Game Recaps: Friday 8/28

Aeros Drop Rain-Shortened Affair, 3-1

The Aeros managed just one hit and Binghamton scored single runs in three straight innings before rain halted Friday night’s game early as the Mets took the opener of this four-game series 3-1 before 8,456 fans at Canal Park. The Aeros fell to 80-52 with the loss and Akron’s magic number to clinch the Southern Division title remained two over Reading, as the Phillies were rained out at home. Binghamton improved to 50-80.

Akron opened the scoring on Jared Goedert’s two-out RBI single in the bottom of the second, but a leadoff triple and a sacrifice fly tied the game for the Mets in the top of the third. DJ Wabick then put Binghamton ahead in the fourth with an RBI single to center, and a double and two wild pitches from Aeros starter Scott Barnes in the fifth completed the scoring.

Eric Niesen went the distance for the Mets in improving to 3-6, while Barnes allowed three runs in 4.2 innings and slipped to 1-2. Goedert’s RBI single was Akron’s lone hit.

Even though tonight’s contest was an official game, the Aeros will still accept any tickets from this evening as rain checks. Fans with tickets to tonight’s game may exchange them for tickets to any future Aeros home game in 2009, including playoff games. Exchanges must be made at Infield Outfitters or the Aeros Box Office, and all exchanges are subject to availability. Additionally, the fireworks show scheduled for tonight has been rescheduled for Thursday, September 10th following game two of the Southern Division Championship Series.

Game two in this four-game series is set for 7:05 p.m. Saturday, as the Aeros will start lefty Eric Berger (1-1, 3.18 ERA) against Binghamton’s Dylan Owen (4-9, 5.60 ERA).

Nightmare First Inning Dooms Nats in Opener

In a bizarre game from historic Grainger Stadium which saw, among other things, a pair of Potomac ejections, a run-scoring balk, and an errant bat (the flying creature, that is) that found its way to the infield dirt, the Potomac Nationals found themselves on the wrong end of a lopsided affair, dropping the initial game of a three-game series with the Kinston Indians by the score of 7-1.

Controversy began almost immediately in the opener as Devin Ivany, upset at a check-swing called-third strike appeal to the base umpire was ejected before the bottom of the first inning. Coming to the aid of his designated hitter, Trent Jewett pleaded his case to the umpire as well, but to no avail as the skipper earned himself an early shower before the K-Tribe had a chance to bat.

With two members of the Nationals already in the clubhouse, the P-Nats took the field as Adam Carr got the nod on the hill for the Nationals. Though Carr (2-6) walked the leadoff man in the first, he retired the next two men in the batting order, even going 0-2 to the cleanup hitter Ole Sheldon. But Sheldon took the 0-2 offering into left-center field for an RBI double, which subsequently opened the flood gates for the Kinston Indians.

After the double, eight consecutive Tribe batters reached base on four hits, three walks, and an error plating six more runs in the process to break the game wide open by the score of 7-0.

Russell Young was the beneficiary of the K-Tribe onslaught, tossing six scoreless innings while striking out a season-high seven batters. Young picked up his sixth win of the year in Friday's victory.

The Potomac bullpen pitched admirably in relief of Carr, going 7 1/3 innings, allowing just one run while striking out five as a combination of Patrick McCoy, Justin Phillabaum, and knuckleballer Aaron Seuss stymied the K-Tribe the rest of the way.

The P-Nats pushed a run across in the eighth inning as Danny Espinosa legged out a hustle double with one out in the frame, advancing to third on a ground out, and coming around to score a balk by Jonathan Holt.

Wilmington split a doubleheader with the Salem Red Sox on Friday, gaining a half-game on the P-Nats in the standings. As of Friday night, the Blue Rocks now lead the Nationals by three games with nine contests left in the regular season.

These two teams will be back tomorrow night with first pitch scheduled for 7 ET.

Captains and BlueClaws PPD on Friday

The Lake County Captains game against the Lakewood BlueClaws scheduled for Friday has been postponed due to inclement weather. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday August 29th with game one beginning at 6:00 PM.

In game one, the Captains will send Captains will send RHP Danny Salazar (5-6, 4.52) to the hill to face LHP Matthew Way (2-1, 2.88). Game two starters are expected to be RHP Trey Haley (4-7, 5.43) for the Captains and RHP Heitor Correa (7-7, 4.07) for the Claws.

Scrappers Win 6-1

On Friday night, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers started a five game road trip with a 6-1 victory over the Jamestown Jammers. With the win the Scrappers are now 44-23 overall and have increased their lead in the Pinckney Division to eight games over the Williamsport Crosscutters.

Scrappers starter Vidal Nuno pitched the first 5 1/3 innings and allowed one run on five hits while striking out five. Jeremy Johnson then tossed the next 2 2/3 innings and only surrendered one hit. Nick Kirk closed out the game working a scoreless 9th, giving up just one hit.

The Jammers scored first in the 1st to take an early 1-0 lead, only to see Mahoning Valley respond with two runs in the 4th taking over and keeping the lead for the rest of the game. In the inning Jesus Brio delivered an RBI double and Ben Carlson followed with an RBI single. In the 6th, the Scrappers padded the lead scoring two runs, Rafael Vera an RBI double, and Juan Aponte, an RBI single. Mahoning Valley added single runs in the 7th and 8th and went on to the 6-1 victory.

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