T.J. McFarland gave up just one run in 8 2/3 innings as Kinston beat Wilmington 4-1 Monday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. McFarland was an out short of throwing Kinston’s first complete game since 2004, giving up just eight hits while striking out three and not walking a batter. McFarland (6-1) picked up his Carolina League leading sixth win of the season, lowering his ERA to a league best 1.78.
The Kinston bats blasted to life in the bottom of the first inning, when Jason Kipnis hit a two-out home run. The solo shot was his team leading fifth of the season, giving Kinston a 1-0 lead. The Indians continued their success against Wilmington starter Alex Caldera in the second inning when Kyle Bellows led off with a double. Lucas Montero would single home Bellows later in the inning. After a Montero stolen base, Adam Davis made the score 3-0 with an RBI single. Kinston would finish the scoring in the bottom of the fourth, with a solo home run from Chris Kersten. The big blast almost cleared the batters eye in center field and was Kersten’s first home run as a K-Triber. Bellows and Montero each had two hits for Kinston, Karexon Sanchez was 3-for-4.
McFarland ran into his only trouble of the game in the ninth inning, when Patrick Norris double with one out. After Eric Hosmer grounded out, Jamie Romak delivered an RBI single, and Jason Taylor delivered a single to put the tying run at the plate. Cory Burns finished the game for Kinston, picking up his fifth save of the season when he coaxed a ground ball off of the bat of Salvador Perez. Caldera (4-3) took the loss for Wilmington.
The K-Tribe (28-23) racked up a 19-11 record in the month of May, the best in the Carolina League. Kinston is now just five games behind Winston-Salem for first place in the Carolina League Southern Division. Kinston will try to win an eighth straight series Tuesday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. Game time 7pm, Joey Mahalic will get the start for Kinston.
Clippers win one, lose one on Memorial Day
It was a tale of two games on Memorial Day at Huntington Park, with the Clippers and Louisville Bats splitting their doubleheader. Columbus held the Bats at bay in game one, getting a one-hit shutout from Justin Germano in a 1-0 win, before Louisville exploded for 17 hits in a 16-2 victory in the nightcap.
In as dominating an effort as the Clippers pitching staff has seen all year, Germano threw a seven-inning complete game in the opener, striking out seven and allowing just a second-inning single. He recorded 17 consecutive outs to end the game and got all the run support he would need when Carlos Santana's RBI-single scored Brian Bixler in the first inning.
In game two, spot-starter Jeremy Sowers struggled for the Clippers, allowing six runs (five earned) in less than three innings of work. Francisco Jimenez had a similar line in less than two innings of relief work, making his Triple-A debut.
Columbus got first inning RBIs from Wes Hodges and Chris Gimenez to take a 2-1 lead, but it wouldn't last. When rain rolled around in the fifth inning, it only made things worse for the Clippers, with an error aiding in Louisville's six-run frame. The visitors added four more in the sixth, to account for the final score. Third baseman Brian Buscher threw the only one-two-three inning for Columbus, pitching the seventh inning.
The four-game series resumes at 6:35 on Tuesday night, with Aroldis Chapman making a much-anticipated start for the Bats in Columbus. The Clippers will counter with Josh Tomlin, who is 5-1 with a 2.23 ERA this season.
Bullpen Leads Aeros to 7-6 Win, Series Split
A pair of Akron relievers delivered four shutout innings to lead the Aeros to a 7-6 victory Monday afternoon in front of 1,857 fans at NYSEG Stadium in Binghamton. The Mets blasted out of the gates offensively against Akron starter Kelvin De La Cruz, but registered just two hits after the fourth inning. The victory helped the Aeros (21-30) earn a split in this four-game set against Binghamton (24-26), the final contest of the year for Akron in the state of New York.
Game four of this wild series began with another bang as both teams scored in the very first inning. With two runners on and nobody out, B-Mets second baseman Reese Havens’ throwing error scored Lonnie Chisenhall to give Akron the 1-0 lead. The Mets then swiftly responded in the bottom of the first against De La Cruz as a walk, a pair of RBI hits and a Cristo Arnal error at short hurt the cause for the visiting Aeros. Binghamton’s one-run lead did not last for long as Jared Goedert hit a homer for the third night in a row in the third, scoring Chisenhall again and bringing the score to 3-2.
That homer then kick-started opposing rallies from both squads with the Mets striking for two in the third as well. In the fourth, Binghamton starter Eric Niesen permitted a pair of walks that eventually led to another pair of Akron runs on no hits in the inning. The Aeros seemed in control with the brief 5-4 lead, but the hosts responded again in the bottom of that inning. A two-run home run by leadoff center fielder Kirk Nieuwenheis put Binghamton back on top by the count of 6-5.
Akron took over from there as the Mets struggled to produce any base runners at all for the rest of the contest. Right fielder Jerad Head began the fifth with a walk, Miguel Perez singled and second baseman Cord Phelps followed with a game-tying RBI single to right-center. After a pair of shutout innings, Aeros center fielder Tim Fedroff began the seventh with yet another of the eight walks permitted by Binghamton pitchers. The Mets defense then botched an Arnal bunt attempt, moving Fedroff to third before a John Drennen sacrifice fly provided for the final margin at 7-6.
Right-hander Connor Graham (2-2) earned the win in relief for the Aeros in permitting just one hit in two scoreless innings while newly converted Mets reliever Scott Shaw (4-4) took the loss by allowing the final run to score. Akron’s Omar Aguilar earned his second save by pitching two more shutout frames and averting another Binghamton bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning. De La Cruz struggled before handing off the torch to Graham and Aguilar, giving up all six runs in five innings.
On the offensive side, Chisenhall, Perez and Arnal all finished with two hits on the day and the Aeros went 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position, leaving 13 runners stranded overall. Goedert’s two-run shot helped extend his incredible hitting streak to 20 consecutive games, now just two behind the longest in Akron Aeros franchise history.
The Aeros return home Tuesday night for a quick three-game home stand against divisional rival Erie. It is another Two for Tuesday at Canal Park with a special of buy one ticket, get one free from KRAFT Singles as well as similar discounts on many concession items within the stadium. Akron’s Paolo Espino (5-2, 3.78 ERA) gets the starting nod as he looks to continue his recent hot streak against SeaWolves righty Brooks Brown (3-2, 4.55 ERA).
Captains and Loons Rained Out
The game against the Captains and the Loons was cancelled due to the weather. It was very unfortunate for Lake County they led Great Lakes 9-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning before the quick call was made.
The Captains (33-18) still maintain a two game lead over the Loons in the division heading into a six game home stand. Tomorrow Lake County will take on Beloit at 7:00PM from Classic Park. RHP Brett Brach (0-1) will pitch for the Captains the Snappers have yet to announce their starter for the game.
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