Game Recap 5/20: K-Tribe Sweep

Indians Sweep Sox on Walk-Off Walk

Kinston completed a four game sweep of Salem, with a 5-4, walk-off victory Thursday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. Richard Martinez walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning for the triumph. The K-Tribe (21-20) has now won 11 of their last 13 games.

Salem jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning off of K-Tribe starter T.J. McFarland. Oscar Tejeda ripped an RBI double and then was driven home by a Tim Federowicz single. The two runs were all that McFarland allowed through six innings, and were the most that he has allowed in an appearance this season. His league-best ERA was bumped slightly to 1.07. McFarland gave up six hits walking two and striking out six in the no-decision.

The Indians had a quick answer in the bottom of the third, as Karexon Sanchez drilled an RBI double to score Jordan Henry. Sanchez was thrown out trying to advance to third, and the K-Tribe trailed 2-1. The score remained the same until the bottom of the sixth, when reliever Michael Lee came on for Salem. With one out, Doug Pickens reached on an infield single and then Kyle Bellows hammered his third homer of the year, a two-run shot to left to give the K-Tribe a 3-2 lead. An Adam Davis RBI single later in the inning delivered Richard Martinez to make it a 4-2 lead. Despite a very solid outing, Salem starter Alex Wilson also took a no-decision after allowing an unearned run on 3 hits in 5 innings. He walked a pair and struck out three.

The Red Sox responded in the eighth inning off of K-Tribe reliever Joey Mahalic. After a leadoff single by Tejeda, Ryan Lavarnway drove a towering home run to left field to tie the game at four. Salem continued with a single and a walk off of Mahalic, chasing him from the game. Brian Grening was then big from the K-Tribe pen, getting Kinston out of a two-on, no-out situation by retiring the first three batters he faced. Grening (2-0) would go on to pitch a perfect ninth inning, picking up the win while striking out three.

Kinston's offense did the rest when Henry led off the ninth inning with a single. After Karexon Sanchez added a base hit to center, Jason Kipnis struck out. With Doug Pickens at the plate, Henry stole third and Sanchez advanced to second. Henry is now nine-for-nine in stolen base attempts this season. After an intentional walk to Pickens, Bellows popped out. With two outs in the inning, Richard Martinez walked on four pitches to win the game. Salem reliever Kyle Fernandes took the loss for Salem.

Columbus clips G-Braves

The Columbus Clippers defeated the Gwinnett Braves 3-2 on Thursday night at Coolray Field. Reigning International League Pitcher of the Week Chris Resop had another strong outing, striking out 6 in 6.0 IP, but his four-game winning streak was snapped tonight. Gwinnett (18-22) remains in second place in the International League South and 4 games behind Durham. Columbus (26-16) remains in first place in the IL West and 2 games ahead of Toledo.

In the top of the 8th inning with the scored tied 2-2, Clippers center fielder Jose Constanza scored from third base after a wild pitch was thrown by Gwinnett reliever Mariano Gomez. In his first start for the Columbus Clippers, Justin Germano allowed 2 R/ER on 3 hits while striking out 4 in his 5 innings of work. Joe Smith (2-1) was credited with the win. Catcher Carlos Santana went 1-for-4 with 2 RBI.

Aeros Drop Series Finale To Curve 2-1

The Altoona Curve avoided a series sweep Thursday by defeating the Akron Aeros by the final score of 2-1 in front of 6,182 fans at Blair County Ballpark. It was the third straight pitcher’s duel in the series as the Aeros still have only allowed six runs in the past five games. With the victory, Altoona improved to 23-16 on the season while Akron fell to 16-24.

Both starters delivered scoreless performances in the contest and the outcome relied upon the play of the relievers. DH Jared Goedert continued his hot hitting and helped the Aeros strike first in the top of the seventh inning against the Curve. His two-out single to center scored 3B Cristo Arnal and he deftly avoided the tag at second to continue the frame. LF Nick Weglarz followed with a walk but the rally ended as RF Matt McBride struck out to strand the bases loaded.

The Curve then returned the favor in the bottom half of the seventh against Akron reliever Chen-Cheng Lee. Altoona loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk and SS Chase D’Arnaud smacked a one-out two-run double to right-center field to provide the tally at 2-1. Lee escaped any further damage by forcing DH Jim Negrych to ground out into an inning-ending double play.

Akron was unable to recapture the lead as 2B Cord Phelps was picked off first base by Altoona closer Danny Moskos to end the eighth inning. Arnal led off the ninth with a walk but C Miguel Perez grounded into a double play to end any potential rally. The victory was the sixth for the Curve in eight meetings between these two teams this season.

Altoona reliever Dustin Molleken (2-3) earned the win despite allowing the Akron run in the seventh inning while Lee (1-3) took the loss. Moskos picked up his 9th save of the season by pitching a no-hit final two innings for the Curve.

Aeros starter Bryce Stowell made his Double-A debut and pitched 3.0 scoreless innings with two strikeouts, four hits and two walks but did not factor into the decision. Goedert extended his season-long hitting streak to nine games while finishing 2-4 with a double and the only Akron RBI. He now ranks second in the Eastern League with a .348 batting average on the year.

Captains Crush the White Caps 15-5

The Captains pounded out a season high 15 runs and hits, as Lake County won the series finale from West Michigan 15-5. The Captains finished the road trip with a 5-2 record and improved to 29-12.

Lake County got things started in the third inning following an Argenis Martinez walk and Bo Greenwell single. Jeremie Tice doubled scoring both runners improving his RBI total to a Midwest League high 34.

The Captains scored three more times in the fourth inning. Adam Abraham started the inning with a single and scored on Hernan Perez error, one of four White Cap errors. Martinez singled down the right field line scoring Greg Folgia. Greenwell capped off the inning with a sacrifice fly to left driving in Casey Frawley making it 5-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, Trey Haley allowed a single, hit a batter, and then walked the bases loaded. Haley then walked Eric Roof, and the White Caps got on the board, 5-1.

Lake County added to the lead in the fifth, Adam reached on fielder's choice following Jason Smit's break up of a potential double play. Folgia laid down a bunt for a base hit, a throwing error by the pitcher Victor Larez allowed Abraham to score from first. Frawley stepped up and the first pitch he saw, was crushed over the leftfield wall giving the Captains a 8-1 edge.

West Michigan got three back in the bottom of the fifth. Wade Gaynor's RBI double drove in the first run scoring Jamie Johnson. Avisail Garcia had an RBI ground out to bring in Michael Rockett. Alexis Espinoza finished the scoring with an RBI single driving in Gaynor to make it 8-4.

In the sixth, and with two runners on Chun Chen doubled to right center scoring Tice and Roberto Perez. Abraham then singled driving in his first run of the game to score Chen putting the Captains up 11-4.

In eighth inning the Captains would set the new team high in runs. Greenwell led off with a single, his third hit of the game. Tice drew a walk to reach base for the fourth time. Perez singled to right to score Greenwell. Tice advanced to third a passed ball, Roof the White Caps catcher over threw third on the advancement and Tice was able to score easily. After a Chen walk, and two fly outs, Folgia doubled to right center driving in the final two runs of the game and Lake County went on to win 15-5.

Antownie Hubbard (2-0) picked up the win, entering the game in relief of Haley, going 2.2, allowing two runs, one earned off of three hits. Ramon LeBron (4-2) suffered the loss, allowing five runs on six hits over three innings of work, striking out six. Tyler Sturdevant entered the game retiring all eight batters he faced striking out four.

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