A good effort from the starting pitcher and some early offense has been the formula for many of the Clippers 16 victories in the first four weeks of the 2010 season, but not on Monday night at Huntington Park, as Syracuse came from behind for a 6-4 victory.
Jason Donald's two-RBI double put the Clippers on top in the third inning, and they expanded the lead to 3-0 in the fourth when Brian Buscher's groundout scored Jordan Brown.
The Chiefs, looking for their first win against Columbus after dropping the first two of the series, got on the board in the sixth inning when Seth Bynum hit a solo shot off of Clippers starter Josh Tomlin -- who pitched well in his third start of the season but didn't pick up a decision.
Syracuse then scored five in the seventh against the Columbus bullpen, aided by a pair of Clippers errors in the frame. The Clippers added a run their half of the seventh, courtesy of a Jose Constanza RBI-double, but got no closer and lost for the first time all season when leading after six innings.
The Clippers will close out their 10-game homestand against the Chiefs on Tuesday, with ace Carlos Carrasco getting the ball for an 11:35 a.m. first pitch.
Aeros Pounded 20-11
The Aeros came up short as the Aeros and Thunder recorded 34 hits combined in a 20-11 slugfest in front of 3,655 fans at Canal Park. Indians’ closer Kerry Wood made his first rehab appearance out of the Akron bullpen giving up four hits and six runs in two-thirds of an inning. Wood, who is expected to make his second rehab appearance on Wednesday, is scheduled for one inning of work.
The Thunder scored first with two-runs in the top of the first and four runs in the third inning, but the Aeros answered emphatically in the third. Beau Mills connected with his third home run of the season after three Aeros base hits making it 6-5 heading to the fourth inning. The Thunder continued to roll as they plated two more in the fourth and fifth inning making the score at that point 10-10. The Thunder erupted for seven runs in the sixth inning, six of which were charged to Kerry Wood before he was lifted from the game. The Aeros kept it interesting when they added five more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning when Nick Weglarz doubled to start off the inning and before the Thunder could bring in bullpen help the Aeros strung together a total of four hits and scored five runs.
Eric Berger (0-1) was dealt the loss after lasting only three innings in his second outing for Akron. He walked six, struck out one, struggling to find the strike zone. Pendleton (1-2), who pitched collegiately at Rice University, allowed eight runs and eight hits in four innings and took the no-decision. Mills led the way offensively, finishing 2-3 with three RBI on his home run in the third inning. Fedroff, Weglarz, Goedert also finished with two hits apiece.
The Aeros have three games remaining at home before departing for a week long road trip. Right-hander Zach Putnam (2-1, 6.04 ERA), who last pitched against the Altoona Curve, will go for Akron against Thunder right-hander D.J. Mitchell (2-2, 6.63 ERA).
Hillcats Scratch Kinston 4-1
The Lynchburg Hillcats handed the Kinston Indians a 4-1 defeat Monday night in Virginia.
The Hillcats got to Kinston starter T.J. House with a two-out rally in the bottom of the second inning. Back-to-back singles from Chris McMurray and Miguel Rojas started the two-out trouble. After a wild pitch advanced each runner one base, McMurray would score on a passed ball by K-Tribe catcher Richard Martinez. After back-to-back walks to Justin Reed and Josh Fellhauer loaded the bases, Cody Puckett hit a ground ball which bounced off of House’s glove and then banged off the second base bag to score Rojas with the infield hit.
Kinston had a chance to come right back in the top of the third inning which started with a Ronald Rivas single. After Lucas Montero hit into a double play, Kinston tried a two-out rally of their own when Jordan Henry (just off of the disabled list) singled and Karexon Sanchez hit a double to the wall. After a Jason Kipnis walk loaded the bases, Kipnis was picked off of first base on a throw by Lynchburg catcher Chris McMurray to end the inning.
Bats on both sides would remain silent, until Neftali Soto hit a solo home run off of Kinston reliever Bryce Stowell in the seventh inning. Lynchburg added a run off of reliever David Roberts in the eighth, thanks to two singles and an RBI ground out. Kinston would score their only run of the game on a Roman Pena home run in the top of the ninth. Kinston managed six hits on the night. It was the third straight game that Kinston scored just one run.
House (0-3) gets the loss for Kinston, giving up seven hits and two earned runs in 4 1/3 innings, he walked five and struck out four. The K-Tribe has scored just two runs with House on the mound this season. Stowell struck out six batters in 2 2/3 innings, giving up an earned run and two hits. Boxberger (3-1) picked up the win for Lynchburg.
The K-Tribe returns to City Stadium on Tuesday for game two of the four game set, Alexander Perez will be on the mound for Kinston. Game time 6:05 pm.
Loons Take Three of Four From the Captains
The Great Lakes Loons scored eight runs for the third game in a row and defeated the Lake County Captains 8-3 on Monday. The Loons scored 31 runs in the four game series and trail the first place Captains by only a half a game Eastern Division of the Midwest League.
The Captains jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Jeremie Tice hit a solo home run off of Loons starter Will Savage, his second homer of the year. The lead did not last long as the Loons scored four times in the top of the fifth inning, scoring all four runs after two men were out. Christian Lara reached on an infield single and went to second on single by Angelo Songco. Blake Smith doubled home both runners and then scored when Jerry Sands hit his tenth home run of the season and the Loons led 4-1. Sands has hit six home runs against the Captains in seven games. The Loons upped the lead to 6-1 as Rafael Ynoa doubled home two runs in the top of the sixth inning off of Captains reliever Antwonie Hubbard.
The Captains added a run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Delvi Cid double and went to third base on a ground out. Roberto Perez grounded out and Cid scored to make it 6-2. The Loons made it 8-2 in the top of the seventh inning when Yohan Garcia hit his first home run of the year, a two run shot, off of Nick Sarianides. In the bottom of the seventh inning Greg Folgia tripled and scored on a double by Jason Smit and it was 8-3. It became 8-5 in the bottom of the eighth inning when Tice doubled home Roberto Perez and then scored when Casey Frawley doubled.
Captains starter Clayton Cook (1-3) took the loss working 4.2 innings and allowing four runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out three. Hubbard relieved Cook and 1.1 innings allowing two runs on three hits while walking one. Sarianides came on in the seventh inning and went the final three innings allowing two runs on four hits.
Loons starter Will Savage (2-1) got the win going seven innings allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out three. Luis Vasquez pitched a scoreless ninth inning to get his fifth save of the year.
The Captains welcome the Dayton Dragons to Classic Park for a three game series beginning on Tuesday at 6:30 PM. This is the first visit to Eastlake for the Cincinnati Reds affiliate. The Captains will have RHP Trey Haley (1-0, 4.68) on the mound to oppose the Dragons RHP Pedro Villarreal (0-2, 4.33).
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