Game Recaps: Sunday 8/2

Braves edge Clippers 4-2 in extra innings

The Gwinnett Braves toppled the Clippers 4-2 in ten innings on Sunday at Huntington Park. Clippers starter Hector Rondon and Braves starter James Parr settled into a pitcher's duel until the fifth inning. The Braves broke the deadlock when Alvin Colina walked and Clint Sammons knocked a two-run homer to put the Braves up 2-0.

The Clippers came right back in the bottom of the inning on a Wes Hodges leadoff home run over the centerfield fence. Jason Donald, who reached on a fielder's choice, moved to second on a single by Niuman Romero. Donald then scored on a solid single by Michael Brantley to tie the game at 2-2.

Jess Todd had a great relief appearance, pitching scoreless seventh and eighth innings while striking out four.

The Braves took the lead for good in the tenth with Greg Aquino pitching his second inning of the day. Colina walked and with two outs, J.C. Holt singled. Brian Barton, pinch running for Colina, scored on a balk by Aquino and Reid Gorecki singled home Holt.

Game three of the series is Monday at 7:05pm. Columbus lefty Chuck Lofgren takes the mound against John Halama.

Aeros Polish off Sweep with 3-2 Win

Jeanmar Gomez tied a season-high with eight strikeouts and Akron used a pair of sacrifice flies to squeak past Binghamton 3-2 before 2,250 fans at NYSEG Stadium Sunday night. The Aeros improved to 68-41 with the victory, tying a season-high with their seventh straight win and also getting back to their high-water mark of the season at 27 games over the .500 mark. Akron also notched its second straight series sweep and moved seven games ahead of second-place Reading in the Southern Division. The B-Mets dropped to 40-66.

The Aeros struck for two runs in the top of the first off Mets starter Brad Holt, as Jose Constanza opened the contest with a base hit and promptly swiped second base. Holt then walked Jerad Head and Nick Weglarz to load the bases, and Carlos Santana worked another free pass to force in a run. Beau Mills then followed with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 2-0.

Gomez rolled through the first four innings, finding minor trouble in the second and fourth but stranding a runner at second base in both frames. Binghamton then mounted a major threat in the fifth, as a walk, a single, and another walk loaded the bases for the Mets with only one away. Gomez recovered however, inducing a crucial 4-6-3 double play from Jose Coronado to end the inning.

Akron manufactured the deciding run in the sixth, as Mills walked with one down and Matt McBride doubled him to third. The Mets then elected to pitch to John Drennen with first base open, and the Aeros right fielder delivered with a sac fly to right to make it 3-0.

Steven Wright came out of the bullpen in the sixth and struck out D.J. Wabick to strand a runner at second, but Binghamton did get to the right-hander for two runs in the seventh. Salvador Paniagua opened the frame with a single and Mark Kiger walked, and Jonathan Malo advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Emmanuel Garcia then got the Mets on the board with a sacrifice fly, and Coronado followed with an RBI double to cut the margin to 3-2. Wright stopped the bleeding there however, getting Ike Davis on a fly ball to center to end the inning.

Josh Judy came on for the bottom of the eighth and surrendered a leadoff single to Lucas Duda before striking out the next three hitters, and then allowed another leadoff single in the ninth only to retire the next three men in order to preserve the win.

Gomez (9-3) worked into the sixth inning for his second straight victory, allowing just four hits and two walks in 5.2 shutout frames. He recorded eight strikeouts for the second straight start and fourth time this year. Holt (2-5) turned in a quality start in the defeat for Binghamton, allowing three runs and three hits in six innings. He walked six and struck out two. Judy recorded his fifth save, striking out four batters over two scoreless innings. McBride went 2-4 with a pair of doubles and was the only Aero with a multiple-hit night, although Santana extended his season-high hitting streak to 11 games with an infield single in the eighth.

The Aeros will enjoy an off day Monday before returning to action at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday night at Canal Park against the Connecticut Defenders, the first-place team in the Northern Division. Akron is expected to send newcomer Connor Graham (0-0, 2.70 ERA) to the mound against Connecticut’s Geivy Garcia (0-3, 5.65 ERA).

Kinston Rained Out In Myrtle Beach

Sunday night’s game between Kinston and Myrtle Beach has been rained out due to storms in South Carolina. The game will be made up when the Pelicans take on Kinston at Historic Grainger Stadium later in the month. Kinston kicks off a seven game homestand Monday night against the Lynchburg Hillcats at 7pm at Historic Grainger Stadium.

Captains Intimidated in 10 Innings

Kyle Shelton hit a two run home run in the top of the tenth inning as the Kannapolis Intimidators defeated the Lake County Captains 6-5 in ten innings on Sunday. The Captains fall to 3.5 games behind Kannapolis in the Northern Division standings.

The Intimidators took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Brandon Short grounded out and Lee Fischer scored. The Captains tied it at 1-1 on a sacrifice fly from Adam Abraham in the bottom of the fourth inning. Kannapolis scored twice in the top of the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly from Jon Gilmore and a RBI double from Shelton and it was 3-1. The Captains made it 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning Abraham drove in John Allman.

It went to 4-2 when a fielder’s choice off the bat of Gilmore scored Short in the top of the eighth inning. The Captains tied it up in the bottom of the ninth inning when Jeremie Tice doubled home two runs and it was 4-4.

Captains’ starter T.J. McFarland did not get a decision going 5.2 innings and allowing three runs on five hits, walking two and striking out four. Ryan Miller (0-2) gave up the homer run in the tenth inning and took the loss. Intimidators’ starter Joe Serafin got a no decision ad well working four innings allowing one run on two hits, walking four and striking out seven. Dan Remenowsky (6-3) got the win despite giving up the two runs in the ninth inning.

The Captains and Intimidators wrap up the series on Monday at 7:00 PM with the Captains sending LHP T.J. House (2-8, 2.91) to the mound to face the Intimidators RHP Stephen Sauer (6-4, 2.85).

Scrappers Win in Ten 4-3

On Sunday evening the Mahoning Valley Scrappers improved to 4-0 in extra innings games with a 4-3 victory over the Auburn Doubledays. The Scrappers are now 3-0 on the homestand and 17-6 at home this season.

The Doubledays took an early 2-0 lead before the Scrappers rallied, scoring one in the fourth only to see Auburn respond and add a third run in the eighth inning. Mahoning Valley added two runs in the bottom of the eighth on a RBI single from Jason Smit and a Doubleday throwing error. In the bottom of the tenth the Scrappers put runners at first and third when Tim Palincsar singled to right field. The next pitch got past Auburn catcher Yan Gomes allowing the winning run to score on a passed ball.

Scrappers starter Brett Brach worked the first six innings surrendering two runs while striking out three. Nick Kirk then followed pitching an inning and two thirds before Jeremy Johnson pitched the final two and a third innings and recorded his second victory of the season.

The Scrappers wrap up the four game homestand Monday night against the Auburn Doubledays. Monday’s game starts at 7:05 PM and can be heard on 1390 WNIO or mvscrappers.com.

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