Designated hitter Matt McBride and first baseman Beau Mills led the Aeros to their largest victory of the season Friday night in Erie, dominating the SeaWolves by the final score of 10-1. A crowd of 3,541 fans at Jerry Uht Park witnessed McBride and Mills each collect three hits and combining for five RBI, leading for the way for the 13 hits totaled by the Aeros offense. The victory was the eighth in 11 contests for now-streaking Akron (44-43), snapping a four-game winning streak by the SeaWolves (36-52).
The outpour began early as the Aeros scored in the top of the first against Erie lefty starter Ramon Garcia. Second baseman Jason Kipnis singled, advanced to second on a groundout and scored on a double down the left-field line by McBride. The Wolves responded to tie the score at 1-1 in the second on a solo homer by Michael Bertram.
It was all Akron after that as McBride, Mills and shortstop Carlos Rivero hit three straight singles to load the bases in the fourth inning. A wild pitch advanced all three runners, right fielder Jerad Head provided a sacrifice fly while catcher Damaso Espino ended Garcia’s night and gave the visitors a commanding 4-1 advantage with another single to right.
A single by McBride then helped to load the bases again in a four-run seventh with just one out, and Mills scored two on a hit up the middle. An error by Erie shortstop Cale Iorg then plated another run and a Tim Fedroff groundout brought home Mills.
Leading 8-1 entering the ninth, the Akron offense seemed done for the night but Mills still had one opportunity to shine. Third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall drew a leadoff walk, McBride struck out and then Mills unloaded with a two-run homer to left on a full count against SeaWolves reliever Lester Oliveros, the team’s fifth pitcher of the night.
Eastern League All-Star Paolo Espino (8-3) earned the win in the start for the Aeros, allowing just four hits and three walks in five innings pitched with five strikeouts. His only mistake was the home run ball by Bertram and Garcia (0-5) took the loss after lasting just 3.2 innings. Right-hander Chen-Cheng Lee was dominant out of the pen for Akron, facing the minimum in three innings while striking out six and permitting one walk.
The number four and five hitters in the Akron lineup, the combination of McBride and Mills led the way for the offensive showcase. McBride finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a double, collecting a single RBI to pad to his team-leading 47 this season. Mills homered for the third time in seven games, driving home four runs with three runs scored and a walk. Center fielder Jordan Henry also had two hits and the previous high for a margin of victory by the team this season was eight, set Monday night against the Trenton Thunder.
This four-game weekend wraparound series right before the Eastern League All-Star Break continues Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. at Jerry Uht Park. The Aeros hope to continue their hot streak with ace Alex White (3-4, 1.70 ERA) on the mound starting against left-hander Duane Below (3-7, 4.84 ERA) of the SeaWolves.
Clippers win wild one, 10-9
The fireworks display in downtown Columbus may have been held last week, but don't tell the Clippers and Indianapolis Indians, who put on a show of their own at Huntington Park Friday night, with the Clippers blasting four home runs and coming from five down to win, 10-9.
The first five batters of the game all reached base for Indy against Columbus starter David Huff, and all of them scored in an inning that was capped by Eric Kratz' three-run homer. The Clippers responded with two of their own in the first, but just as quickly fell behind by five again in the second.
In the third, however, Columbus found some life, aided by a pair of Indy errors. The second error allowed both Josh Rodriguez and Luis Valbuena to score on a play where Rodriguez was initially caught in a rundown between home and third (pitcher Charlie Morton threw the ball into left field).
The very next hitter, Jordan Brown, smacked a two-run shot to deep center, cutting the Columbus deficit to 7-6. Cord Phelps made it a new ballgame with a leadoff blast in the bottom of the fourth.
It stayed tied at 7-all into the bottom of the seventh, when Jared Goedert and Wes Hodges both hit solo shots (Goedert's shot was his fourth in as many games and his 15th of the year). The lead was short-lived for the Clippers, though, as Jonathan Van Every hit a two-run homer in the top of the eighth.
The Clippers broke the tie again, this time with Valbuena's two-out single in the eighth, which plated Jose Constanza. Vinnie Pestano, who came on in the top-half of that inning, protected his own lead by pitching out of trouble in the ninth to earn his first win with Columbus.
After splitting the two-game series with Indy, the Clippers head to Louisville for a two-game set that will wrap-up the season's first half. First pitch on Saturday night is set for 6:05 with Carlos Carrasco (7-3, 4.38) throwing for Columbus against righty Chad Reineke (5-6, 3.01) of the Bats.
Kinston Slaps Sox With Shutout
The K-Tribe captured their Carolina League leading eighth shutout of the season, beating Salem 9-0 Friday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. The K-Tribe bats were just as good as the pitching, as Kinston banged out 14 hits on the night.
Kinston started the scoring with a solo home run from Chun Chen in the bottom of the third inning. The blast was Chen's first as a K-Triber and seventh overall this season. Kinston added on in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single from Lucas Montero and an RBI ground out from Karexon Sanchez. Kinston expanded the lead to seven with three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Kinston sent eight men to the plate in the fifth inning, racking up three hits and drawing two walks. Kinston would finish the scoring with two more runs in the sixth inning on RBI's from Diaz and Bo Greenwell.
Every K-Tribe starter hit safely on the night. Bo Greenwell went 3-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Chen was 2-for-2 with three runs scored and three walks, reaching base in all five plate appearances. Diaz and Ron Rivas each had two hits for Kinston.
K-Tribe starter Austin Adams (1-0) earned his first win as a K-Triber, giving up four hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out seven. Adams now has a 1.42 ERA through three starts with Kinston. Marty Popham was great in relief, earning his second save of the season. Popham gave up four hits in four innings. Popham walked one and struck out six. Salem starter Caleb Clay (3-7) picked up the loss, giving up seven earned runs on eleven hits in four innings of work.
The K-Tribe (7-7, 43-41) now hits the road for a week, starting the trip in Frederick, Maryland on Saturday night at 6pm. Kinston's T.J. McFarland will get the start.
TinCaps Blank Captains 1-0
The Captains were shut out by the TinCaps Friday night 1-0. Danny Payne led the game off with a walk and stole a pair of bases to reach third. Jeudy Valdez sent a fly ball to centerfield to score Payne with a sacrifice fly to give Fort Wayne the game’s only run.
Jerry Sullivan (7-3) picked up the win with five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out five. Nick Schumacher picked up his 19th saves of the season with a perfect ninth. Trey Haley (4-4) suffered the loss leaving the game after just 1.1 innings allowing a run, one hit, walking two and striking out two. Jeremy Johnson was strong in relief allowing just one hit in 4.2 innings striking out five. Tyler Sturdevant pitched three perfect innings to close the game, striking out the first five he faced. Strudevant struck out ten straight hitters dating back to his last appearance.
Lake County will begin a nine game road trip Saturday night with a weekend series with West Michigan. First pitch is scheduled for 7PM from Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park, MI. The Captains will start RHP Clayton Cook (4-4) against RHP Luis Angel Sanz (0-3) for the WhiteCaps.
Scrappers drop game two, 10-5
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers lost Friday night to the Vermont Lake Monsters 10-5 at Eastwood Field. The Scrappers dropped to 10-11 on the season while the Lake Monsters improved to 16-5 on the season.
Kirk Wetmore got the start for the Scrappers pitching 3.2 innings, allowing seven earned runs on six hits and getting the loss. Colin Bates picked up the win for Vermont. The Scrappers were lead offensively by Brian Heere who went 2-4 with a two-run home run. The home run was his first as a professional.
The Scrappers will play the rubber match of this three-game series with the Lake Monsters today at Eastwood Field. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Lianna Holub
Everything on this site is free, but for those interested in making any monetary contributions to help support the stability and growth of this site please click on the "Donate" button below.
0 comments:
Post a Comment