The K-Tribe banged out ten runs on 14 hits, routing Myrtle Beach 10-2 Sunday afternoon at Historic Grainger Stadium. With the win the K-Tribe takes the four game series from the Pelicans.
Kinston jumped on top with a big first inning against Pelicans starter J.J. Hoover, who was named a Carolina League All-Star earlier in the week. Karexon Sanchez led off with a walk, and Lucas Montero drilled a double off the wall in right to give the K-Tribe a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Abner Abreu knocked a single up the middle through a drawn-in infield, scoring Montero to make it 2-0. After walks to Tim Palinscar and Chris Kersten to load the bases, Ronald Rivas stroked a two-run single to left, giving Kinston a 4-0 edge.
Hoover was pulled from the game after the first, in which he threw 52 pitches and gave up four runs on three hits. He walked three and struck out one. Those numbers are remarkable because Hoover (4-4) had surrendered just four earned runs over his last five starts. It was by far his shortest outing of the season and the first time he had allowed more than three runs since a loss to Frederick on May 2.
Kinston starter Marty Popham was outstanding for the second straight start. He threw six shutout innings on four hits, walked one and struck out seven. Popham (1-1, 2.93) retired the final ten batters he faced and struck out his last four batters. Amazingly, Popham has not allowed a run in three of his five starts, and also has had a one-run performance. He has struck out at least five and walked no more than two in all of his starts.
The K-Tribe had another big inning in the sixth off of Pelicans reliever Scott Proctor. Doug Pickens and Tim Palincsar hit back-to-back singles and Ronald Rivas was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Trent Baker hit an RBI groundout to knock in his first run with the K-Tribe. After Sanchez was hit by a pitch to load the bases again, Montero ripped a two-run single to right that put Kinston ahead 7-0. Kyle Bellows followed with an RBI single to left on the next pitch to plate Sanchez and give the K-Tribe an 8-0 advantage. The Indians scored four runs and sent nine men to the plate in both the first and sixth innings.
The hit parade continued in the eighth inning for Kinston, as Baker and Sanchez started the frame with back-to-back singles. Montero hit into a fielder's choice, and then pinch hitter Alex Castillo hammered a double off the warning track in left to clear the bases and push the lead to 10-0. Every batter in the K-Tribe lineup reached safely and six different players drove in a run. Montero went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBI. Abreu, Pickens and Rivas each had two hits. Three of Kinston's four blowout wins by ten or more runs have come against the Pelicans this season, as they had previously beaten Myrtle Beach 15-2 and 10-0.
The K-Tribe (33-31), statistically eliminated from first half contention, will finish out the half on the road after a Monday off day. Kinston will take on Lynchburg in Virginia on Tuesday night at 7:05 pm. The K-Tribe will return home on Thursday, June 24th to begin the second half of the season.
Clippers cough up lead, but win in extras
For the second straight night, Columbus' bats didn't wake up until the late innings, but the Clippers did enough Sunday to erase an early Norfolk lead, and then coughed it up late to set the stage for a dramatic 10th inning victory. Matt LaPorta's walk-off hit scored Jose Constanza and gave Columbus game two of a four-game set against the Tides at Huntington Park, 5-4.
Tides starter Brandon Erbe came in sporting an 0-9 record in 2010, but he looked sharp through five innings, not allowing a single Clipper to reach base. Columbus broke through in the sixth, however, as Lou Marson and Cord Phelps hit back-to-back home runs to help chase Erbe.
The two long balls put a dent in Norfolk's 3-0 advantage, and in the bottom of the seventh, the Clippers took the lead when reliever Cla Meredith walked in both the tying and go-ahead runs.
Josh Judy and Jess Todd teamed to throw three scoreless innings for Columbus, in relief of starter Aaron Laffey. But Vinnie Pestano couldn't pitch around some shoddy defense in the ninth, allowing the tying run to score on a single, one batter after an error extended the game.
It was Pestano's first blown save as a Clipper, but all it did was set up LaPorta. His hit in the 10th marked the eighth last at-bat win of the season for Columbus and the 21st come-from-behind victory for the Clippers.
Carlton Smith threw a scoreless top of the 10th to earn his first victory for Columbus. Mike Hinckley (0-3) was the loser for the Tides for the second consecutive day.
The Clippers and the Tides are back at it Monday night at 7:05, with Carlos Carrasco (5-2, 4.12 ERA) getting the call for Columbus against Norfolk's Armando Gabino (3-0, 2.56).
Sea Dogs Snap Akron’s Streak in 3-0 Shutout
The Portland Sea Dogs avoided a series sweep Sunday afternoon at Canal Park and ended a franchise-record 12-game winning streak for the Akron Aeros. It was Akron’s first loss since May 30th at Binghamton as Portland starter Stephen Fife allowed just two hits in six shutout innings and earned the win front of a crowd of 1,996 fans. The shutout was just the second against the Aeros (32-31) offense this season and the Sea Dogs (33-29) finished with a 4-2 record on their weeklong Western road trip.
The right-handed White ran up his pitch count with three walks in the first three innings before Portland finally got on the scoreboard in the fifth. After striking out the first two batters, White then allowed a walk to Sea Dogs left fielder Che-Hsuan Lin. Ray Chang followed two pitches later with a lining double to left, giving the visitors the early 1-0 lead.
Reliever Connor Graham replaced White in the sixth and Portland shorstop Yamaico Navarro quickly started a rally with a one-out single. He scored two batters later on an RBI base hit by right fielder Ryan Khoury. The Aeros finally collected their first hit of the day later that inning against Fife on an infield single by catcher Miguel Perez. Fife then ended his night by stranding both Perez and second baseman Jason Kipnis to end the frame.
Recently promoted pitcher Shane Lindsay made his Akron debut in relief of Graham in the eighth and promptly struck out the first two batters he faced. He then allowed two walks sandwiched between the second fielding error of the day by shortstop Carlos Rivero, and hit catcher Juan Apodaca with a pitch to provide for the final 3-0 margin.
Fife (3-1) was dominant in his most impressive outing of the season, walking none and cruising through six efficient innings. White (2-2) took the loss and calmed down in his final few innings after the early walks. He fell to 2-2 in five Double-A starts and allowed just one run on two hits in five innings with six strikeouts and four walks.
The Aeros finished with only five singles total in the game with two coming from the hot-hitting back-up catcher Perez. Matt McBride, Lonnie Chisenhall and Kipnis each recorded a single hit and the team did not register a walk for just the sixth time this year as well.
Akron begins their longest and farthest road trip of the season by enjoying a 12-hour bus ride to Manchester, NH on the off day tomorrow. The Aeros and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Play then begin a three-game series Tuesday night with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch at Merchantsauto.com Stadium. Akron lefty Scott Barnes (2-5, 6.16 ERA) hopes to continue his recent dominant pitching and start a new Akron winning streak against Fisher Cats starter Luis Perez (5-6, 4.54 ERA).
Cougars Stun Captains 8-6
The Cougars stunned the Captains Sunday afternoon coming from behind by scoring eight runs in the eighth inning for an 8-6 win. The Captains led 5-0 before a 76 minutes rain delay. Lake County’s lead in the division is down to one game over Great Lakes.
Delvi Cid was at it again leading the first inning off with a base hit to right center, extending his hit streak to 12 straight games. Bo Greenwell singled to center driving in Cid for a 1-0 lead, his 36th RBI of the year. Casey Frawley and Kyle Smith singled to load the bases for Lake County. Roberto Perez ripped a shot to deep right center for a double scoring three runs. Jason Smit would lay down a beautiful bunt down the third baseline for a hit advancing Perez to third. Adam Abraham capped off the five run first inning with a sacrifice fly to left.
Chun Chen and Kyle Smith started the eighth inning off with back to back singles. With two outs Jason Smit singled to score Chen pushing the Captains ahead, 6-0.
Kane County even after the rain delay showed no quit. The Cougars would score eight runs on seven hits in the eighth inning. Kent Walton had the game winning hit when he doubled with the bases loaded to score three runs giving the Kane County the lead.
Max Peterson (2-2) picked up the win working the eighth inning giving up three hits, allowing one run to score but it was charged to AJ Huttenlocker. Jose Guzman picked up his 7th save for Kane County working the ninth inning. Nick Sarianides (5-2) suffered the loss, allowing eight runs, seven earned on seven hits in his one inning of work. Lost in the aftermath was the great start from Matt Packer who went six scoreless innings allowing five hits and striking out a career high eight.
The Lake County Captains (40-23) will head to Grand Rapids, MI to take on the West Michigan White Caps (23-39) the class A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers beginning on Tuesday June 15th at 7:00PM. On the mound for the Captains RHP Austin Adams (2-3) facing off against RHP Trevor Feeney (6-4) for the White Caps.
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