Game Recap 7/23: Clippers Take Two Friday

Clippers take both against Red Sox

It was a two-for-one deal at Huntington Park on Friday night for the Columbus Clippers, as the Clippers won two games in a matter of hours against the Pawtucket Red Sox. The Clippers won a game that was postponed from June 20, 6-3 against Pawtucket and then followed that up with a 5-3 win in the nightcap.

In the suspended game, the Clippers resumed play with the Red Sox in the top of the sixth inning with the bases loaded and two outs, leading 4-3. With a two-and-two count, Jordan Brown swung at the first pitch and drove home two more runs. Brown finished the game 4-for-5, recording three singles in Pawtucket and the two-run double in Columbus.

Carlos Carrasco earned the win, giving him nine on the season, as he pitched five innings, all in Pawtucket, giving up three earned runs on five hits. Carrasco received offensive help in Pawtucket from Josh Rodriguez, who hit a two-run home run in the top of the third inning and then recorded his third RBI of the game in the sixth as he walked with the bases loaded.

In the regularly-scheduled game, Brown picked up where he left off from game one, driving his fifth home run of the season to deep right field in the second, giving Columbus an early 1-0 lead.

That lead would be short-lived as Pawtucket answered with a leadoff double by Tug Hulett, who later scored on a groundball to short by Gil Velazquez, who reached due to a poorly thrown ball by Rodriguez.

After Rodriguez hit his seventh home run of the year in the third inning, the Clippers tacked on three more in the fourth inning, highlighted by speedy right fielder, Jose Constanza. Constanza, with two on and two out, lifted a pitch from Robert Coello into deep left field, scoring Nick Weglarz and Ezequiel Carrera.

Jeanmar Gomez, fresh off of his superb spot start in Cleveland, had another stellar performance against Pawtucket, going eight innings, allowing only one earned run on six hits while fanning seven. Gomez improved his record to 7-8 on the season. The Red Sox would put a scare in Columbus in the ninth, scoring twice, but Carlton Smith shut the door for his first save of the year.

Reading Walks Off With 7-6 Win Over Aeros

Phillies first baseman Kevin Mahar continued his domination of the Akron Aeros this series with a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Reading a 7-6 victory Friday night. The run came after the Aeros tied the score on a Jerad Head single in the top half of the inning and gave the hosts Phillies their second straight victory in front of a crowd of 8,902 fans at First Energy Stadium. Akron dropped to 52-47 this year with the loss while Reading improved to 49-49 and 6-3 against the Aeros.

The game started with a bang for Akron against Phillies spot-starter John Ennis. The right-hander allowed back-to-back singles to start the game against Tim Fedroff and Jerad Head before finally forcing an out on a fielder's choice. Designated hitter Matt McBride then unloaded on a 3-1 pitch, smacking a three-run homer to provide for the quick lead.

Reading responded in the second as Mahar began his night with a one-out double. Recently signed Timo Perez then collected the RBI on a single before the Aeros extended the advantage to 4-1 in the top of the third. Jason Kipnis drew a walk, advanced to third on a pickoff error by Ennis and then scored on a double from first baseman Beau Mills.

The lead did not last for long as the Phillies then scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth. Matt Rizzotti began the rally with a leadoff homer, Mahar scored on a single from John Suomi and Harold Garcia capped the frame with a bases-clearing two-out triple.

With Akron trailing by two runs, left fielder Tim Fedroff helped the Aeros cut the deficit in half against reliever Matt German in the seventh. Fedroff smacked just his second home run of the season with one out in the frame, preceding a wild ninth inning.

In the top half, Akron third baseman Cristo Arnal drew a walk and center fielder Jordan Henry singled to start a rally. After the second out, the right fielder Head tied the score at 6-6 with a clutch RBI single to center. Unfortunately, the Phillies began the bottom half with two walks and a bunt single before Mahar ended the game on his walk-off single.

Sergio Escalona (2-6) blew the save for Reading yet earned the win in allowing one run during the top of the ninth inning. Aeros closer Omar Aguilar (1-3) took the loss without even recording an out on two walks and two singles. Left-hander Scott Barnes struggled in the start for Akron, allowing the first six runs on 10 hits in his six innings pitched.

McBride's home run stood out on the night offensively as he extended his road on-base streak to 43 straight games while launching his team-leading 16th homer. Fedroff, Head and Mills each collected two hits as well Mahar was the best player, finishing 4-for-5 with two doubles and the walk-off RBI after hitting a home run the night before.

K-Tribe Suspend Friday's Game

Kinston's Friday night game against the Wilmington Blue Rocks was suspended after two innings due to heavy rain in Eastern North Carolina. Both teams had a hit as the game was scoreless through two frames. The teams will pick up the suspended game at 6pm on Saturday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. After the conclusion of the suspended game (scheduled for nine innings), the two teams will play the third game of the series (scheduled for seven innings).

Captains Fall in Rain Shortened Game

The Lake County Captains committed four errors in a game that was called in the top of the seventh inning helping the Burlington Bees to a 3-1 win over the Captains on Friday. Due to the post-game fireworks show being cancelled due to high winds, fans with tickets for tonights game can turn those tickets back in for a game at a later date based on availability.

The Captains scored a run in the bottom of the third inning when Ben Carlson hit his second home run of the year to give the Captain a 1-0 lead. The Bees took the lead in the top of the fourth scoring twice. Both runs scored on fielder's choices but the inning was aided by two Captains errors and the Bees led 2-1. The Bees got another run in the top of the sixth inning when Carlo Testa scoed on a wild pitch and it was 3-1.

Captains starter Matt Packer (8-5) took the loss pitching 6.2 innings and allowing three runs, one earned on five hits, walking one and striking out six.

Bees starter Tyler Sample (5-6) got the win working six innings allowing one run on six hits while striking out four.

Scrappers drop second straight, lose to Crosscutters, 7-0

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers lost to the Williamsport Crosscutters 7-0 tonight at Bowman Field.

Scrappers pitching allowed three home runs to the Crosscutters tonight.

Jordan Cooper got the start for the Scrappers picking up the loss, pitching four innings, allowing four runs on five hits, striking out one and walking three.

Mario Hollands picked up the win for the Crosscutters pitching six scoreless innings, allowing three hits, striking out four and walking one.

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