris (1-1) was impressive in his second start for the Hillcats, going 5.1 innings, allowing just one run on two hits, and three walks with two strikeouts. The 16 runs were the most Kinston has surrendered this season.

The K-Tribe looks to salvage game three of the series tomorrow at 2 pm on Pepsi Family Fun Day. Kinston sends Paolo Espino (1-2, 2.33) to the mound for the series finale.

Nash's Inside the Park HR not Enough

Chris Nash hit an inside the park home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to cut the lead to 3-2 but the Lake County Captains could get no closer dropping their second straight game to the Lakewood BlueClaws 4-2 on Saturday.

For the second night in a row the BlueClaws took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Anthony Gose doubled off of Captains starter Chris Jones and Travis d’Arnaud followed with a double that scored Gose. The Captains tied it up in the bottom of the first inning when Abner Abreu scored from second base when Karexon Sanchez flew out to the right fielder D’Arby Myers. Abreu was advancing to third when Myers dropped the ball and that allowed Abreu to score. The Claws came right back in the top of the second inning when Myers singled home Travis Mattair and it was 2-1.

It went to 3-1 in the top of the sixth inning when Mattair scored when after reaching third base on a throwing error was able to advance home when home plate was left uncovered. With the score 3-2 in the top of the eighth inning, Myers reached on a two base error and then scored on a base hit by Harold Garcia and it was 4-2.

Jones (1-1) took the loss working 5.1 innings and allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits, walking three and striking out three. BlueClaws starter Jon Velazquez (9-2) got the win pitching seven innings and allowing two runs on five hits, walking none and striking out three. Justin De Fratus pitched 1.1 scoreless innings and Ryan Bergh got the final two outs to pick up his tenth save.

The Captains and BlueClaws conclude the series on Sunday at 1:00PM. The Captains will send RHP Danny Salazar (1-2, 7.43) to the mound to oppose the BlueClaws RHP Tyler Cloyd (6-3, 3.03).

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