Right-handed starter Marty Popham delivered a quality start in his Double-A debut as the Aeros snapped a four-game losing streak Tuesday night with a 4-3 victory against the Richmond Flying Squirrels. A crowd of 3,688 fans at The Diamond witnessed a solid pitching duel between Popham and Richmond ace Daryl Maday before a wild finish to end the game. It was a crucial win for Akron (37-40) as the team moved back into fourth place with the victory over the now fifth-place Flying Squirrels (37-41).
Second baseman Jason Kipnis helped the Aeros get off to a solid start in the first with a one-out solo home run although a double play ended the inning and any further rally.
Host Richmond then tied the score at 1-1 against Popham in the bottom of the second inning. Roger Kieschnick began the frame with a single, Conor Gillaspie also nailed a base hit and catcher Jackson Williams collected the RBI with the third hit of the frame.
Both starters cruised after that point as the two teams combined for only two hits over the next four innings. Akron finally re-took a narrow advantage back in the top of the seventh, as first baseman Matt McBride singled to left. Recently returned designated hitter Beau Mills singled again, advancing McBride to third, while John Drennen produced a huge run-scoring double to right, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead.
The Squirrels retaliated in the bottom half of that inning against new Aeros reliever Zach Putnam. A single, a double, a sacrifice bunt and then a RBI single by Clay Timpner brought host Richmond on top for the first time in the contest by just one run.
Akron then captured the lead and the final runs of the night in their next opportunity in the top of the eighth. Catcher Damaso Espino singled and Cristo Arnal laid down a sacrifice bunt, but a throwing error by Maday brought runners to second and third base with no outs. Center fielder Jordan Henry then nailed the game-winner with a clutch two-run single to center against Richmond relief pitcher Jake Stevens.
Putnam (3-1) earned the win on the night despite allowing the go-ahead runs in the seventh inning. Maday (8-5) took the loss but was solid through the first six innings before struggling in the seventh and eighth. Reliever Bryce Stowell recorded his team-leading seventh save by recording the final four outs all via strikeout and The 6’6” Popham permitted just one run on five hits in his six innings with six K’s against zero walks.
The Aeros collected 10 hits on the night although Henry and McBride were the only two batters to finish with multi-hit performances. The win was just the fifth in 15 contests for the struggling team as the three runs and nine hits allowed by the pitching staff were the fewest since last Thursday against the Flying Squirrels at Canal Park.
This three-game series between the Aeros and Richmond concludes Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. at The Diamond. It is a crucial rubber match as Akron’s Alex White (2-4, 1.77 ERA) takes on another dominant Flying Squirrels starter in David Mixon (8-3, 3.07 ERA).
Five-run fourth propels Columbus, 7-3
The Columbus Clippers' bats continued to impress on Tuesday night against the Indianapolis Indians, as Columbus pounded out 11 hits and won, 7-3. Luis Valbuena compiled three hits on the night, a double and two singles in just his third game in Columbus as the Clippers ended their two-game losing streak.
After three-and-a-half innings, the Clippers and Indians were deadlocked at one, but that's when Nick Weglarz jumped on a Charlie Morton fastball for his first Triple-A home run of his career, a solo shot to right field. The Clippers would tack on four more runs in the inning with help from four stolen bases and Jared Goedert's tenth home run of the year, a three-run blast to left.
The Indians scored their second run of the game in the fifth when Akinori Iwamura grounded into a fielder's choice that scored Brian Myrow, but Indy would only manage a leadoff home run in the ninth by Erik Kratz the rest of the way. David Huff, who started for Columbus, pitched five complete innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on five hits while striking out five and walking two. Huff recorded his second win in as many starts with Columbus.
Jose Constanza and Jordan Brown also contributed for Columbus in the victory. Constanza recorded two hits and a walk, and stole three bases on the evening, as he raised his average to .326. Brown drove in a pair of runs on the night with two, two-run singles in the third and sixth innings.
The Clippers conclude their home stand tomorrow night with another meeting with the Indians. The two teams travel to Indianapolis for two more games on Thursday and Friday night. Carlos Carrasco (6-3, 4.26) is scheduled to start for Columbus against Mike Crotta (4-4, 5.37) of Indianapolis.
K-Tribe Rained Out
Tuesday night’s game against the Potomac Nationals was rained out. The two teams will make up the contest as part of a double header on August 17th. The K-Tribe now hits the road for a short three game series at Myrtle Beach, before returning to Historic Grainger Stadium for a six game homestand starting Saturday, July 3rd against the Frederick Keys.
Loons Top Captains 7-2
Matt Magill pitched six strong innings and Chris Jacobs hit two home runs to lead the Great Lakes Loons to a 7-2 win over the Lake County Captains on Tuesday. The Loons are 10-5 versus the Captains this season.
The Loons scored four times in the top of the second inning when Chris Jacobs hit a two run home run. After two more runners got aboard, Nick Buss singled in a run and Angelo Songco followed with a sacrifice fly and the Loons led 4-0. The Captains scored a run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Chun Chen singled home Adam Abraham to cut the lead to 4-1. The Loons scored two more runs in the top of the seventh inning when Christian Lara belted his eighth home run of the year and Blake Smith singled in a run to make it 6-1. Jacobs added his second home run of the night in the top of the eighth inning to up the lead to 7-1. Chen added another RBI in the bottom of the eighth inning to score Delvi Cid and it was 7-2.
Captains starter Trey Haley (4-3) took the loss pitching three innings allowing four runs on five hits, walking two and striking out one. Antwonie Hubbard relieved Haley and threw three scoreless innings allowing one hit and striking out four. Francisco Jimenez also went three innings and allowed three runs on six hits, walking one and striking out one.
Loons starter RHP Matt Magill (3-1) got the win working seven innings allowing one run on five hits and striking out two.
The Captains and Loons wrap up the three game series on Wednesday with a special 11:00 AM start time. The Captains will have RHP Clayton Cook (3-4, 3.74) on the hill against the Loons RHP Rubby De La Rosa (1-1, 4.45).
Scrappers battle back, beat Muckdogs, 5-4
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers battled back to beat the Batavia Muckdogs Tuesday night 5-4 at Dwyer Stadium. Jordan Casas' two-RBI double proved to be the game winning hit as the Scrappers climbed back to .500 at 6-6. With the loss, the Muckdogs fell to 5-7.
J.D. Reichenbach came in from the bullpen for the Scrappers to get his first win of the season working three scoreless innings, striking out three and walking one. Scrappers right hander Clayton Ehlert pitched two scoreless innings allowing one hit, striking out two and picking up his first save of the season. Kevin Siegrist got the loss for the Muckdogs lasting just 1.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on three hits.
The Scrappers play the rubber game of this three game series against Batavia on Wednesday at Dwyer Stadium. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Lianna Holub
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1 comments:
What is Goedert's homer streak right now? it seems like every time I look at the Box this week he has a homer.
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