Game Recaps: Thursday 6/25

Rochester rallies to beat Clippers 8-7

The Rochester Red Wings rallied last and beat the Clippers 8-7 on Thursday.
The Clippers scored four times off of Triple-A rookie Jeff Manship in the opening frame. Doubles by Matt LaPorta, Tony Graffanino, Andy Marte and a single by Damaso Espino made it a 4-0 lead for Columbus. The wide margin would not last as Kirk Saarloos served up a three-run home run to Justin Huber in the bottom of the inning.

After the first inning both pitchers settled in, allowing no more runs in nine combined innings of work. Frank Herrmann entered in the sixth and allowed two runs, both unearned, to give Rochester its first lead in the series since the eighth inning Tuesday night.

Columbus started a rally in the seventh inning, as relief pitcher Jesse Crain put two runners on with walks. A wild pitch put runners at second and third with two outs. Tony Graffanino was at the plate when rain forced a stoppage of play. When play resumed an hour and a half later, Graffanino stood in against Juan Marillo. Graffanino worked a walk and Andy Marte drove a pitch to left field, scoring three runs and snatching the lead back for Columbus at 7-5.

Vinnie Chulk threw two scoreless innings and handed the ball to Masa Kobayashi in the ninth. Kobayashi was unable to command his pitches and Huber started the inning with his second homer of the game. Danny Valencia hit the next pitch out for back-to-back Red Wings home runs and a 7-7 score. A smash line drive to left caught by Mickey Hall was the only out Kobayashi recorded as Dustin Martin followed it with a double, consecutive walks loaded the bases and Tommy Watkins drove in the winning run on a single to right.

The series finale is set for 6:05pm Friday. Lefty Chuck Lofgren will face Rochester Brian Duensing.

Aeros Walk Off (Literally) in 4-3 Victory

The Aeros won Thursday afternoon against the Trenton Thunder, claiming their fifth consecutive series with a walk off win by the final score of 4-3 in front of 5,555 fans at Canal Park. Akron scored the final four runs of the game to improve to 48-23 and move 25 games over .500 for the second time this season, while the Thunder fell to 37-34. The Aeros also took the season series four games to two.

Trenton started the scoring in the very first inning, getting on the board with one out against Aeros lefty Ryan Edell. After Austin Krum struck out to begin the frame, Reegie Corona reached first base on an infield base hit, the first of four straight singles for the Thunder. Trenton managed just one run in the inning however, as Nick Weglarz threw out Corona at third base and Chris Malec flied out to strand a pair of runners. Edwar Gonzalez then made it 2-0 by smacking a homer to left-center to begin the second frame, and followed that with his third home run in his last four at-bats (dating back to Wednesday night) in the fourth inning against Edell.

Akron started the comeback in the bottom half of the fourth, as white-hot Nick Weglarz matched Gonzalez’s solo shot with one of his own, his third in as many days to make it 3-1. The Aeros then manufactured another run in the fifth, as Head singled to begin the inning and advanced to second on a groundout by rehabbing Asdrubal Cabrera. Cristo Arnal then laid down a beautiful bunt for a single bringing Head over to third, and a walk to Weglarz loaded the bases. The Trenton lead then dropped to only one, as reliever Jason Stephens walked in a run by giving a free pass to clean-up hitter Beau Mills.

Cabrera made things happen with his legs while scoring the tying run in the seventh, starting the rally with an infield single and then stealing second base. Arnal struck out, but Mills followed with a groundball to the hole on the right side with Cabrera running on the 1-2 offering. Corona made a great diving stop in shallow right field, but with his focus occupied by the potential out at first he never saw Cabrera barreling around third. Corona’s throw to first was in time to get a diving Mills, but by the time Malec received the throw and then fired home it was too late as Cabrera scored standing up.

The Aeros then mounted the winning rally with one out in the bottom of the ninth, as Cabrera scorched a laser into centerfield off Thunder reliever J.B. Cox. The right-hander recovered to strike out pinch-hitter Carlos Santana for the second out, but Cabrera stole second on the third strike and then scrambled to third as the throw skipped past shortstop Eduardo Nunez. Trenton elected to intentionally walk Weglarz and Mills (both left-handed hitters), setting up a righty-righty match-up with Matt McBride. Cox could not recover his control however, issuing three straight balls after the count was 1-1 and forcing in the winning run in anti-climactic fashion.

Josh Judy (3-2) earned his second win of the series while Cox (0-2) suffered his second loss in the three-game set. Edell battled and turned in his fourth quality start yet suffered his seventh no-decision. Cabrera finished 2-5 with two steals and two runs, Weglarz tied a franchise record with four walks in the game, and Arnal went 1-3 with a walk to reach base for the 15th consecutive game.

Akron continues its seven-game home stand Friday night at 7:05 p.m. against Binghamton, and will feature post-game fireworks courtesy of ACME Fresh Markets. Hector Rondon (6-4, 2.83 ERA) gets the nod for Akron against Eric Brown (4-6, 5.72).

Salem beats Kinston 12-0

Salem beat Kinston 12-0 Thursday night at Historic Grainger Stadium, the third time a team has shutout the K-Tribe this season.

K-Tribe pitchers had trouble with the free pass, as five Kinston pitchers combined to walk a season high eleven batters. Ryan Morris (3-8) got the start and the loss for Kinston, giving up eight hits, while walking four and giving up three earned runs in five innings. The K-Tribe bullpen didn’t fare much better. Jonathan Holt gave up three hits and four runs while walking two. Garrison Campfield pitched an inning, giving up two hits, two earned and walking one. Kyle Landis went an inning, walking two and giving up a run. Dallas Cawiezell gave up two runs on two hits, while walking one in the ninth.

Salem banged out 12 runs on 15 hits on the night, breaking the game open with a five run top of the seventh inning. It was the most hits Kinston has given up this season.

The K-Tribe takes on Salem in game two of the three game set, Friday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. Game time 7 pm, with fireworks after the contest. Paolo Espino will take the hill for Kinston.

Captains Start Second Half With 5-1 Win

The Lake County Captains started off the second half of the season with an impressive 5-1 win over the Hagerstown Suns on Thursday, led by 6.1 scoreless innings of work from Indians pitcher Fausto Carmona. The Captains won the first game of the first half as well.

The Captains took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning against Suns starter Ricardo Pecina when Chris Nash hit his fourth home run of the year. The Captains added four more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on RBI ‘s by Karexon Sanchez and Donnie Webb and a two out bases loaded two RBI single from Mark Thompson and it was 5-0. The lone Suns run came in the top of the ninth inning courtesy of a Captains error.

Carmona (1-0) ended up allowing one hit, walking one and striking out seven. Travis Turek followed Carmona and made his 2009 Captains debut throwing 1.2 perfect innings. Steve Smith pitched the ninth inning and allowed the unearned run. Suns starter Ricardo Pecina (0-1) working 4.1 innings and allowing four runs on five hits, walking two and striking out one.

The Captains and Suns play game two of the five game series on Friday at 7:00 PM with the Captains sending LHP T.J. House (2-7, 2.75) to the mound against Suns RHP Brad Peacock (2-6, 3.76).

Scrappers Win In Extras

On Thursday night the Scrappers were able to scratch out a single run against the
Williamsport Crosscutters in the first eight innings, only to see the bullpen not able to hold onto the lead in the bottom of the ninth. However, the Scrappers bats came to the rescue in the top of the tenth inning, sending ten men to the plate and scoring five runs.

Scrapper’s starter Clayton Cook worked six innings scoreless only allowing six hits while striking out six as well. The Scrappers first run was manufactured when Tim Palincsar was hit by a pitch, then went to third on Kyle Bellows single to left and
then scored on John Allman’s sac fly to center.

The Crosscutters then were able to manufacture the game tying run in the ninth off of closer Brian Grening and the Scrappers went into extra innings for the first time
this season. The five run tenth was highlighted by two key two-RBI hits from Kyle Smith and Lurvin Basabe. In the bottom of the tenth, Grening retired the side in order recording his first win of the season.

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