Game Recap 4/21: Gomez Back To Old Form

Gomez Leads Clippers To Victory

In his third career Triple-A start, right-hander Jeanmar Gomez showed the potential that has him ranked as one of the Indians top pitching prospects and made them add him to the 40-man roster last offseason. His pitching combined with some timely hitting by the Clippers offense led them to a convincing 6-1 victory on Wednesday afternoon.

After struggling with his command in his first two starts where he allowed 13 hits, 6 walks and had just 7 strikeouts in 11 innings, on Wednesday Gomez was his old self going 5.2 strong innings allowing 1 run on 6 hits, 1 walk and had 7 strikeouts. It was his first career Triple-A win and he is now 1-1 with a 4.86 ERA in three starts on the season.

For awhile the game itself became a secondary concern when star catching prospect Carlos Santana left the game in the third inning after fouling a ball off his knee. He had to leave the field with the assistance of his teammates as he could not walk off under his own power, but after the game it was determined he only suffered a deep bruise and is day to day.

Franke Herrmann, Mike Gosling, and Saul Rivera combined for 3.1 innings of shutout relief, and both Jason Donald and Shelley Duncan provided key two-run home runs in the game to highlight the Clippers scoring.

Right-hander Yohan Pino gets the start on Thursday in Toledo for the Clippers who at 9-5 on the year look to increase their lead in the West Division of the International League.

Aeros Swept by Curve

The Akron Aeros fell to the Altoona Curve in the third and final game of the three-game series 9-6 Wednesday afternoon at Canal Park. Aeros starting pitcher Paolo Espino lasted five innings, giving up six earned runs on the day. The Aeros fall two games under .500 with a record of 6-8 on the season after Wednesday’s defeat to the Altoona Curve.

The Aeros took the lead in the bottom of the first inning when CF Tim Fedroff led off the game with a single, which found a hole at second base. After John Drennen grounded out, Jared Goedert and Matt McBride both doubled putting the Aeros up 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning. The Aeros would then plate another run in the bottom of the second-inning due to some timely hitting from Cord Phelps and Josh Rodriguez making the contest 3-0. Altoona’s offense came alive in the top of the third inning when the Curve strung together four hits which would eventually lead to four runs crossing the plate, putting the Aeros in an early hole 4-3.

The Aeros offense showed some life in Wednesday’s game after having gone quiet since returning home, only scoring 10 runs since returning home on Thursday. Aeros starter Paolo Espino made it through five innings on Wednesday afternoon against the Curve, who were looking for their first three game sweep of the Aeros this season. Espino gave up nine hits and six runs while walking two and striking out one. Espino remains 1-0 on the year with a 6.46 ERA through three starts with Akron. Espino has given up 11 runs in 15.1 innings of work this season.

The Aeros welcomed a fresh arm into the pen on Wednesday, which was RHP Justin Germano, who recently signed a minor-league deal with the Cleveland Indians after playing a year overseas with the Fukuoka Hawks. Germano pitched 2.1 innings during Wednesday’s contest giving up two runs, two walks and striking out only one Altoona batter. Germano was handed his first loss of the season in his first outing of the season, where he finished the day with a 7.71 ERA. Aeros Closer Neil Wagner came into the game and pitched the final 1.2 innings of the contest giving up a hit and a run, while walking two and striking out two others.

The Aeros come back into town on April 30th, where they will host the Binghamton Mets for a three-game series before welcoming in Trenton to town for a four-game series.

K-Tribe Rained Out, Double-Dip On Thursday

The Kinston Indians were rained out Wednesday night in Delaware. The K-Tribe and Blue Rocks will play a double header Thursday starting at 5 pm in Wilmington. The K-Tribe returns home this Friday at 7 pm to kick off a six game homestand, starting with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

Captains Comeback And Win Again

The Lake County Captains wiped out a four run deficit scoring six unanswered runs and hung on to beat the Great lakes Loons 6-5 on Wednesday. The Captains upped their lead in the division to three games ahead of Great Lakes.

The Loons took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Pedro Guerrero grounded out to first and allowed Angelo Songco to score. The Loons added another run in the top if the third inning when Sands hit his third home run of the year, a solo shot and it was 2-0. Sands added his second homer of the night in the top of the fifth inning off of Marty Popham, a two run shot and it was 4-0.

The Captains tied it up at 4-4 in the bottom of the fifth inning when with two outs, Argenis Martinez drove in Kyle Smith. Delvi Cid followed with a RBI single scoring Greg Folgia. Martinez stole third and scored on a throwing error by the catcher and Cid scored on a RBI single from Casey Frawley.

The Captains took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when Kyle Smith knocked in Jeremie Tice and another run scored on a double play ball and the Captains led 6-4. The Loons inched closer in the top of the eighth inning when Angelo Songco hit his second home run of the series to cut the lead to 6-5. The homer snapped a streak of ten straight batters retired by Popham.

Captains starter Austin Adams did not get a decision pitching four innings and allowing two runs, one earned on five hits, walking two and striking out two. Popham (2-0) came on in the fifth inning and got the win hurling the final five innings and allowing three runs on three hits while striking out six. Will Savage (1-1) took the loss going five innings and allowing six runs, three earned on eight hits, walking one and striking out one.

The Captains and Loons wrap up the series and home stand on Thursday at 6:30 with the Captains sending RHP Clayton Cook (0-1, 4.50) to the mound to face the Loons RHP Elisaul Pimentel (0-1, 5.00).

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