Game Recap 6/9: LaPorta Hits Three Homers In Clips Win

LaPorta goes deep three times in Columbus win

Matt LaPorta hit not one, not two, but three home runs in a Clippers', 8-0 shutout of the Rochester Red Wings Wednesday night at Huntington Park. LaPorta's career night was only his second game with Columbus this season after going 0-for-3 last night in the loss.

LaPorta's first home run of the night came on a leadoff shot to begin the second inning giving Clippers' starter, Carlos Carrasco all the help he would need on the night. Carrasco went eight scoreless innings, giving up only three hits while striking out a season-high nine batters. He moved his record to 5-2 on the year and lowered his ERA to 4.12.

Carrasco received more help in the third inning as Josh Rodriguez hit his second home run of the season, giving the Clippers a 2-0 advantage. The Clippers extended their lead after Michael Brantley and Brian Bixler reached base. Carlos Santana drove in his 48th RBI of the year with a groundout to the shortstop and then LaPorta drove in his second run of the contest with a single to left.

The Clippers' leadoff man reached base in four consecutive innings, from the second to the fifth, with two home runs, a double and a single. LaPorta continued to swing the hot bat in the bottom of the fifth, as he hit his second homer of the game, a two-run shot driving in Bixler. LaPorta ended his memorable game by leading off the seventh with this third and final home run, capping a 4-for-4 night with five RBI's.

As a unit, the Clippers had 11 hits on the night, giving the team 26 in two games against Rochester, but tonight the Clippers were able to win. Bixler had two hits on the night with an RBI and Nick Weglarz continued to swing a consistent bat with a double and a single on his evening.

The Clippers and Red Wings meet in game three of their four game series tomorrow with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Jeanmar Gomez (3-6, 6.37 ERA) will get the start for Columbus and will face Anthony Swarzak (1-1, 4.68 ERA) from Rochester.

Barnes Dominates as Aeros Win Again 2-0

Lefty starter Scott Barnes delivered seven shutout innings in his best start of the year as the Aeros earned their ninth straight victory Wednesday at Canal Park 2-0 over the visiting New Hampshire Fisher Cats. A crowd of 1,975 fans saw Barnes and reliever Bryce Stowell combine for the shutout, the fifth by Akron pitching in 2010 and the first against the vaunted New Hampshire offense. The Aeros (29-30) now own the longest active winning streak in professional baseball and the Fisher Cats dropped to 36-24.

Barnes and New Hampshire starting pitcher Luis Perez battled early and matched each other pitch-for-pitch in the close contest. New Hampshire struggled offensively all night while the left-handed Perez held the Aeros hitless until a bloop single by John Drennen in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Akron would then manufacture a run in the next frame as leadoff center fielder Tim Fedroff reached base on a one-out infield single. Second baseman Cristo Arnal followed with a walk while Tuesday’s hero Lonnie Chisenhall plated Fedroff with a lining single of his own to right, giving the hosts a narrow one-run lead after six.

The score remained 1-0 entering the eighth inning as manager Joel Skinner substituted the right-handed Stowell in relief of Barnes. Fisher Cats shortstop Manny Mayorson began the frame with a single to the shortstop, quickly stole second base and moved to third on a groundout. Jonathan Jaspe followed with a slicing chopper to the charging Arnal at second, who then gunned out Mayorson at home to preserve the shutout.

Small ball helped the Aeros again in the bottom of that eighth as the team added one final insurance run. Catcher Damaso Espino led with a walk and advanced two bases on a groundout and a wild pitch. Continuing his impressive frame, Arnal slapped an RBI single right between the shortstop and the third baseman into left to provide for the final margin.

Barnes improved to 2-5 with the win as he tied a season-high for an Akron pitcher with 10 strikeouts on the night. He permitted just two hits and no walks in his seven innings after entering the game with a 7.17 ERA. Perez (5-5) took the loss despite the eight-inning complete game as he struck out eight. Stowell worked the final two frames for his third save in four outings and he has yet to allow a run in 13.0 innings pitched for the Aeros.

The Akron offense collected just four walks and four singles but it was still just enough for the win. The 13 strikeouts for the Aeros pitching staff marked a season-high for the team. This victory was also the seventh consecutive at Canal Park for the Aeros against the Fisher Cats franchise, with the last loss coming over three years ago on June 7, 2007.

It is Thirsty Thursday tomorrow in downtown Akron as the Aeros will look for their third straight series sweep starting at 7:05 p.m. Left-hander Eric Berger (2-4, 6.69 ERA) gets the starting nod for Akron against highly touted New Hampshire prospect Kyle Drabek (7-4, 3.22 ERA).

Kinston Beats Blue Rocks 3-1

Kinston snapped a six game skid, beating Wilmington 3-1 Wednesday night in Delaware.

Down 1-0, Kinston tied the score in the top of the fifth inning. Chris Kersten led off the frame with a single and later scored on an RBI single by Ronald Rivas. The Indians would then break the tie in the top of the sixth. Jason Kipnis led the frame off with a single. After Abner Abreu struck out, Doug Pickens followed with a base knock. Lucas Montero then shot a grounder down the third base line, scoring Kipnis and giving Kinston a 2-1 lead. The K-Tribe would score their final run in the game when Kersten was balked home by Wilmington reliever Eric Basurto in the top of the ninth inning. Karexon Sanchez went 3-for-4 on the night, Jordan Henry and Kipnis each had two hits. The K-Tribe racked up eleven hits on the evening.

Kinston starter Joe Gardner (4-1) picked up the win, giving up just four hits and one run (on a wild pitch) over 6 2/3 innings. Travis Turek was great from the pen, retiring all four batters he faced for his second hold of the season. Cory Burns picked up his seventh save in seven attempts for Kinston (19-for-19 between high and low A this season), getting out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth. Wilmington’s starter Ivor Hodgson (2-5) took the loss for the Blue Rocks.

The K-Tribe (30-30) returns to Historic Grainger Stadium on Thursday for a short four game homestand with the Advanced A Affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Thirsty Thursday, Fireworks Friday, Saturday Soccer Ball Giveaway and Sunday Family Fun Day are on tap for the weekend. The fun starts Thursday night at 7pm, Historic Grainger Stadium. Carolina League ERA leader T.J. McFarland (6-1, 2.08) will get the start for Kinston.

Longball Lifts Kings over Captains 4-1

Clinton used the long ball on Wednesday night to defeat the Captains, 4-1. Lake County surrendered two solo homeruns which proved to be a different in the game. The Captains saw their division lead shrink to 2.0 games as Great Lakes picked up a win.

The LumberKings jumped in front 1-0, in the bottom of the first inning, on a solo homerun by Vinnie Catricala his fifth of the season.

In the second, Casey Frawley doubled to get things started. Jason Smit stepped in with two outs and singled up the middle to tie the game up at one scoring Frawley.

Clinton regained the lead in the fifth inning, the first hitter Austin Adams faced in relief Tim Morris; hit his second homerun of the year putting the LumberKings up, 2-1.

Clinton added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh, Catricala drew a walk and Mario Martinez was hit by an Adams pitch. Welington Dotel drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Hawkins Gebbers singled to score Martinez giving the LumberKings a 4-1 lead.

Taylor Stanton (6-2) picked up the win tossing six innings allowing just one run on five hits while striking out seven. Austin Adams (2-3) suffered the loss giving up three runs on three hits in four innings of relief. Chris Kirkland earned the save his second of the year pitching the final three innings allowing just one hit and striking out five.

Lake County (39-19) and Clinton (32-26) will play the final game of the series Thursday night from Alliant Energy Field at 8PM EST. Captains' All-Star RHP Trey Haley (4-1) toes the mound against LHP Jimmy Gillheeney (3-4) for the LumberKings.

Posted in: