The Louisville Bats have been on a tear through the International League in recent weeks, but the Clippers have apparently found the right formula against their division foes, with three pitchers teaming for a shutout Saturday night to give Columbus their second win in as many days, this time by a 1-0 score.
Paolo Espino (1-1) was sensational for Columbus, throwing seven scoreless innings, scattering three hits and striking out eight. He teamed with Bryce Stowell (one inning, two strikeouts) and Vinnie Pestano (one inning, two strikeouts). Pestano earned his 11th save of the season.
The game's only run came in the fourth, when Drew Sutton doubled to lead-off the frame, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Wes Hodges and then scored on Matt McBride's sacrifice fly.
The start of the game was delayed 75 minutes by rain, before Columbus pitching took the reins. The win marked their seventh shutout of the season and opened their lead in the IL West to a game-and-a-half.
First pitch for tomorrow's wrap-up game from Huntington Park is set for 5:05 p.m. Yohan Pino (8-7, 5.64) will throw for Columbus, with Aaron Harang expected to go for Louisville as part of a rehab assignment.
Aeros Collect 20 Hits, Win 12-2 Saturday
The Aeros recorded a season-high 20 hits during their 12-2 triumph over the New Britain Rock Cats Saturday evening before a crowd of 3,847 fans at Canal Park. Akron scored early and often with nine runs through the first three innings en route to a third straight victory, a second straight over the Rock Cats. The game began after a 59-minute rain delay as the Aeros improved to 61-57 and New Britain dropped to 34-86.
Akron’s scoring began quickly against Rock Cats starter Cole DeVries as third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall singled with two outs in the first. First baseman Beau Mills followed with an RBI double and right fielder John Drennen extended the lead to 2-0 a single to right.
The blowout continued in the second as catcher Juan Apodaca drew a one-out walk and designated hitter Cristo Arnal singled. An error later scored Apodaca before Chisenhall gave the Aeros a six-run advantage with a three-run home run to the bullpen in right.
After a strikeout began the third inning, Akron rallied with five consecutive singles including RBI hits from center fielder Jordan Henry and second baseman Jason Kipnis. Chisenhall followed again to extend the edge to 9-0 with a sacrifice fly to center.
Henry singled to start a fifth inning burst and Kipnis walked against reliever Mike McCardell. Yet again, Chisenhall drove home the run with a single before New Britain finally scored in the top of the sixth. Starter Alex White permitted a sacrifice fly in that frame and reliever Bryan Price then allowed an RBI single to Mark Dolenc in the seventh.
The top of the Aeros order sparked the final scoring of the night against McCardell in the seventh. Henry walked, pinch-hitter Justin Toole singled and another error gave Akron an 11-2 lead. Mills then recorded an RBI with a groundout to first to provide for the last run.
The right-hander White (7-6) was solid on the mound in earning the win with six efficient innings in his team-leading 11th quality start. He allowed just one run on three hits with three strikeouts, recording a career-high 13 groundball outs. DeVries (1-5) took the loss in the spot-start, permitting nine runs (five earned) on 11 hits in his three frames.
Every Aeros batter recorded at least one hit in the game for the second straight game against the Rock Cats. In fact, everyone but Kipnis and Toole finished with two base hits in the game highlighted by a career performance from Chisenhall. He finished 3-for-4 at the plate with his 15th home run and set a new personal Double-A high with five RBI.
Akron’s weeklong home ends Sunday against New Britain at 1:35 p.m. for a Family Fun Day at Canal Park. The Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens sponsors tomorrow’s Family Packs, a special offer of four tickets, four hot dogs, four bags of chips and four soft drinks for only $48 while all kids can also run the bases after the game.
The Aeros look for the sweep tomorrow with newcomer Corey Kluber (0-2, 10.13 ERA) on the mound against New Britain’s Bobby Lanigan (2-1, 3.95 ERA).
K-Tribe Falls to Hillcats 3-1
Two errors lead to two unearned runs as Kinston fell to Lynchburg 3-1 Saturday night in Virginia.
Kinston starter Joey Mahalic was solid early, giving up just two hits through his first three innings of work. In the top of the fourth inning Lynchburg’s Chris Richburg reached with a single. A Kyle Day double then moved Richburg to third base. With the infield in, Kinston’s Karexon Sanchez cut down a Jose Gualdron infield chopper and caught Day off the bag at second. With Richburg still at third and one out in the inning, a Mahalic pickoff attempt at first base was mishandled by Jeremie Tice, allowing Richburg to score. Tice was charged with the error, as Lynchburg took a 1-0 lead
Lynchburg starting pitcher Justin Walker was solid early as well, limiting Kinston to just three hits through the first four innings. The K-Tribe would finally get to Walker in the fifth inning when Donnie Webb doubled with two outs. Bo Greenwell followed with an RBI single to tie the score at one.
In the bottom of the fifth inning Lynchburg’s Brodie Greene reached on a one-out single. Mahalic delivered a pick-off throw into the dirt that skipped down the right field line and allowed Greene to reach third base. Mahalic was charged with the error. Greene would score on a sacrifice fly later in the inning to give Lynchburg a 2-1 lead. Mahalic (4-8) took the loss giving up five hits and two unearned runs in five innings. Mahalic walked two and struck out one. Walker (2-1) gathered the win, giving up five hits and one run in six innings. He walked one and struck out eight.
Lynchburg would add a run in the bottom of the eighth off of Kinston reliever Chris Jones. Jones gave up two hits in three innings of relief work. Greenwell and Abner Abreu each had two hits for Kinston. Kinston outhit Lynchburg eight to seven on the night.
The series and road trip will end for Kinston Sunday night in Lynchburg. Game time 6:05 pm with T.J. House on the mound for the K-Tribe. The Indians will begin a five game in four day homestand on Monday at Historic Grainger Stadium.
Dragons Defeat the Captains 4-2
Dayton’s Henry Rodriguez went 4-for-4 with a HR and three RBI’s, lifting the Dragons to a 4-2 win over the Captains on Saturday night from Classic Park. Lake County dropped their second straight game with the loss.
Dayton jumped on Captains’ starter Brett Brach in the third inning. Chase Weems and Kevyn Feiner hit back to back singles to start it off. Brach battled to strike out Justin Reed, and forced Didi Gregorius to ground out back to the mound. With two outs, Henry Rodriguez singled to leftfield to score both runners. Josh Garton singled up the middle to driving in Rodriguez and giving the Dragons a 3-0 advantage.
Jason Smit reached on a walk in the seventh inning off reliever Junior Martinez. Argenis Martinez with a full count tripled down the right field line, the hit scored Smit and extended Martinez’s hit streak to 12 straight games. In his professional debut Captains centerfielder Tyler Holt picked up his first hit with a triple down the leftfield line driving in a run to make it 3-2.
The Dragons’ Herny Rodriguez in the eighth inning hit his 13th homerun of the year, a solo homerun off Owen Dew in his Captains’ debut giving Dayton a 4-2 lead.
Daniel Corcino (1-0) picked up his first win of the year shutting down the Captains over five scoreless innings of work, giving up three hits and striking out six. Doug Salinas picked up his fifth save of the season tossing 2.2 innings giving up just one hit while striking out three. Brach (4-7) took a tough loss giving up three runs on eight hits, striking out six. Owen Dew in his first single-A contest pitched two innings giving up one run on one hit striking out two.
The Captains and Dragons play game two of the series on Sunday at 1:00 PM with the Captains sending RHP Giovanni Soto (8-6, 2.50) to the mound to face the Dragons RHP Ricky Bowen (2-7, 6.56).
Scrappers lose late, 4-3
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers lost game two of a three-game series to the Lowell Spinners tonight 4-3 at LeLacheur Park.
The Scrappers fell to 23-33 on the season while the Spinners improved to 16-39.
With the game tied 3-3, Kolbrin Vitek drove in the game-winning run for the Spinners with a bases loaded single in the bottom of the eighth inning. J.D. Reichenbach allowed the Vitek RBI single and suffered the loss.
Wilson Matos picked up the win for the Spinners working 1.1 innings of relief and giving up one run on two hits. Michael Hacker pitched a scoreless top of the ninth inning to earn his second save for Lowell.
Despite getting a no decision, Casey Gaynor pitched well for the Scrapppers lasting five innings and giving up one run.
The Scrappers got on the board first taking the lead in the top of the first inning when Diego Seastrunk singled home Chase Burnette to make it 1-0.
The Spinners answered in their half of the first as Vitek hit a solo home run to left field to tie the game at 1-1.
The game remained tied until the top of the third inning when Seastrunk singled with one out. The next batter, Brian Heere, tripled to chase home Seastrunk and give the Scrappers a 2-1 lead.
Mahoning Valley held a 2-1 lead until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Spinners put runners on first and second with two outs against reliever Kyle Smith. With two outs, Smith induced a ground ball to first base, but Burnette couldn't glove it and committed an error to allow the inning to continue. The next batter, Joantoni Garcia, singled bringing home two runs to give the Spinners a 3-2 lead.
The Scrappers answered back to tie in the top of the eighth inning on a Kevin Fontanez sacrifice fly RBI with Seastrunk at third and Heere at second. Seastrunk scored, but Heere was thrown out trying to advance to third to end the inning.
The Scrappers turned to J.D. Reichenbach in the bottom of the eighth and the lefty loaded the bases with nobody out. Vitek came to bat next and singled with the bases loaded to drive in his second run of the game and give the Spinners a 4-3 lead.
Hacker made the lead stand up in the top of the ninth inning and Lowell won game two of this three-game series.
The Scrappers and Spinners play the rubber match of this three-game set tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is at 1:35 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Lianna Holub
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