Game Recaps: Tuesday 9/1

Newcomers Pino and Webb lead Clippers to victory

The Clippers evened the series by downing the Louisville Bats 9-2 score at Huntington Park Tuesday.

Yohan Pino, who was acquired by Cleveland in the Carl Pavano trade, started for Columbus and threw seven strong innings, allowing two runs on seven hits, striking out eight batters. Frank Herrmann and another new Clipper, Juan Salas each pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

No one contributed more for Columbus than Donnie Webb, who Tuesday morning, was a member of the Lake County Captains. The youngster arrived in Columbus just before the game and batted leadoff and played center field. He did not disappoint. Webb went 3-for-4 with a walk, a steal, two runs scores and three RBIs in his Triple-A debut.

Jordan Brown had two hits to raise his batting average to .333 as he chases a batting title. Wes Hodges drove in two runs in a 2-for-4 night.

The final matchup of 2009 between Columbus and Louisville takes place at 7:05pm Wednesday.

Mills Delivers in Extras, Aeros Win 6-3

Beau Mills ripped a two-run double in the top of the 12th and the Akron bullpen turned in seven shutout innings as the Aeros defeated Altoona 6-3 before 3,948 fans at Blair County Ballpark Tuesday night. Akron improved to 83-53 and climbed back to a season-high 30 games over .500, while the Curve slipped to 60-76.

Jose Constanza got the Aeros off to a quick start by drawing a leadoff walk to open the game, and the speedster then promptly stole second and third base. The steal of second was Constanza’s 42nd of the year, moving him past Eider Torres and into first place all alone on the franchise’s single-season list. Mills then delivered a sacrifice fly to put the Aeros up 1-0, but the Curve responded with single runs in the second, third and fifth innings to take the lead.

Akron managed only a run on two hits through the first five innings, but rallied to tie the game in the sixth. Matt McBride reached on an infield single with one down, and Lonnie Chisenhall then drove a ground-rule double the opposite way to left. Curve reliever Derek Hankins recovered to strike out Jerad Head, but Carlos Rivero laced a clutch two-run, two-out double to left field to tie the game at 3-3.

It remained that way into extra innings, with neither team making much headway in regulation. Neither side could capitalize after putting the leadoff man on in the 10th, and Head was erased on a double play in the 11th after reaching on an infield single to open the frame. Akron finally broke through in the 12th however, as Josh Rodriguez notched a one-out single and Carlos Santana drew a walk. That set the stage for Mills, who drove a fastball to the wall in right-center to score pinch-runner Cristo Arnal and Santana and put the Aeros ahead to stay. Mills advanced to third on the throw home, and McBride plated him with a sac fly to left on the next pitch to account for the final margin.

Brian Grening (1-0) delivered two shutout innings for his first Double-A win, while Altoona’s Scott Nestor (2-3) took the loss. Josh Judy recorded a perfect 12th inning for his 10th save in 11 chances, capping a run of seven shutout innings from the Akron bullpen. Zach Putnam, Neil Wagner, Grening and Judy combined to allow just one hit and two walks over the final seven innings, while striking out nine in the process. Mills finished with three RBI to reach 80 for the season.

Game two in this three-game series is set for 6:35 p.m. Wednesday, as Akron southpaw Scott Barnes (1-2, 7.20 ERA) takes on Altoona’s Mike Crotta (6-8, 4.95 ERA).

The Kinston Indians beat Keys 5-1

Ole Sheldon drove in every Kinston run, as the K-Tribe beat Frederick 5-1 Tuesday night in Maryland. Sheldon went 2-for-3 with a season high five RBI.

In the top of the first inning Tim Fedroff and Cord Phelps drew back-to-back, one-out walks. Ole Sheldon then got the green light, taking a 3-0 pitch over the wall in center for his team leading 13th home run of the season. After a solo home run by Frederick’s Bobby Stevens made the score 3-1 after one inning, Sheldon struck again with an RBI single in the third. The Sheldon single drove in Lucas Montero, who walked to lead off the inning. Kinston would manufacture another run in the top of the eighth inning when Fedroff led off with a walk, stole second, and then advanced to third on a Phelps ground-out. That set the table again for Ole, who drove a deep sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Fedroff. Kinston managed just three hits in the game, two by Sheldon.

Kinston’s pitching was again dominant, as Paolo Espino (8-6) picked up the win. Espino went five innings, giving up just two hits and one run. Espino walked a season high four and struck out six. The bullpen was brilliant, as Chen-Chang Lee, Bryce Stowell and Kyle Landis combined to throw four scoreless innings. The trio gave up a total of just two hits, striking out seven, while not walking a batter. Frederick managed just four hits on the night.

Winners of five of their last six games, the K-Tribe will take on Frederick for the middle game of the three game set Wednesday night in Maryland. Game time 7pm as Kinston newcomer Nick Hagadone takes the mound for the Indians.

Captains Win with two Runs in the Ninth Inning

A throwing error by the Shorebirds shortstop Greg Miclat allowed two runs to score in the top of the ninth inning as the Lake County Captains defeated he Delmarva Shorebirds 5-4 on Tuesday. The Captains are 18-26 in one run games and the first two games of the eight game road trip have been decided by one run each.

The Captains took the lead in the top of the second inning when Matt Willard drove home Adam Abraham with a sacrifice fly and the Captains led 1-0. Delmarva tied it up at 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning when Luis Bernardo scored on a Captains fielding error. The Shorebirds took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Levi Carolus scored from third base on a wild pitch to make it 2-1. The Captains took the lead in the top of the eighth inning when Karexon Sanchez tripled home Delvi Cid and then scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Adam Abraham and the Captains lead 3-2. The Birds took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of eighth when L.J. Hoes scored on a fielding error and then Ron Welty tripled home Xavier Avery.

Captains starter Alexander Morales did not get a decision pitching five innings and allowing two runs, one earned, on one hit, walking three and striking out four. Francisco Jimenez (7-0) got the win working three innings and allowing the two runs in the eighth inning. Steve Smith pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his 25th save of the year. Shorebirds starter Cole McCurry did not factor in the decision either working six innings allowing one run on two hits, walking four while striking out eight. Shane Matthews (1-4) gave up the two unearned runs in ninth inning and took the loss.

The Captains and Shorebirds play for the final time on Wednesday at 7:05 PM with the Captains sending Kaimi Mead (5-3, 4.28) to the hill to face the Shorebirds LHP Nicholas Haughian (0-0, 0.00).

Posted in: