Game Recaps: Tuesday 7/7

Indianapolis beats Clippers 13-6

The Indianapolis Indians jumped on Columbus pitching early and downed the Clippers 13-6. Kenny Ray took the mound after seven days off and gave up five runs in the first, which set the table for an Indians victory.

Runs were scored in nine of the 18 half-innings on Tuesday night Indianapolis scored in five at-bats and the Clippers scored in four chances. The story of the game was that the Indians scored multiple runs every time and the Clippers did so only once. Columbus left the bases loaded three times.

Columbus scored three times in the third inning led by a Trevor Crowe two-run triple to make it 5-3. Indianapolis answered back with two in the fourth. The Clippers got an RBI single from Tony Graffanino on the one of his two doubles, but again the Clippers pitching failed to hold serve, allowing two more Indianapolis runs in the fifth.

Josh Barfield and Jordan Brown drove in runs as the night progressed, but the Clippers could not stop the Indians offense as Frank Herrmann and Vinnie Chulk each allowed a pair of runs in an inning of work.

The second game of the series kicks off at 7:05pm with Hector Rondon, Cleveland's top pitching prospect making his Triple-A debut.

Tejera Struggles in Debut, Aeros Fall 11-7

Michael Tejera allowed eight runs in his Akron debut and the defense committed a season-high tying four errors in the field as Reading picked up an 11-7 victory in the opener of a three-game series before 2,831 fans at Canal Park Tuesday. The Phillies improved to 48-35 with the win and pulled to within six games of first-place Akron (55-30), and have taken six of eight games against the Aeros this year.

The night got off to an inauspicious start for Tejera just four pitches into the game, as Reading leadoff man Quintin Berry dropped a bunt up the first base line. Tejera and first baseman Beau Mills both thought the other would field the ball, and once Tejera picked it up he compounded the issue by flipping it over Mills’ head as Berry raced to second. A sacrifice and a walk put runners on the corners with one away, and second baseman Jerad Head then had a throw go off his glove on a steal attempt as Berry trotted home with the first run of the game. Neil Sellers made it 2-0 with a two-out RBI single, and the Phillies tacked on three more runs in the second to go up by five.

Tejera settled down however, and the Aeros mounted a three-run rally in the bottom of the fourth. Beau Mills got Akron on the board with an RBI single to right, and John Drennen followed later in the inning with a run-scoring infield single to make it 5-2. On that play, Carlos Rivero appeared to make contact with Reading first baseman Kevin Mahar as he was fielding the ball, leading to an argument that was only resolved when the Phillies elected to play the game under protest. Jared Goedert followed the fireworks with an RBI single to pull the Aeros within two runs, but Jose Constanza grounded into a double play to end the inning, beginning a run of five straight innings in which Reading would turn a twin killing.

The Phillies got all three runs back in the top of the fifth in knocking Tejera from the game, and when Akron would draw closer with single runs in the sixth and seventh a double play would short circuit the rally and Reading would respond offensively in its next at-bat. The Aeros did get a two-run homer from All-Star Nick Weglarz in the bottom of the ninth and pounded out 16 hits, but it wasn’t enough.

R-Phils starter Vance Worley (6-5) earned the win by pitching 5.1 innings and allowing four runs despite permitting 11 hits. Tejera (0-1) took the loss, allowing eight runs (seven earned) and nine hits in 4.2 innings. He walked five and struck out four, and the eight runs allowed tied an Aeros season high for a pitcher. Every Akron batter had a base hit offensively, with Carlos Rivero going 3-4 with a double while extending his hitting streak to a season-high five games. Constanza, Drennen, Weglarz and Mills all finished with two hits each.

Game two in this series is set for 7:05 p.m. Wednesday. Eastern League All-Star Jeanmar Gomez (6-2, 3.31 ERA) will go for Akron against Reading’s Mike Stutes (5-4, 4.46 ERA).

Keys Kill Kinston 11-5

The Karma of Kinston native Jerry Stackhouse at Historic Grainger stadium wasn’t enough as Frederick beat the K-Tribe 11-5 Tuesday night. The NBA All-Star was on hand for Jerry Stackhouse Night, as the former UNC Tar heel threw out the first pitch and signed autographs for fans.

Frederick scored a run in the first inning, and then jumped all over Kinston starter Mike McGuire in the second inning scoring four runs on a walk and four singles. Matt Angle and Ryan Adams drove in two runs a piece with RBI singles. McGuire was driven out of the game in the third inning, when Frederick scored another run on a solo home run by Robbie Widlanski, making the score 6-0.

Kinston would come back with a run in the third inning thanks to an RBI single by Ole Sheldon. Kinston loaded the bases in the fourth inning, scoring runs on an RBI ground out by Ryan Blair and an RBI single from Lucas Montero. Kinston would load the bases again in the sixth inning, scoring two more runs on an RBI ground out by Cord Phelps and a throwing error by Frederick’s Ryan Adams. Adams had three errors in the game. Montero, Tim Fedroff, Sheldon and Ronald Rivas each had two hits for Kinston.

After Kinston cut Frederick’s lead to four, the Keys would pull away again thanks to a run in the seventh inning and a solo home run by Widlanski to lead off the eighth inning. Widlanski ended the night 2-for-4 with three runs, three RBI and two home runs.

McGuire (0-1) gets the loss for Kinston, giving up eight hits and six earned runs in 2 1/3 innings. Jonathan Holt came in from the pen for Kinston giving up two hits and two runs in 1 1/3 inning. Bryce Stowell pitched four innings from the pen, giving up six hits and three earned runs. Dallas Cawiezell pitched a perfect ninth inning for Kinston. The K-Tribe pitching staff gave up a season high 16 hits.

The K-Tribe will take on Frederick Wednesday night at 7pm at Historic Grainger Stadium, Russell Young with take the hill for Kinston.

Captains Take Three of Four From Greensboro

The Lake County Captains hit two home runs and had their second straight strong pitching performance as they defeated the Greensboro Grasshoppers 4-2 on Tuesday. The Captains took three of the four games in Greensboro and ended the season 7-5 against the Grasshoppers.

The Captains jumped out to a first inning lead against Grasshoppers starter Brad Hand when Chris Nash singled with the bases loaded scoring Karexon Sanchez and Adam Abraham to make it 2-0. The Captains made it 4-0 in the top of the fifth inning when Michael Valadez and Karexon Sanchez each blasted solo home runs.

The Grasshoppers got to Captains starter Danny Salazar in the bottom of the sixth inning when Daniel Petrusati doubled and three batters later, scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-1. It went to 4-2 in the bottom of the seventh when Ryan Keedy singled off of Captains reliever Eddie Burns and then scored on a double by Emilio Ontiveros.

Captains’ starter Danny Salazar (2-3) got the win working six innings and allowing one run on three hits, walking one and striking out a season high nine batters. Steve Smith pitched a scoreless inning to record his fifteenth save.

Hand (3-10) took the loss pitching six innings and allowing four runs on six hits, walking three, and striking out seven.

The Captains travel to Hickory for a four game series with the CrawDads beginning on Wednesday at 7:00 PM. The Captains will send LHP Chris Jones (2-1, 5.12) to the mound to face the Dads RHP Joe Wieland (2-0, 3.19).

Scrappers Take Over First

The Scrappers returned home to open up a series with the Auburn Doubledays. Auburn opened the game by scoring one in the first from Bradley Glen’s single to centerfield. In the fourth inning the Scrappers responded with four straight hits plating four runs and taking the lead for good from the Doubledays. In the fifth, the Doubledays cut into the lead with a solo home run from Lance Durham, his second of the season.

The Scrappers responded with two more runs on a passed ball and a sacrifice fly from Greg Folgia. In the sixth the Doubledays crept closer scoring two runs off of Scrapper reliever Jeremy Johnson, on a two run home run from Bradly Glenn making the score 6-4 Scrappers moving to the bottom of the sixth. The Scrappers would add on one in the sixth and another in the eighth going on for the 8-4 victory. Game tow of the series is Wednesday night at Eastwood field game time is 7:05 PM.

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