Game Recaps: Wednesday 8/5

The Columbus Clippers had a scheduled night off.

Aeros win on walk off
Baseball is a game of second chances. Pop out in one at-bat, get back to it your next time up. Lose a game, come back the next day and do it again. Strike out to end the game one night, deliver the game-winning single the next.

That was the script Akron’s Beau Mills followed Wednesday evening at Canal Park, as the first baseman came through with the walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 10th in Akron’s 4-3 win over Connecticut before 3,982 fans. Mills, who had struck out with the bases loaded to end the game just one night previously, helped the Aeros improve to 69-42 on the season while the Defenders fell to 64-46.

Connecticut opened the scoring in the top of the third on a two-run double from Eastern League RBI-leader Brett Pill, but Akron answered back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Carlos Santana opened the frame with a five-pitch walk, Mills followed with a sharp single that ricocheted off Pill’s foot at first base to put runners on the corners, and Matt McBride dumped the next offering into left field to score Santana and get the Aeros on the board. Jerad Head then followed with a ringing RBI double to left center to score Mills and tie the game, and Carlos Rivero got enough of an 0-2 pitch to put Akron in front with a clutch sacrifice fly to right.

The Defenders came back immediately in the top of the fifth however, as Jackson Williams laced a one-out double to left off McBride’s glove and Aeros starter Josh Tomlin then walked the next two hitters to load the bases. That brought Pill to the plate and he delivered once more with an RBI single to left to score Williams and tie the game at 3-3, although McBride atoned for his earlier misplay by gunning out Brock Bond at the plate. Special mention on the play must also be given to Santana, who did an excellent job of blocking the plate and forcing Bond to the outside before lunging to apply the tag.

It would remain even for the rest of regulation, despite near constant threats from the Defenders. Connecticut stranded a runner at second in the sixth, couldn’t take advantage of a leadoff walk in the seventh, and then left runners at second and third to end the ninth. The Aeros meanwhile, simply felt fortunate to push the game to extra innings as the offense mustered just two singles from the fifth through ninth frames.

Connecticut squandered another opportunity in the top of the 10th as Akron’s Erik Stiller struck out Brandon Crawford with a runner at second to end the inning, and the Aeros went right to work in the bottom half. Cristo Arnal led off with a single on the first pitch of the inning, Jesus Merchan followed with a sacrifice bunt, and Nick Weglarz was hit by a pitch. Defenders reliever Dan Griffin recovered to strike out Santana, but after pulling ahead of Mills 1-2 couldn’t put him away. Mills grounded the winning base hit past a diving Pill and into right field, as Arnal raced home before making a hard left and starting an impromptu mosh pit centered around Mills at first base.

Stiller (7-3) earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief, while Griffin (6-6) suffered the loss. Mills went 2-5 for his team-leading 33rd multi-hit game, while Arnal and Rivero also finished with two hits apiece. Santana’s single in the first inning extended his career-high hitting streak to 13 games.

Espino shines as K-Tribe win on walk off
Ole Sheldon hit a home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, as Kinston walked off with a 2-1 victory in a late morning start Wednesday at Historic Grainger Stadium. It was Sheldon’s seventh home run of the season. With the walk-off win, the Indians second of the season, Kinston took the three game series from Lynchburg.

Kinston pitchers Kyle Landis and Paolo Espino shutdown the Hillcat bats, combining for a one-hit shutout. Espino no-hit Lynchburg through his first seven innings of work, but the first hit he gave up was a big one. With one out in the eighth inning, Jared Keel took a breaking ball over the left field wall for a home run, tying the score at one. It was the best no decision you’ll ever see as Espino gave up one hit, striking out six and walking one in 7 1/3 innings. Kyle Landis took over after the home run, going the final 1 2/3 innings without giving up a hit. Landis (2-4) racked up his second win of the season, striking out two.

Lonnie Chisenhall hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning for the K-Tribe’s first run of the game. It was Chisenhall’s second consecutive contest with a home run and his 18th long ball of the season. Chisenhall is now second in the Carolina League in home runs and first in RBI with 77. Tim Fedroff’s double in the sixth inning was the only other hit of the game for Kinston, who racked up three on the afternoon.

Clutch pitching leads Captains to victory
Donnie Webb scored the winning run in the top of the eleventh inning on a wild pitch as the Lake County Captains won their third straight game defeating the Lakewood BlueClaws 3-2 on Wednesday. The Captains are now 8-10 in extra inning games.

The Captains scored a pair of runs in the first inning when Mark Thompson score on a Nate Recknagel sacrifice fly and Bo Greenwell scored on a single by Chris Nash and the Captains led 2-0. The BlueClaws tied it up in the bottom of the fifth inning when Korby Mintken grounded out and Travis Mattair scored and D'Arby Myers singled Kyle Lafrenz home and it was tied at 2-2.

Captains' starter Trey Haley did not get a decision going 4.2 innings and allowing two runs, one earned on two hits, walking two and striking out four. Kaimi Mead followed Haley and retired the last batter in the fifth inning. He had inherited a bases loaded situation. Mead went 1.2 scoreless innings. Brian Grening relieved Mead with runners on second and third and one out in the seventh inning and did not allow a run to score. Grening went 2.1 scoreless innings. Anillins Martinez came on in the bottom of the ninth inning with the winning run at third base and two outs and was able to force extra innings. Martinez (2-3) went 1.1 scoreless innings to pick up the win. Matt Langewell pitched a scoreless eleventh inning and recorded his second save.

BlueClaws starter Heitor Correa did not get a decision either working six innings and allowing two runs on four hits, walking two and striking out six. Rob Roth (3-2) worked the eleventh inning and took the loss.

Scrappers keep rolling and defeat Tri-City
On Wednesday night the Scrappers defeated the Tri-City ValleyCats 5-3. With the win the Scrappers became the first team in the New York Penn League to win thirty games on the season. Mahoning Valley is now 30-17 and 5-0 against Stedler Division opponents.

The Scrappers scored first in the 2nd inning when Kyle Smith singled, stole second and scored on Casey Frawley's RBI single. Mahoning Valley added to the lead in the third when Kyle Bellows hit his fifth home run of the season. The Scrappers added two more runs in the fourth on a Jordan Henry bases loaded walk and a Jason Kipnis sacrifice fly. The ValleyCats added one in the 4th and two in the 6th but came up short. With the 5-3 victory, Mahoning Valley will look to complete the three game sweep on Thursday.,p>

Scrappers starter Vidal Nuno pitched the first five innings and surrendered just one run on three base hits and three strikeouts. Nuno's streak of 15 and 2/3 scoreless innings came to an end in the fourth when he surrendered a solo home run to the ValleyCats Jhonny Medrano. Corey Burns worked a quick 9th inning to record his seventh save in seven chances.

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