Game Recap 8/26: Espino Helps Clippers Playoff Push

Columbus continues series dominance, top Bats, 5-2

The Clippers had won just one road game in more than a month, but they had a 13-6 season record against the Louisville Bats, so something had to give in the opener of a crucial series at Slugger Field on Thursday. A big seventh inning and a pair of Jose Constanza triples helped Columbus to a 5-2 victory and brought them within a half-game of the division lead.

The Clippers took an early lead, thanks to Constanza's first triple, he later scored on a bunt in the opening inning. But the Bats answered with two runs in the second, to take a brief lead.

Columbus knotted things up in the third, when Constanza scored on Drew Sutton's single (Ezequiel Carrera was thrown out between third and home on the same play), and the game stayed tied until late. That's when the Clippers answered the call with Matt McBride's RBI-double and Constanza's RBI-triple. Jordan Brown homered in the eighth inning, to give the Clippers a three-run advantage.

Vinnie Pestano got himself in a jam in the ninth inning, giving up back-to-back singles and a walk with just one out in the frame, but a strikeout and a fly out secured the win and Pestano's 12th save.

Paolo Espino, who now has two Triple-A wins, both against the Bats, struck out five in seven innings of work. Both runs scored by the Bats were earned, coming off of six hits. Matt Maloney went eight innings for Louisville, but took the loss to fall to 10-7.

Aeros Shutout SeaWolves 12-0

The Aeros won their third consecutive game with an impressive 12-0 shutout against Erie. Akron gave up only four hits on the evening in front of 7,765 fans at Canal Park while improving to 67-64 as the last-place SeaWolves dropped to 59-72.

Akron jumped out to an early lead with third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall’s two-out solo home run in the first inning. The Newport, N.C. native now has 17 round trips and has tied current Columbus Clipper Matt McBride for the most by any Aeros player this season.

The Aeros scored a second run in the third when second baseman Jason Kipnis came in from second after a throwing error by Bryan Pounds, who attempted to get the third out on a force at second. Right fielder John Drennen doubled the lead in the next frame with a two-run home run that also scored catcher Miguel Perez after he reached safely on a single. Left fielder Tim Fedroff duplicated Drennen’s effort with a two-run homer of his own in the sixth that brought in first baseman Beau Mills.

Akron poured on the runs in the seventh in a rally started by designated hitter Jerad Head when he hit an RBI single up the middle to score center fielder Jordan Henry from second. Mills then walked to load the bases to set up Perez. The Caracas, Venezuela native singled to score Kipnis, but an error on Erie’s left fielder Brandon Jones allowed Head to come home. Drennen made it 11-0 with a deep double to left-center field that brought home Mills and Perez. Erie hurt itself again when Pounds threw the ball wide of first base and Drennen advanced home from second to make it 12-0.

Right-handed starter Alex White had a fantastic outing as he improved to 8-7 with three hits, five strikeouts and one walk. He threw seven shutout innings, matching his longest outing of the season. SeaWolves starter Anthony Shawler, now 4-3, took the loss after giving up six runs (five earned) on eight hits, three home runs, and seven strikeouts.

The Aeros didn’t receive any help tonight in the Western Division wild card race as Bowie came back to defeat New Britain and Harrisburg defeated Trenton. Akron remains 3.5 games back of the second-place Senators, but now has an elimination number in single digits at nine with 11 games to play.

Kinston Beats Keys, Takes Series From Frederick

Bo Greenwell's three-run homer capped a five-run eighth inning as the Indians beat Frederick 9-5 on Thursday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. With the win, Kinston takes the four game series from the Keys and moves into a tie for the final playoff spot in the Carolina league Southern Division. The K-Tribe is tied with the Salem Red Sox for the final playoff spot; the two teams meet for a three game series this weekend at Historic Grainger Stadium.

Frederick broke through against Indians starter Joey Mahalic in the third. Bobby Stevens led off with a single to left. Wtih one out, Brian Conley singled to right to put runners on first and second. Pedro Florimon and Ronnie Welty then followed with back-to-back RBI singles to give the Keys a 2-0 edge. Another run scored on a Billy Rowell groundout to make it 3-0. Frederick would add to the lead in the fourth frame when Miguel Abreu led off with a double and Tyler Townsend drove him in with a single.

In the bottom of the fourth inning Kinston's Kyle Bellows scored on an error by Frederick second baseman Buck Britton. Trailing 4-1, Kinston evened the score an inning later when Chun Chen bombed a three-run home run over the left field wall. The blast was Chen's fifth of the season for the K-Tribe.

The Keys took the lead back in the eighth inning. Townsend doubled with one out and Bobby Stevens singled to put runners on the corners. Brian Ward then sent a grounder up the middle. K-Tribe second baseman Karexon Sanchez made an outstanding diving stop up the middle, but his glove flip to Juan Diaz for the force at second was off target allowing Townsend to score on the RBI single and give the Keys a 5-4 lead.

The K-Tribe rallied back with a huge bottom of the eighth against Keys' reliever Nate Nery. Juan Diaz led off with a walk and Doug Pickens singled. Donnie Webb ripped an RBI single to center to score Diaz and tie the game at five. Justin Toole followed with another RBI single to give the K-Tribe their first lead at 6-5. Still with nobody out, Bo Greenwell delivered the big blow, a three-run homer to right to make it 9-5. It was Greenwell's first Carolina League home run. Grening (4-3) picked up the win in relief, pitching a perfect 1 1/3 innings. Tyler Sturdevant was solid in relief giving up one run through 2 2/3 innings of work. He struck out four.

Captains Shutout Hot Rods 4-0

Francisco Jimenez, Preston Guilmet and Jose Flores combined to shut out Bowling Green 4-0 on Thursday night. Tyler Holt drove in a career high three RBI to pass the offense.

Delvi Cid led the game off with a double to leftfield. Tyler Holt sent a double down the line in left to score Cid and give the Captains 1-0 lead in the first.

Lake made it 2-0 in the fifth inning. Kyle Smith doubled to start things off, extending his hit streak to six straight games. Argenis Martinez and Delvi Cid both drew one out walks to load the bases. Tyler Holt drove in his second run of the night with a sacrifice fly to center.

The Captains added some insurance in the eighth. Cid reached on a one out walk from Alex Koronis. Cid stole second base and reached third on wild pitch. Holt singled to left scoring Cid for his third RBI of night. Koronis’ pickoff attempt at first against Holt got away from the first baseman and Holt advanced to base to third. Casey Frawley singled to left to score Holt and the Captains took a 4-0 lead.

Preston Guilmet (4-1) earned the win out of the bullpen tossing 2.2 scoreless innings giving up just three hits and striking out six. Yorman Mayora (1-1) took the loss giving up just one run on three hits, walking two and striking out two. Captains’ starter Francisco Jimenez recorded a no-decision throwing 4.1 scoreless innings, allowing just two and striking out six. Jose Flores finished the game for Lake County pitching the final two innings, giving up just one hit and striking out three. The Captains combined to strike out 15 hitters.

Lake County and Bowling Green will wrap up their three game series on Friday night at 7:00PM at Bowling Green Ballpark. The Captains will start RHP Trey Haley (5-9) and will be matched up against RHP Alexander Colome (6-6) for the Hot Rods.

Scrappers fall to Spikes, 10-1

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers lost the rubber match of a three-game series to the State College Spikes 10-1 tonight at Eastwood Field.

With the loss, the Scrappers fell to 28-38 on the season, while the Spikes improved to 32-33.

Alex Kaminsky suffered his fifth loss of the season despite pitching well. Kaminsky lasted five innings giving two runs on three hits and striking out five.

Colton Cain got the win for the Spikes pitching five innings, giving up one run on one hit and striking out six.

With a single in the bottom of the seventh inning, Brian Heere extended his hitting streak to nine games.

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