Game Recap 6/3: Captains Bats Explode in Victory

Captains Sweep the Snappers

Jason Smit knocked in six runs and Chun Chen had five hits as the Lake County Captains swept a three game series from the Beloit Snappers winning 12-6 on Thursday.

The Snappers took a first inning lead for the second game in a row when Angel Morales drew a two out walk and stole second base. Steven Liddle followed with a double that scored Morales to make it 1-0. The Captains took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Smit hit a three run home run, his third homer of the year. The Snappers tied it at 3-3 in the top of the third inning when Danny Rams hit a two run home run.

The Captains broke it open in the bottom of the third inning scoring four times when Bo Greenwell doubled home Delvi Cid. Greenwell would score on a Chun Chen single and Casey Frawley and Chen scored on a single from Smit and it was 7-3. The Snappers scored a run in the top of the fourth inning when Reggie Williams tripled and scored on a ground out by Daniel Santana and it was 7-4. The Captains tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on a Chen RBI single and a Kyle Smith RBI single and it went to 9-4. Rams hit his second home run of the day in the top of the sixth inning to make it 9-5. The Captains tacked on three runs in the eighth inning thanks to a wild pitch and RBI from Greg Folgia and Smit's fourth hit and sixth RBI. The Snappers added a run in the top of the ninth to end the scoring at 12-6.

Captains starter Austin Adams did not get a decision pitching four innings allowing four runs on four hits, walking one and striking out six. Vidal Nuno (1-1) got the win working three innings allowing a run on two hits, walking one and striking out six. Antwonie Hubbard pitched the final two innings allowing one run in four hits, walking one and striking out two.

Snappers starter Miguel Munoz (1-5) took the loss working three innings allowing seven runs on eight hits, walking two and striking out three.

Aeros Sweep Wolves With 3-2 Victory

Pitching was the story Thursday as the Aeros defeated the Erie SeaWolves 3-2 to complete the three-game series sweep. A 45-minute rain delay interrupted action in the second inning for the 1,454 fans at Canal Park, but Akron pitchers dominated after that. The sweep was the first of the year for the Aeros (24-30) while the SeaWolves (25-29) lost for the 13th time in their last 15 games.

It was a back-and-forth offensive battle in the first few innings before the downpour. Hot-hitting third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall recorded an infield single with one out in the bottom of the first and an error by Erie third baseman Audy Ciriaco brought another runner on base. Right fielder Matt McBride then delivered a towering RBI double into left-center field and Mills made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly to center.

Erie responded in the top of the second as first baseman Michael Bertram singled up the middle past lefty starter Scott Barnes to lead off the frame. He then stole second base later in the inning and Cale Iorg battled back from a 0-2 count to earn a two-out walk. Catcher Andy Bouchie followed with a two-run double, tying the contest at two runs each.

Just after the SeaWolves tied the game, powerful rain pelted Canal Park and the game stopped at 7:45 p.m. Forty-five minutes later, and after a marvelous performance by the Aeros grounds crew, play resumed with both starting pitchers remaining in the game.

Another fielding error by Ciriaco plagued Erie again and enabled Akron to take the lead for good. With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Rivero doubled on a shot to the wall in right field. Cord Phelps then hit a routine groundball to Ciriaco at third, but it went right through his legs for the error to score Rivero and provide the game-winning run.

No Erie base runner reached second base in the final five frames as neither team could produce much offensively. The only credible rally in the later stages of the game was in sixth for the Aeros when McBride and Mills led off with back-to-back singles. SeaWolves reliever Ramon Garcia then worked out of the jam, leaving both runners on base.

Aeros reliever Chen-Change Lee (2-3) earned the win in relief as he struck out three and allowed just one hit in two innings. Erie starter Duane Below (2-5) allowed three runs, although just one earned run, in the loss. Barnes lasted just four innings on the night but recorded six strikeouts and the Akron bullpen was incredible again, finishing with 12.1 shutout innings in the three-game series sweep.

McBride and catcher Damaso Espino were the only two Aeros with two hits but it was still enough for the win. The middle infield combination of Rivero and Chisenhall each extended their personal hitting streaks to seven and five games, respectively.

Dash Downs Kinston 11-4

Winston-Salem broke open a one-run game in the middle innings, as Kinston fell to the Dash 11-4 Thursday night in the Triad.

The Dash brought the bats early, as Logan Johnson hit a two-run home run off of Kinston starter Marty Popham in the bottom of the second inning. Later in the frame, Drew Garcia add a solo shot to give Winston-Salem a 3-0 advantage.

The K-Tribe would get on the board in the top of the third inning when Abner Abreu hit a bases loaded single, scoring Ronald Rivas and Jordan Henry. In the top of the third inning a solo home run by Winston-Salem's Brandon Short gave the Dash a 4-2 lead. Kinston would again close the gap to within one, when a Seth Loman error on a throw to second base allowed Lucas Montero to score, making the score 4-3.

Popham settled down after the third inning, retiring seven in a row, including striking out the first two Dash batters in the fifth inning. Two-out trouble would strike, however, when Eduardo Escobar singled and back-to-back walks were issued to Jon Gilmore and Loman. Johnson then stepped in again to deliver a bases clearing double, giving the Dash an 8-3 lead. Johnson went 3-for-5 with five RBI. Winston-Salem would add three more two-out runs in the sixth inning to put the game out of reach.

Popham (0-1) takes the loss, giving up eight hits and eight runs in 4 2/3 innings. David Roberts was touched for three runs on five hits in 1 1/3. Matt Langwell and Brian Grening both pitched scoreless innings from the pen. Charlie Leesman (7-1) picked up his Carolina League leading seventh win of the season, giving up three runs on five hits in five innings. Leesman struck out three and walked three, his ERA is now 4.94 on the season.

The Columbus Clippers had a scheduled night off.

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