Game Recaps: Monday 8/31

Clippers fall short against Bats

Louisville held off the Clippers for a 7-5 win Monday night at Huntington Park. Mike Gosling took the hill for the Clippers and it was not the beginning he wanted. The leadoff hitter Luis Bolivar singled and the second batter of the game, Chris Heisey hit a pitch over the left field wall for a quick Bats lead 2-0.

The Bats added another run in the third when Bolivar doubled and came in to score on a single by Juan Francisco.

The visitors padded their lead in the fourth with two outs, when Korey Feiner doubled and Bolivar hit a fly ball which was dropped by Jesus Merchan at second base scoring Feiner. Heisey later singled scoring Bolivar and staking Louisville to a 5-0 lead.

The Clippers started a comeback in the fifth when Niuman Romero was hit by a pitch. Michael Brantley singled and Jordan Brown singled, scoring Romero. In a double steal, the throw to second went into center field scoring Brantley. Lou Marson singled scoring Brown closing the gap to 5-3.

Kenny Ray came in to pitch in the sixth and the Bats got one run back when Lou Ford scored on an error by first baseman Damaso Espino. The Clippers kept fighting back. In the sixth, Espino doubled and came around to score when Romero reached on an error. Both teams exchanged runs in the seventh to end the scoring. Jose Veras and R.J. Swindle pitched scoreless innings for the Clippers. The second game of the home stand is Tuesday at 7:05pm.

Aeros Earn Split, Hold Off B-Mets 10-7

The Aeros squandered a six-run lead but never trailed, striking for two runs in the sixth and seventh innings to defeat Binghamton 10-7 before 9,012 fans at Canal Park Monday night. Akron, which split its third straight series, improved to 82-53 while the Mets fell to 51-82.

Jeanmar Gomez worked out of a jam in the top of the first by stranding runners at second and third, and the Aeros went right to work in support of him in the bottom of the frame. Jose Constanza drew a four-pitch walk to start the rally, moved to second on a single by Cristo Arnal, and was then waved home when Emmanuel Garcia bobbled Carlos Santana’s base hit to left field (Constanza had originally stopped at third). Beau Mills grounded out, but Matt McBride walked to load the bases and Jerad Head plated all three runners with a triple to right-center to put Akron in front 4-0.

Santana pushed the margin to five runs with a two-out RBI single in the second, and Head then tripled again in the third and scored on Carlos Rivero’s sacrifice fly.

Binghamton came roaring back in the fourth however, striking for five runs off Aeros starter Jeanmar Gomez. Ike Davis led off the inning with a solo home run, and an infield single and a broken-bat base hit put runners at first and second. Zach Lutz flied out, but Jose Coronado and Garcia came through with back-to-back RBI single to make it 6-3. A walk to Salvador Paniagua loaded the bases, and although Gomez recovered to strike out Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Ruben Tejada muscled a two-run single to shallow right field to bring the Mets within a run and knock Gomez from the game. Binghamton then tied the game in the sixth when Nieuwenhuis tripled and scored on another flare from Tejada.

Akron had the answers however, as Constanza sparked the go-ahead rally in the bottom of the sixth with a one-out single. Arnal then reached on a perfect bunt, and Santana drove the next pitch into the right field corner to score Constanza and put the Aeros back in front by a run. Head was then hit by a pitch with the bases loaded later in the inning to make it 8-6, and a bases-loaded walk and a sac fly in the seventh gave Akron some breathing room.

The B-Mets threatened in the eighth and did get the potential tying run to the plate, but left-hander Matt Meyer got three huge outs in the inning before giving way to closer Josh Judy for a perfect ninth.

Erik Stiller (8-3) earned the win in relief for the Aeros, while Binghamton starter Mike Antonini (7-4) took the loss. Judy’s save was his ninth in 10 chances. Constanza had a spectacular night, reaching base all five times, tying a season-high with four runs scored, and also stealing his 41st base of the year to tie Eider Torres’ team record. Santana had three hits and three RBI and is now four RBI away from tying Wes Hodges’ single-season record of 97 set just last year, while Head went 2-4 with four RBI and drove in nine runs in the series.

The Aeros hit the road Tuesday morning for a quick three-game swing to Altoona, with all three contests starting at 6:35 p.m. Connor Graham (1-3, 5.08 ERA) goes for Akron against the Curve’s Yoslan Herrera (11-1, 3.23 ERA) in game one.

Early Runs Cost Captains

The Delmarva Shorebirds scored quickly and made the runs stand up as they defeated the Lake County Captains 6-5 on Monday. The Captains had the tying run thrown out at the plate to end the game. This was the first game of an eight game road trip for the Captains that will end their run in the South Atlantic League.

The Shorebirds got to Captains starter T.J. House in the first inning when Ron Welty blasted a three run home run and Joe Mahoney followed with a solo shot and the Birds led 4-0. The Captains got a run in the top of the third inning on a sacrifice fly from Nate Recknagel that scored Trent Baker and it was 4-1. It went to 4-2 in the top of the fifth inning when Donnie Webb doubled and then scored on a double by Matt Willard.

It was 4-3 in the top of the sixth inning when Dan DeGeorge bounced into a double play that scored Adam Abraham. The Birds added a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on a RBI double from L.J. Hoes, and then a RBI single from Elvin Polanco and the lead was upped to 6-3. The Captains rallied with two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning on a RBI single by Recknagel and then a RBI single by Adam Abraham but when Delvi Cid was thrown out trying to score from second, the game was over.

Captains starter T.J. House (5-11) took the loss pitching five innings and allowing four runs on six hits, walking one and striking out six. Anillins Martinez worked 2.1 innings and allowed two runs. Shorebirds starter Nathan Moreau did not get a decision working 4.2 innings and allowing two runs on four hits, walking three and striking out four. Brett Bordes (3-2) got the win going two scoreless innings allowing one hit, one walk and striking gout one. T.R Keating worked the final two innings and picked up his second save of the year.

The Captains and Shorebirds play game two of the three game series on Tuesday at 7:05 PM with the Captains sending LHP Nick Hagadone (0-3, 2.50) to the hill to face the Shorebirds LHP Cole McCurry (6-8, 2.86).

Scrappers Clinch Pinckney Division Title

On Monday night, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers clinched the Pinckney Division Championship with an 8-4 victory over the Williamsport Crosscutters. With the win, the Scrappers are now 45-23 overall have clinched a playoff birth for the first time since winning the NYPL Championship in 2004.

Scrappers starter Brett Brach pitched the first 6 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits while striking out a career high ten. Austin Adams then tossed the next 2 innings and allowed one run on two hits and three strikeouts. Guido Fonseca closed out the game working a scoreless 9th, striking out one.

The Crosscutters took an early lead and continued to add on scoring one in the 2nd and two in the 3rd, the Cutters’ scored their final run of the night in the 7th making it 4-0 Williamsport. The Mahoning Valley comeback started in the 8th when they plated two runs, each on RBI singles from Jordan Henry and Jason Kipnis. In the 9th the Scrappers offense exploded scoring six runs. The Scrappers collected three straight singles to start the inning before Henry delivered an RBI single to cut the Cutters’ lead to one. Mahoning Valley then added another run on a throwing error and a second on a bases loaded walk to Jason Kipnis. Greg Folgia followed with a two RBI single to chase home two more runs. Jesus Brito capped off the inning with an RBI single, capping the Scrappers late inning explosion and 8-4 victory over the Williamsport Crosscutters.

Tuesday, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers wrap up their road trip against the Williamsport Crosscutters. Preston Guilmet is scheduled to make the start for the Scrappers; he is 6-4 with a 3.25 ERA. Tuesday’s game starts at 7:05 PM and can be heard on 1390 WNIO and online at mvscrappers.com.

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