For the second straight night, starting pitching put the Clippers behind the eight-ball and their offense wasn't able to bring them back, as they fell 8-4 to Toledo in the opener of a two-city, five-game series at Huntington Park.
Paolo Espino was the International League's Pitcher of the Week for his efforts last week, but he lasted just four innings on Friday night, allowing eight earned runs off of nine hits.
The Clippers scored one in the first, when Cord Phelps' sacrifice fly plated Jose Constanza. Then, trailing 6-1 in the third, Jordan Brown hit a three-run blast to temporarily bring the Clippers within two.
Toledo got long balls from Casper Wells (a two-run shot in the first), Ben Guez (a solo HR in the second) and Scott Sizemore (a two-run homer in the second).
The in-state rivals are back at it Sunday at 5:05 p.m., with Clippers ace Carlos Carrasco (10-5, 3.71) scheduled to start opposite Toledo lefty Ryan Kelchner (3-4, 4.17).
Saturday’s Akron Aeros Game Postponed
Rain postponed the middle game of a three game series between the Aeros and Harrisburg Senators at Canal Park Saturday night The final announcement arrived at 8:35 p.m. as the Senators remain 65-59 and Akron sits one game behind at 64-60 as the two teams remain locked in a three-way battle with Bowie for the Western Division wild card spot.
All fans that held tickets for Saturday’s game can redeem them for future tickets to any remaining Akron Aeros home game this season or for any game in April or May of 2011. Tickets for Saturday’s game will not be echangeable for the playoffs, as all tickets for the playoffs are complimentary and are available now at the Canal Park box offices. Fans must exchange Saturday’s tickets at the Canal Park box offices that are open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during the week. Box office hours do change on game days, so be sure to check www.akronaeros.com for full game day and non-game day hours.
The homestand will now finish up with a doubleheader at 1:05 p.m., as Akron and Harrisburg will play two seven inning games. Sunday is another Family Fun Day at Canal Park as kids run the bases following the game presented by Smith Dairy and Family Packs are available again sponsored by the Gateway Clipper Fleet. Fans can save a total of $28 on a special family-style offer of four tickets, four hot dogs, four bags of chips and four soft drinks for only $48. Game one will feature Corey Kluber (1-2, 5.79 ERA) for the Aeros against Harrisburg’s Tanner Roark (1-1, 2.25 ERA). It’s a battle of southpaws in game two, as Matt Packer (0-1, 4.74 ERA) takes the mound for the Aeros against Aaron Thompson (4-12, 5.74 ERA).
Kinston Falls 8-7 on Walk-Off Single
Samuel Sime’s walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth capped a two-run rally for Myrtle Beach in an 8-7 win over the K-Tribe on Saturday night in South Carolina. Kinston is one and a half games out of the final playoff spot in the Carolina League Southern Division.
Kinston struck first in the opening frame when Kyle Bellows and Abner Abreu each delivered RBI singles scoring Karexon Sanchez and Chun Chen. Myrtle Beach would come back in the bottom of the second inning, beginning with a lead-off walk to Mike Jones. With two-outs in the inning Jones advanced to second base on a passed ball. Jones would then score on an RBI double by Jordan Kreke. The Pelicans would then tie the score at two when Sanchez booted a grounder to the right side, allowing Kreke to come home on the error by the K-Tribe second baseman.
Myrtle Beach would take advantage of more Kinston mistakes in the third inning. With two-outs in the inning Mike Jones was allowed to reach on an error by Kinston first baseman Jeremie Tice. Samuel Sime then made Kinston pay for another two-out error with an RBI double to score Jones. Myrtle Beach would take a 4-2 lead when Sime scored on a single by Cody Johnson. Kinston would get a run back in the top of the third inning when Kyle Bellows led off with a double and was driven home by a Juan Diaz single.
The Pelicans would put up two runs for the third straight inning when Ware and Rodriguez each drove in runs in the bottom of the fourth frame. Kinston starter T.J. House lasted four innings, giving up six runs (three unearned) on six hits. House walked two and struck out three.
Kinston kept fighting, when Jeremie Tice doubled with two-outs in the top of the fifth inning. Chen followed with a double of his own to drive in Tice and make the score 6-4 Myrtle Beach. The Pelicans would then commit a big two-out error, when a routine grounder to second base was booted by Kreke. The error allowed Chen to score and cut the Pelican lead to one. Abreu then slugged another double down the left field line, but a good Myrtle Beach relay throw cut down Bellows at the plate to keep the lead. Pelican’s starter Matt Crim gave up five runs on eight hits in five innings of work. He walked one and struck out four.
Chris Jones settled things down from the K-Tribe bullpen. He pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings on one hit. He walked one and struck out five.
Andrew Wilson did not fare so well from the pen for the Pelicans. Wilson walked two batters with two-outs in the top of the sixth inning. The free passes proved costly as Sanchez delivered an rbi single to tie the game at six.
The Indians took the lead back in the eighth inning against Pelicans reliever Luis Avilan. Abreu led off with a single up the middle and Juan Diaz moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt. With two out, Webb bounced a double down the right field line to score Abreu and give the K-Tribe a 7-6 lead.
Myrtle Beach rallied in the ninth inning against closer Cory Burns. Mycal Jones reached on a fielding error on Bellows to start the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. He scored on an RBI single by Mike Jones to tie the game at seven. The next hitter, Samuel Sime hit a walk-off RBI single through the left side to give the Pelicans an 8-7 victory.
The K-Tribe finishes up the short road trip Sunday night at 6:05 pm in South Carolina. Joe Gardner will take the hill for Kinston. The K-Tribe then returns to Kinston for their final homestand of the 2010 season Monday through Sunday.
Dayton Snaps Streak With 6-3 Win Over Captains
The Dragons snapped a 24-game losing streak at home on Saturday night defeating the Captains 6-3. Lake County starter Giovanni Soto suffered his first loss since joining the team.
The Captains jumped in front in the second inning 1-0. Adam Abraham reached on a walk extending his on-base streak to 12 straight games. Kyle Smith doubled off the wall in right field with one out to put runners on second and third. Ben Carlson slapped one into right to score Abraham.
Dayton knocked around Captains’ starter Giovanni Soto in the third inning. Dominic D’Anna kicked off the inning with a double to leftfield.
Kevyn Feiner belted his second homerun of the season to deep left giving the Dragons their first lead 2-1. Henry Rodriguez drew a two out walk to extend the frame. Ryan LaMarre made Soto pay crushing a Soto pitch to left the second two run homerun of the inning and Dayton lead 4-1.
Lake County cut into the lead in the fifth. Jason Smit reached on a Didi Gregorius throwing error. Dwight Childs delivered a single to left center to put Captains on the corners. Tyler Holt sent Bowen pitch to deep right center, it was ground rule double scoring Smit making it 4-2. Delvi Cid hit on the right side of the infield, the ground out scored Childs and Lake County trailed 4-3.
The Dragons picked some insurance in the seventh inning off reliever Owen Dew. Justin Read doubled to lead off things off. Didi Gregorius ground out to first to push Read over to third. With the infield playing in, Rodriguez tripled down the right field into the corner driving in a run with his third triple of the year. Mark Fleury hit a sacrifice fly to left to make it 6-3 driving in Rodriguez.
Ricky Bowen (3-8) figured out the Captains for the win, tossing five innings giving up three runs, one earned, walking only one and striking out six. Doug Salinas picked up his sixth save of the season striking out the side in the ninth. Giovanni Soto (9-7) suffered his first loss for Lake County going only four innings, giving up four runs on five hits, walking three and striking out three.
Lake County and Dayton continue their four games series Sunday at 4PM from Fifth Third Field. On the mound for the Captains will be the RHP Trey Haley (5-8) against the Dragons’ RHP Jacob Johnson (6-6).
Cooper, Scrappers down Spikes, 2-1
Trent Baker's first hit as a Mahoning Valley Scrapper came in a big spot.
With Chase Burnette at third base in the top of the sixth inning, Baker blooped a single into center field to score him and give the Scrappers a 2-1 lead.
The bullpen made that lead stand up and the Scrappers won game one of a three-game series against the State College Spikes tonight 2-1 at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
The Scrappers improved to 26-35 on the season, while the Spikes fell to 29-31 in 2010.
Jordan Cooper got the start for Mahoning Valley and picked up his fifth win of the season pitching five innings, allowing one run on three hits and striking out four. Clayton Ehlert recorded his seventh save pitching 1.2 scoreless innings.
Mitch Fienemann was saddled with the loss for the Spikes pitching two innings of relief and giving up one run on two hits. That's how it remained until the bottom of the fifth inning when Matt Curry hit a solo home run to right field off of Cooper to tie the game 1-1.
The Scrappers answered in the top of the sixth inning. Burnette doubled to start the inning to hit extend his hit streak to 12 straight games. He later scored on the Baker bloop RBI single and the Scrappers retook the lead 2-1.
The Scrappers bullpen made that lead hold up and they turned it over to their closer Ehlert for the last five outs to win game.
The Scrappers will go for two-in-a-row tomorrow night in game two of this series against the Spikes. First pitch is at 6:05 p.m.
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