Game Recaps: Tuesday 8/25

Aeros Rally Late in 4-3 Win

Carlos Rivero opened the top of the ninth inning with a base hit and came around to score the winning run on an RBI fielder’s choice by Jared Goedert as the Aeros claimed a 4-3 victory over Bowie in the opener of a four-game series before 1,969 fans at Prince George’s Stadium Tuesday night. Akron improved to 79-49 and matched its season-high at 30 games over .500, while also eliminating the Baysox from division title consideration (Bowie can still earn the wild card). Coupled with Reading’s 8-5 win over Erie, the Aeros can clinch a playoff spot Wednesday night by either sweeping the doubleheader from the Baysox or winning one game and having Reading win again over the SeaWolves.

Akron opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the top of the second, as Matt McBride was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Lonnie Chisenhall lined to right, but singles from Rivero and John Drennen loaded the bases with one down and Armando Camacaro gave the Aeros a 1-0 lead with an RBI single to center. Jose Constanza followed with a liner to center to score Rivero and make it 2-0, although it was technically a fielder’s choice as Drennen misread the ball off the bat and was thrown out trying to go to third.

Bowie answered back with the two tying runs in the bottom of the third, although it could have been much worse. Three straight singles loaded the bases with no outs, but Aeros starter (and former Baysox hurler) Bobby Livingston limited the damage to just a pair of sacrifice flies from Josh Bell and Ambiorix Concepcion.

The Aeros pulled back in front by a run in the sixth as back-to-back doubles by McBride and Chisenhall made it a 3-2 game, but the Baysox answered again in the bottom of the seventh as Danny Figueroa drew a one-out walk from reliever Zach Putnam and twin brother Paco Figueroa doubled him home to tie the game at 3-3.

Akron would reclaim the lead for good in the top of the ninth however, as Rivero ripped a base hit to left to start the inning. Drennen followed with a sacrifice bunt attempt in front of the plate that Bowie catcher Steve Torrealba pounced on, but he hesitated in making the throw to second and the indecision cost him as Rivero was just able to slide in safely. Camacaro then moved both runners up 90 feet with a sacrifice, and the Baysox intentionally walked Constanza to load the bases and set up a force at the plate. Goedert spoiled that strategy however, grounding a ball sharply to the left side that shortstop Carlos Rojas smothered with a diving attempt, but his only play was a force at third base as Rivero scored the deciding run.

Putnam (4-2) blew the save but earned the win, giving up a run and a hit in two innings of work. His lone walk came around to score, and he struck out four. James Hoey (2-6) took the loss for Bowie, allowing a run on two hits in two innings. Neil Wagner entered for the ninth and struck out the side for his second save. Both starters pitched well in taking no-decisions, as Livingston held his former mates to two runs in six innings and Sox starter Tim Bascom allowed three runs in seven frames. Rivero paced the offense with a pair of singles and two runs scored, while McBride also scored twice.

Games two and three in this four-game series are set for a doubleheader Wednesday night, with game one starting at 6:05 p.m. Jeanmar Gomez (10-3, 3.06 ERA) is expected to start game one for Akron while Connor Graham (1-2, 4.07 ERA) will take the hill in game two.

K-Tribe Drops Fourth in a Row

Frederick ace Zach Britton shut down the K-Tribe as the Keys beat the Indians 6-1 Tuesday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. Britton (9-6) went seven innings, giving up five hits and one run to earn the win. Britton struck out six and walked just one batter, lowering his ERA to 2.74 on the year.

The Keys jumped on K-Tribe starter Bryan Price (2-2) early, knocking him around for three runs on six hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings. Frederick wasn’t any friendlier to K-Tribe reliever Jonathan Holt, who gave up three runs on six hits in 2 1/3 innings. Frederick scored in five of their first six innings, taken a 6-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning. Frederick banged out 13 hits on the night as every hitter in their lineup reached base safely.

Dallas Cawiezell and Kyle Landis held Frederick for the remainder of the game, combining for three scoreless innings, giving up just one hit.Kinston would score their only run of the game when Doug Pickens drove home Ole Sheldon with an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning. Sheldon and Pickens each had two hits for the K-Tribe.

With their fourth straight loss Kinston now falls one game behind Salem for the final playoff spot in the Carolina League Southern Division with 12 games remaining. The K-Tribe will be back in action at Historic Grainger Stadium on Wednesday night against Frederick. Game time 7pm, Paolo Espino (6-6, 2.55) gets the start for Kinston.

Shorebirds Drop Captains 8-5

Levi Carolus drove in four runs and L.J. Hoes double three times to lead the Delmarva Shorebirds to an 8-5 victory over the Lake County Captains on Tuesday.

The Captains scored twice in the bottom of the second inning when Bo Greenwell grounded out and John Allman was able to score and then Roberto Perez scored on a throwing error and the Captains led 2-0. The Shorebirds scored and unearned run in the top of the third inning when Joe Mahoney doubled home Kyle Hudson, who had reached on an error, and it was 2-1. The Birds took the lead in the top of the fourth inning when Luis Bernardo singled home L.J. Hoes and then Greg Miclat tripled home Bernardo and Kyle Hudson and Delmarva led 4-2.

The Captains tied it up in the bottom of the fourth inning when Dan DeGeorge singled home John Allman and Perez to tie the game at 4-4. The Shorebirds regained the lead in the top of the fifth inning on a two run home run by Carolus to make it 6-4 Shorebirds lead. Carolus singled home two more runs in the top of the seventh inning to up the lead to 8-4. The Captains added a run in the ninth inning on a wild pitch to end the scoring at 8-5.

The Captains sent LHP T.J. House (5-10) to the mound and he took the loss pitching five innings and allowing six runs, five earned on eight hits, walking one and striking out five. The Shorebirds started Chris Salberg (3-2) and he got the win working five innings and allowing four runs on four hits, walking three and striking out four. Cliff Flagello recorded the final out of the game to pick up his fifth save of the year.

The Captains and Shorebirds play game two of the series on Wednesday at 7:00 PM. Captains will send RHP Jason Knapp (2-7, 3.98) to the hill to face LHP Nathan Moreau (5-3, 3.40).

Scrappers Lose 7-3

On Tuesday night, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers started a three game homestand with a 7-3 loss to the Batavia Muckdogs. With the loss the Scrappers are now 41-23 on the season and 21-10 at Eastwood Field.

Scrappers starter Preston Guilmet pitched the first five innings and gave up six runs, five earned, while walking one and striking out four. Guilmet suffered the loss and dropped to 6-4 this season. Matt Packer pitched the next three innings and struck out for without giving up a run. Guido Fonseca pitched the final inning and gave up one run on two base hits.

The Muckdogs struck first in the 1st scoring one run, then adding a second run in the 4th, making it 2-0 Batavia. The Scrappers scored two runs in the bottom of the 4th on a Muckdog throwing error and a Jesus Brito RBI single. Batavia responded with four runs in the top of the 5th to take the lead back at 6-2. The Scrappers added a run in the 7th on a wild pitch, cutting the Muckdog lead to
6-3, but came up short in the end losing the game 7-3.

Wednesday, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers are at home for game two of a three game series against the Batavia Muckdogs. Clayton Cook is scheduled to make the start for the Scrappers; he is 4-3 with a 2.61 ERA.

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