After a pair of losses in Columbus, the Louisville Bats turned to a Major League ace on a rehab assignment looking to turn their fortunes around, but Aaron Harang (0-1) couldn't stop the Clippers' recent momentum and Columbus swept the Bats out of town, 7-3.
The Clippers scored in the first when Jared Goedert's sacrifice fly plated Jose Constanza. The hosts then added four in the second, getting a two-RBI single from Ezequiel Carrera and a two-run double from Cord Phelps.
Harang settled down after that, retiring the next nine in order, but Yohan Pino (9-7) was effective on the other side, working around nine hits in six scoreless innings, while striking out five.
The Clippers added back-to-back home runs in the sixth from Wes Hodges and Matt McBride. After a scoreless seventh from Zach Putnam, Jensen Lewis surrendered a run in the eighth and Bryce Stowell allowed two more in the ninth without giving up a hit -- accounting for the final score.
The Clippers improved to 13-6 against Louisville this season, with just two meetings remaining, and pushed their International League West lead to two-and-a-half games with their 71st win of 2010.
After an off-day Monday, the Clippers return to action Tuesday night at Huntington Park, when they open a four-game series against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Lefty Eric Berger (0-1, 5.23) will go for Columbus against Zach McAllister (8-9, 5.01).
Aeros Complete Sweep with 7-0 Win
The Aeros completed a three-game series sweep of the New Britain Rock Cats with a 7-0 victory Sunday afternoon in front of 3,359 fans at Canal Park. Akron recorded another 11 hits in the contest highlighted by a two-run homer from second baseman Jason Kipnis. With the victory, the Aeros now sport a 62-57 record and trail the wild card-leading Bowie Baysox by 1.5 games while New Britain fell to 34-87
The scoring began in the first inning as center fielder Jordan Henry led off with a single to right. Kipnis followed with a two-run shot off the Miller Lite sign in center field, and left fielder Tim Fedroff recorded another RBI with a triple in the second.
In the fourth inning, third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall continued his impressive series against New Britain with a two-run single to extend the lead to 5-0. The Aeros added their final runs with one out in the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly from first baseman Beau Mills and a run-scoring single from right fielder John Drennen.
Akron starting pitcher Corey Kluber (1-2) delivered six shutout innings to earn his first win in the Cleveland Indians organization. He allowed just six hits and one walk while striking out four batters in his third start since joining the team following a three-team trade that also that sent Jake Westbrook to St. Louis. New Britain’s Bobby Lanigan (2-2) took the loss after allowing five runs on eight hits in five innings pitched and Aeros relievers Connor Graham and Omar Aguilar provided three more shutout frames.
The home run from Kipnis was his 9th in Double-A and he finished 2-for-2 at the plate with two walks, two runs scored and two RBI. Henry, Chisenhall and Drennen all finished with a pair of hits as well and the Aeros finished with 48 hits in the three-game series.
Akron has an off day on Monday before traveling to Reading for a doubleheader that includes the completion of a suspended game from July 25th and an originally scheduled game that has been shortened to seven innings. They will pick up action at 6:05 p.m. in the bottom of the fourth inning with the scored tied 5-5. The pitchers in the opener have not been announced while Aeros left-hander Matt Packer (0-0, 0.64 ERA) will start against R-Phils righty J.C. Ramirez (3-3, 5.37 ERA) in the second game.
Hillcats Hit Kinston With a 6-4 Loss
The Lynchburg Hillcats handed Kinston a 6-4 defeat Sunday night in Virginia. With the win Lynchburg sweeps the K-Tribe in the three game series.
The Hillcats jumped all over T.J. House in the bottom of the first inning. With one-on and one-out, Chris Richburg gave Lynchburg a 1-0 lead with an RBI double. Kyle Day then walked and Shane Carlson drove Richburg in with another RBI double. Jose Gualdron finished the scoring with an RBI double, giving Lynchburg a 4-0 first inning lead.
Kinston would come right back in the top of the second inning off of Hillcat starter Pedro Villarreal. Chun Chen and Kyle Bellows led off with singles. Abner Abreu and Doug Pickens followed with RBI singles to cut the Hillcat lead in half. A double play grounder off the bat of Donnie Webb scored Abreu as Kinston cut the Lynchburg lead to one.
The Hillcats would take a 5-3 lead when Efrain Contreras and Jordan Wideman hit back-to-back singles to lead off the fourth inning, followed by a Brodie Greene sacrifice fly. The K-Tribe would again make it a one-run game when Abreu delivered a two-out RBI triple in the top of the sixth. The three bagger drove in Bellows and made the score 5-4. In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Hillcats got a big insurance run when Cody Puckett led off with a home run. It was Puckett’s 13th of the season and first hit of Kinston reliever Tyler Sturdevant.
House (5-9) took the loss giving up five earned runs on nine hits in five innings of work. House walked one and struck out five. Sturdevant gave up three hits in three innings of work for Kinston. Abreu went 2-for-4 with two RBI for Kinston. The K-Tribe racked up ten hits on the night in the loss.
The Indians now begin a five game in four day homestand on Monday at Historic Grainger Stadium. It’s a Buck Night Monday to kick things off against the Potomac Nationals Game time 7:00 pm with Joe Gardner (9-5, 2.91) on the mound for the K-Tribe.
Folgia Lifts Captains over Dragons, 5-2
Greg Folgia in the third inning and the game tied at two, with runners on second and third hit a ball deep to center, the sacrifice fly scored Adam Abraham giving the Captains the lead 3-2. Folgia went 3-for-3 as Lake County defeated Dayton 5-2.
Lake County jumped on the board in the first inning to take the lead 1-0. Delvi Cid singled to reach base. Casey Frawley picked up a single to center to put runners on the corners. Adam Abraham drove in Cid with an RBI base hit to right field.
Dayton took a brief lead in the second inning. With two outs, Josh Garton singled off Giovanni Soto to get aboard. Frank Phister hit a two-run homerun to leftfield giving the Dragons the lead 2-1.
The Captains did not wait long tying the ball game up in the bottom half of the second inning. Greg Folgia with his first of three hits on the afternoon started it off. Jason Smit singled to put two runners on. Argenis Martinez trying to bunt the runners over reached on an error by starting pitcher Ricky Bowen, loading the bases. Tyler Holt hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield scoring Folgia.
In the fifth inning, Roberto Perez hit his sixth homerun of the year, a solo shot that gave Lake County a 4-2 lead.
Argenis Martinez leadoff the eighth inning and reached on a Pfister error at first. Martinez finished the day 1-for-4 extending his hit streak to a team high 13 straight games. Holt layed down a sacrifice bunt moving the runner into scoring position. Cid picked up a season high fourth hit of the day with a chopper over the third baseman into left, scoring Martinez and lifting the Captains, 5-2 over the Dragons.
Giovanni Soto (9-6) picked up the win and is now 3-0 with Lake County. Soto pitched five innings giving up two runs on six hits, striking out four. Ricky Bowen (2-8) took the loss for Dayton allowing four runs on eleven hits, with three strike outs. Jose Flores recorded his fourth save of the season with a perfect ninth, striking out two.
The Captains and Dragons wrap up the series on Monday at 7:00 PM with the Captains sending RHP Trey Haley (5-8, 5.60) to the hill to oppose the Dragons RHP Jacob Johnson (6-6, 3.86).
Scrappers Come Back For Win
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers came back late and stunned Lowell for a 10-8 victory on Sunday afternoon. Right-handed pitcher Cole Cook made his professional debut going three innings and allowed four runs on three hits, one walk, and had two strikeouts. He gave up all four runs on two two-run home runs. Lefty Jordan Cooper got the win in relief as he went four innings and allowed two runs on five hits, three walks, and had two strikeouts.
With the Scrappers pitching struggling on the day, the offense kicked it in geat with a ten-run eleven-hit attack. Catcher Moises Montero led the way going 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI, and outfielder Kevin Rucker went 1-for-4 with a solo home run. Shortstop Nick Bartolone, first baseman Jon Burnette, and outfielder Brian Heere all chipped in with two hits.
The Scrappers are now off for two days for the NY-Penn All Star Break and will pick thing back up on Wednesday at home versus Batavia.
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.
4 comments:
Tony,
In a Pluto column, he said that Weglarz is likely done for the year as a result of his thumb injury. Can you confirm?
Starting to worry about Stowell's wildness. He had started to improve after his 1st 2 outings in Columbus, but giving up 2 runs on no hits is pretty bad. I hope it's a mechanical thing that can be addressed, not chronically bad command.
Thoughts on House?
Seems to have hit a wall lately - getting the K's but allowing a lot of runs. Please don't tell me another pitcher to be turned into a bullpen arm...
Still trying to confirm Wegz status, but may be true. I also think Stowell has battled a blister on his finger which may be affecting his control. As for House, dude has been electric his last four starts up until last night....doesn't appear to be hitting a wall. He will remain a starter and is being developed as one.
Tony,
Thanks for responding. I know the last 48 hours have been hectic. Hopefully your right about Stowell's blister affecting his command.
Post a Comment