Game Recaps: Saturday 9/5

Drennan powers Aeros to walk off win
John Drennen sparked the tying two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth and then boomed a two-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the 10th as Akron defeated Erie 5-4 in front of 8,346 fans at Canal Park Saturday night. The Aeros won their sixth straight and climbed a season-high 34 games over .500 at 87-53, tying the 2006 club for the third most wins in franchise history. Erie fell to 71-68 and was eliminated from playoff contention.

The SeaWolves used the long ball to take an early lead, as Mike Bertram hit a solo shot to right-center in the second and Brennan Boesch added a two-run blast in the third to stake starter L.J. Gagnier to a 3-0 lead. Gagnier, in just his second Eastern League start, made the margin hold up through seven scoreless innings before departing after consecutive singles opened the bottom of the eighth. The Aeros would go on to break through in the eighth thanks to a run-scoring fielder's choice by Matt McBride, and a phenomenal leaping catch at the wall by left fielder Jerad Head in the top of the ninth helped keep it a 3-1 game heading to the bottom of the frame.

Carlos Rivero struck out to start the inning, but Drennen followed with a single to center to get the potential tying run to the plate. Armando Camacaro also struck out, but Jose Constanza drew a five-pitch walk from Erie's Brett Jensen to set the stage for Josh Rodriguez. The second baseman took a first pitch ball from Jensen, then belted his second offering off the top of the wall in left-center, scoring both runners and pushing the game into extra innings.

Erie rebounded to take the lead in the top of the 10th though, as Aeros reliever Neil Wagner surrendered one-out singles to Santo de Leon and Danny Worth. Wagner then allowed the go-ahead run in gut wrenching fashion, throwing a wild pitch to advance both runners before a second wild pitch scored de Leon and put Erie in front 4-3.

The SeaWolves sent Jensen back out for the 10th, and after Lonnie Chisenhall singled to open the inning the right-hander came back to strike out Head and Rivero to again get Akron down to its final out. Jensen fell behind 2-0 to Drennen however, and the native of San Diego sent the next pitch sailing into the bleachers to win the game.

Wagner (1-3) earned his first win of the year after allowing a run in two innings of relief, while Jensen (5-5) blew two leads and was roughed up for four runs in 1.2 innings. Aeros starter Jeanmar Gomez allowed the two early home runs before settling in for his ninth quality start, giving up three runs and seven hits in six innings. Drennen finished just a double shy of hitting for the cycle, and the home run was his fifth of the year. Rodriguez finished with three hits as well, Beau Mills was 2-4 to extend his hitting streak to eight games, and Constanza scored runs 96 and 97 on the year, passing Grady Sizemore for second on the club's single-season list.

K-Tribe drop third straight
The Potomac Nationals hit three home runs on their way to a 7-0 victory over Kinston on Saturday night in Virginia. Salem won in extra innings over Lynchburg, as the K-Tribe is now two games out of the final playoff spot with just two games to play.

Potomac managed just six hits in the game, but half were home runs; starting with a solo shot from Danny Espinosa in the bottom of the first inning. In the top of the fourth inning, Potomac’s Michael Burgess reached base on a dropped pop-up by Kinston shortstop Ronald Rivas. After the error, Devin Ivany walked and Tim Pahuta launched a three-run home run off of Kinston starter Bryan Price. Price (2-4) was again the tough luck loser, giving up four hits in 6 2/3 innings for five runs (four earned). Price walked one and struck out six. Potomac would put the game away in the bottom of the eighth inning, courtesy of a two-run home run by Ivany off of K-Tribe reliever Santo Frias.

The K-Tribe managed just five hits in the game as Potomac ace Tom Milone was fantastic. Milone (12-5) picked up his Carolina League leading 12th win, giving up just four hits in eight innings while striking out four. Kinston was 0-for-7 at the plate with runners in scoring position. Cord Phelps was 2-for-4 for Kinston.

Captains suffer tough 9th inning loss
The Lake County Captains scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning but the Hagerstown Suns scored the winning run in the bottom of the inning on a RBI single from James Keithley and the Suns defeated the Captains 6-5 on Saturday.

The Suns got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning when Jose Lozada grounded out but Brett Newsome scored from third and it was 1-0 Suns. The lead went to 3-0 when Newsome doubled home two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Steve Lombardozzi drove in Chris Curran in the bottom of the fourth inning and the lead was 4-0. Robby Jacobsen Doubled home Curran in the bottom of the sixth inning and it was 5-0.

The Captains scored five times in the top of the ninth inning when Bo Greenwell walked in a run, Jeremie Tice plated a run on groundout and Roberto Perez singled home a run. John Allman then tripled home two runs and the game was tied at 5-5.

Captains starter T.J. McFarland did not get a decision pitching four innings and allowing four runs, three earned, on seven hits, walking two and striking out six. Travis Turek went three innings allowing one run on five hits, walking one. Gary Campfield (0-1) took the loss giving up the run in the ninth inning. Suns starter Patrick Lehman took a no decision as well despite working seven scoreless innings allowing two hits while striking out nine. Clayton Dill (2-0) got the win even though he gave up three runs, including the tying run.

Scrappers clinch home field
On Saturday night, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers defeated the State College Spikes 3-0. With the win, the Scrappers have set the all-time single season franchise record for wins with forty-nine (49-26).

Scrappers starter Brett Brach went the first six innings and allowed no runs, on three base hits and five strikeouts. Tyler Sturdevant pitched the final three innings and gave up no hits and striking out three.

Mahoning Valley scored first in the 1st when Jesus Brito delivered an RBI single to right field. The Spikes held the Scrappers scoreless for the next six innings, until Mahoning Valley scored a run in the 7th inning on a wild pitch, then adding their third run on a Argenis Martinez bunt single to third. Scrappers pitching continued to keep the Spikes off the scoreboard for the final two innings, as Mahoning Valley went on to the 3-0 victory.

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