Game Recap 5/10: McFarland Mows Down Pelicans

Kinston Wins Third Straight

T.J. McFarland and Chris Jones combined for a three-hit shutout as Kinston won their third straight game, beating Myrtle Beach 5-0 Monday night in South Carolina. In his first start of the season, McFarland (4-0) captured his Carolina League leading fourth win of the year, while lowering his ERA to 0.53 (in 30 2/3 innings) which also leads the CL. McFarland went six innings, giving up just two singles while striking out a season high six batters. McFarland did not walk a batter. Jones, just called up to Kinston from Low A Lake County, gave up just one hit (an infield single) over the final three innings of the games to earn the save. Jones struck out one and did not walk a batter. He retired the final nine batters he faced. It was the Carolina League leading fourth shutout of the season for Kinston. The Indians have now won a season high three straight and four of their last five games.

The Indian’s would break open a scoreless game in the top of the sixth inning. Cristo Arnal and Jason Kipnis started the frame with back-to-back singles. Nate Recknagel would give Kinston a 1-0 lead with an RBI single, driving in Arnal. After a sacrifice bunt by Abner Abreu, Karexon Sanchez hit a three-run home run. It was the second homer of the season for Sanchez, extending the K-Tribe lead to 4-0. The K-Tribe would add an insurance run in the eighth inning when Nate Recknagel walked, then scored from first on an RBI double from Donnie Webb. Pelicans starter Brett Oberholtzer (1-2) took the loss.

The K-Tribe continues the four game series Tuesday night at Myrtle Beach, as Nick Hagadone will take the hill for Kinston. Game time 7:05.

Clippers roll past Yankees 10-2

The hit parade rolled on for Columbus Monday night at PNC Field as the Clippers trounced the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees 10-2 for their 4th win in five tries on the current road trip.

The Clippers didn't even let the fans get their seats warm before ringing up spot-starter Amouri Senit for four runs in the top of the 1st inning. Carlos Santana plated Jason Donald with a single and scored on the first of three Shelley Duncan hits on the night. Wes Hodges followed with a 2-run home run to cap the inning. Columbus scored twice more in the top of the 5th on a Trevor Crowe RBI single and Hodges double for a 6-0 lead.

Josh Tomlin, making his 4th start for Columbus allowed no runs to the Yankees through four innings before being touched up for a pair of runs in the 5th. He would finish the innings and make way for Frank Herrmann who continues to dominate the league. Herrmann pitched two scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 0.56 on the year. Jess Todd finished the Yankees off with two goose-eggs of his own.

Brian Buscher made it a 9-2 game in the 7th inning when he cleared the bases with a 3-run double and Anderson Hernandez put the cherry on top when he drove in Hodges in the top of the 9th. Hodges finished with three RBI's and eight total bases for Columbus.

The 2nd game of the series will be a 7:05 1st pitch Tuesday evening. Hector Rondon looks for his 2nd win of the year against the Yankees' Dustin Moseley.

Aeros Go Down 4-1

The Erie SeaWolves defeated the Aeros Monday night behind a strong outing from Erie starter Jon Kibler. Using his two-seam fastball and a slider that didn't slide almost exculsively, the left-handed starter threw 7 2/3 innings of one run ball, scattered four hits, walked three and struck out two.

As stifling as Kibler was, Akron (12-19) starter Kelvin De La Cruz did his best to match him pitch for pitch. In his first start after being called up from Single-A Kinston over the weekend, De La Cruz allowed two runs over six innings and struck out seven.

De La Cruz made only two mistakes in the game, but both proved costly as each led to runs. In the second inning, with Audy Ciriaco on second, he was called for a balk trying to pick-off Michael Bertram at first, which eventually allowed Ciraco to score on a Max St. Pierre single. In the fifth, he left a fastball up in the zone that Andy Dirks took over the left field wall to put Erie up 2-0.

The SeaWolves (17-14) defense came up big in the game. Of the 20 outs that Kibler recorded, 11 came on infield grounders.

The series continues Tuesday night in Erie at 6:35 p.m. Lefty Scott Barnes (0-3, 7.62 ERA), still looking for his first win of 2010, takes the mound against Erie's L.J. Gagnier (3-0, 2.83 ERA).

Hot Rods Cruise by Captains

One big inning by the Bowling Green Hot Rods was the difference in the game as they defeated the Lake County Captains 6-1 on Monday.

The Hot Rods broke a scoreless tie scoring four times in the top of the sixth inning when Kyle Spraker singled home two runs. Ryan Wiegand and Mayo Acosta also drove in runs and it was 4-0. The Captains scored a run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Jeremie Tice hit a solo home run and it was 4-1. The Rods scored two unearned runs in the top of the ninth inning when Chris Murrill tripled home both runs to make it 6-1.

Starter Brett Brach made his Captains debut and did not get a decision working five scoreless innings allowing four hits, walking one and striking out four. Francisco Jimenez relieved Brach and gave up four runs, three earned on three hits while walking one. Preston Guilmet also made his Captains debut and threw 2.2 scoreless innings allowing two hits and striking out four. Another new Captain, Tyler Sturdevant worked the ninth inning and allowed two unearned runs while striking out one.

Hot Rods starter Alexander Colome (2-2) got the win lasting six innings and allowing one run on four hits, walking one and striking six. Deivis Mavarez hurled two scoreless innings and Kirby Yates pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

The Captains and Hot Rods will play game two of the three game series on Tuesday at 6:30 PM. The Captains will send RHP Danny Salazar (1-1, 6.08) to the mound and the Hot Rods counter with RHP Shane Dyer (2-2, 1.25).

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