Game Recaps: Friday 7/3

Aeros Turn First Triple Play in 3-2 Defeat

Akron turned a triple play for the first time in franchise history Friday night at Prince George’s Stadium, yet the superb defense wasn’t enough as Bowie claimed the finale of the five-game series 3-2. The Baysox improved to 45-36 while the Aeros lost for the fifth time in seven games and slipped to 52-28.

The triple play came in the bottom of the fourth inning and short-circuited a promising Bowie rally. Ambiorix Concepcion opened the inning with a double, and Aeros starter Josh Tomlin plunked Guillermo Rodriguez to put runners at first and second with no one out. Daniel Figueroa then popped up a sacrifice bunt attempt as Tomlin made the catch for the first out, fired to shortstop Carlos Rivero to double off Concepcion for the second out, and Rivero’s throw to first baseman Matt McBride was in time to double off Rodriguez. It marked the first triple play in team history, dating to 1989 when the club moved to Canton.

All three hitters involved in the triple play factored into the opening salvo for Bowie just two innings before, as Concepcion’s double in the bottom of the second gave the Baysox runners at second and third with only one out. Rodriguez then started the scoring with an RBI groundout before Figueroa followed with an RBI double to stake Bowie to a 2-0 lead.

Akron answered right back in the top of the third however, striking for the tying two runs despite missing out on a chance to take the lead. A walk and a single opened the inning, and with one out Jose Constanza dropped a single into left field. Jonathan Tucker delivered a terrific throw to the plate though, cutting down Rivero and keeping the Aeros off the board for the time being. Cristo Arnal followed with a run-scoring single to get Akron on the board however, and after Nick Weglarz was hit by a pitch to load the bases Bowie’s Tim Bascom walked Carlos Santana to force in the tying run and even the contest at 2-2.

The Aeros had chances to take the lead, but couldn’t capitalize on a leadoff double from John Drennen in the top of the fourth, a leadoff single from Constanza in the fifth, or a leadoff base hit from Weglarz in the eighth. Bowie finally broke through in the bottom of the eighth, as Robert Valido’s leadoff single knocked Tomlin from the game. Matt Meyer came on in relief and surrendered a sacrifice to Eric Crozier before Mike Costanzo spoiled the lefty-lefty matchup with the go-ahead RBI single to center.

James Hoey (1-2) earned the win for Bowie with two scoreless innings out of the bullpen, while Tomlin (8-5) suffered the loss despite turning in his team-leading eighth quality start. The Texan went seven-plus innings, scattering nine hits and allowing just three runs. He walked one and struck out three. Josh Perrault entered in the ninth for the Baysox and retired the side in order for his 15th save. Constanza finished the evening 2-4 and was the only Aero with a multiple-hit night, although Santana did draw two walks.

Akron’s weeklong road trip continues Saturday night with the opener of a four-game series in Harrisburg (including a doubleheader Sunday). Saturday’s affair gets underway at 7 p.m., with Jeanmar Gomez (6-2, 2.79 ERA) expected to go for the Aeros against Luis Atilano (4-4, 4.87 ERA) of the Senators.

K-Tribe Blanks Blue Rocks 7-0

Kinston pitched its fourth shutout of the season, winning 7-0 to take game two of the four game series against the Blue Rocks at Frawley Stadium. The K-tribe has now won two in a row and also four of its last six games for the first time since winning four of five at the end of May.

All-Star Eric Berger (7-5) pitched another gem, working six shutout innings and allowing just four hits and a walk while striking out four. It was Berger’s third consecutive win and his fifth outing this season that he hasn’t surrendered a run.

After being shutout and one hit through the first three innings against Wilmington starter Mario Santiago (3-8), Kinston found its bats in the fourth inning for the second consecutive night. Cord Phelps led off the frame with a triple and scored on a Lonnie Chisenhall RBI single. Ole Sheldon then knocked in Tim Fedroff with an RBI fielder’s choice groundout. Then with two away, Lucas Montero hit his seventh triple of the season to drive in Sheldon. Montero is now in second in the league in triples and it was the first time this season Kinston has had two three-baggers in an inning.

Chisenhall would use his speed to manufacture a run in the sixth inning off of Santiago and catcher Matt Morizio. Chisenhall stole his first two bases of the season, and scored on a throwing error by Morizio while swiping third base to give Kinston the 4-0 lead.

New K-Tribe catcher Doug Pickens hit his first home run for the Indians in the seventh inning, a solo shot into the K-Tribe bullpen. Adam Davis followed it up with a two run homer in the top of ninth inning, his fourth of the year, and the second most on the team.

Kinston will try to make it three in a row for the first time since they won four in a row May 7-9, tomorrow at 2 pm. The Fourth of July starter for the Indians will be Paolo Espino (1-4, 3.57) as he faces off against Dominican Eduardo Paulino (3-4, 4.85).

Captains OverPowered by West Virginia 12-1

West Virginia Power handed the Lake County Captains their worst defeat of the year defeating the Captains 12-1 on Friday. The Captains trail the first place Power by 1.5 games.

The Power got the early lead scoring a run in the top of the first inning when with two outs, Tony Sanchez was hit by a pitch. He went to second on a single and to third on a passed ball. Sanchez scored on a wild pitch by Captains starter Trey Haley and it was 1-0. It went to 7-0 in the fourth inning when the Power plated six runs against Captains reliever Chris Jones. The Power collected eight hits in the inning and sent eleven men to the plate. The Power tacked on four more runs in the top of the fifth inning, highlighted by a three run home run by Quincy Latimore, his second three run homer of the series and it was 11-0. The Power added a run in the top of the ninth inning on a double by Latimore to make it 12-0. The Captains lone run came in the bottom of the ninth inning on a RBI single by Nate Recknagel.

Haley (2-4) took the loss going two innings allowing on run on one hit, walking two and striking out one. Chris Jones followed Haley and allowed eight runs on ten hits. Power starter Brian Leach (2-0) got the win working six scoreless innings and allowing two hits and striking out one.

The Captains travel to Greensboro to begin an eight game road trip beginning on Saturday with first pitch at 7:05 PM. The Captains will have LHP T.J. McFarland (4-3, 4.29) on the mound against Grasshoppers RHP Graham Johnson (5-1, 3.02).

Pitching Keys Scrappers To 3-0 Victory

On Friday night the Scrappers used solid starting pitching and timely hitting to salvage the final game of a three game series against Williamsport 3-0. Scrapper starting pitcher Marty Popham worked the first six innings, holding the Cutters scoreless. For Popham, it was his longest outing of his career and also his career high in strikeouts with six.

The Scrappers offense scored first in the bottom of the fifth when Kyle Bellows doubled in John Allman, who walked to start the inning. After a ground out, Tim Palincsar singled home Bellows and the Scrapper led grew to 2-0 heading to the sixth. The Scrappers added a single run in the seventh and went on to record the victory over Williamsport 3-0. Popham recorded his first victory of the season and Cory Burns added his second save.

After going one and two on the brief three game home stand, the Scrappers are now off to Jamestown for three games starting on Saturday with a special 1:05 PM game time.

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