The Clippers took a big step toward the postseason Monday, with a three-run sixth inning and some solid bullpen work helping them to a 6-4 win in Indianapolis.
The Clippers jumped out to an early lead when Wes Hodges hit a two-run home run in the top of the opening frame. Akinori Iwamura answered with a solo shot in the bottom of the first off of Columbus starter Yohan Pino (10-8).
John Bowker's two-run blast in the fourth gave Indy the lead, but Columbus evened the score in the top of the fifth, when Jose Constanza scored on a fielding error by Powell, giving an RBI to Drew Sutton.
After Iwamura broke the tie by doubling home Kevin Melillo in the bottom of the fifth, the Clippers came back with a three-run inning in the sixth, highlighted by Josh Rodriguez' go-ahead two-run bomb.
Pino worked six innings, with Aaron Laffey, Josh Judy and Vinnie Pestano (save number 13) teaming for three innings of scoreless ball after he departed. The two teams combined for 11 extra-base hits on the night.
Columbus gained a game on Louisville, who lost to Toledo, and now trails the Bats by just a half-a-game in the International League's West Division. The club's lead in the wild card race expanded to three-and-a-half games with Buffalo's loss to Syracuse.
The Clippers have just seven regular season games remaining, including two more in Indianapolis. The series resumes Tuesday at 7 p.m., with Paolo Espino (2-2, 4.70) on the hill for Columbus against right-hander Chris Jakubauskas (1-3, 3.98).
Extra Innings Doom Aeros Again
Extra innings continued to be a bad omen for the Aeros as they fell to Trenton 4-3 in 10 innings Monday at Waterfront Park. The loss puts Akron (69-66) closer to elimination from the post-season while the Thunder (79-56) stays ahead of New Hampshire for first place in the Eastern Division.
Both teams scored in the first inning as Akron took the early lead on an RBI single by designated hitter Jerad Head that scored shortstop Cristo Arnal from second. Trenton responded with a leadoff home run by Justin Christian to tie the game. Lance Berkman, on rehab appearance with the Thunder, provided Trenton with a 2-1 lead when he scored on a Marcos Vechionacci groundout.
Trenton increased their lead when Rene Rivera hit a solo home run to center field in the sixth frame to make it 3-1.
The Aeros comeback started in the eighth when center fielder Jordan Henry tripled to right field and scored on a ground out by Arnal. First baseman Beau Mills led off the ninth, also with an extra base hit, as he doubled to center field. He would come home on an RBI single by catcher Juan Apodaca to send the game into extra frames.
Akron had a chance to take the lead in the top of the 10th when Arnal reached third after a single and a pair of wild pitches, but the next two batters lined out and struck out to end the threat. The Thunder made short work of the situation from there as Daniel Brewer led off with a single, moved to second on sacrifice bunt, and home for the game winning run on consecutive singles.
Right-handed reliever Omar Aguilar took the loss to fall to 2-6 as he gave up the three hits and one run in the 10th. Ryan Pope rebounded from blowing the save and earned the win to improve to 4-6.
The Aeros remain 3.5 games behind Harrisburg as the Senators lost to New Hampshire 8-7. Bowie improved its post-season chances with a 2-0 win against Altoona. The Baysox are now three games in front of Akron. The Aeros now have an elimination number of five.
Akron will face Trenton in the second of four games Tuesday as they send Alex White (8-7, 2.28 ERA) to the hill against the Thunder’s Cory Arbiso (5-3, 3.51 ERA).
Kersten’s 3-Run Shot Lifts Captains Past Hawks 7-5
Chris Kersten’s three run shot in the fifth inning lifted the Captains past the Silver Hawks 7-5. Kersten drove in four runs on Monday night to match his season high.
Ender Inciarte tripled into the right field corner with one out in the top of the second inning. Inciarte scored on a Jason Knapp wild pitch to give South Bend a 1-0 lead.
The Hawks’ Chris Jarrett tripled to right to start the third inning. David Nick made it 2-0 with an RBI single scoring Jarrett.
In the fourth inning, Knapp walked the leadoff hitter Victor Estevez. Tyson Van Winkle doubled to score Esteve. A Jarrett ground out to first, moved Van Winkle over to third. Kyle Smith’s error on a David Nick ground ball scored Van Winkle making 4-0 South Bend.
Lake County answered in the bottom of the fourth inning. Casey Frawley tripled to kick things off. Adam Abraham doubled down the leftfield line to score Frawley. Chris Kersten hit a shot off the top of the left centerfield wall for a double scoring Abraham. Kyle Smith singled to right field to drive in Kersten making 4-3.
Argenis Martinez singled to right to reach to start the bottom of the fifth. Abraham drew a one out walk to put runners on first and second for Kersten.
The Captains added an insurance run in the eighth inning. Chase Burnette in his Captains’ debut doubled down the leftfield line. Dwight Childs laid down a sacrifice bunt to push Burnette over to third. Tyler Holt singled up the middle driving in the run to make it 7-4.
South Bend drew a run closer when David Nick singled home Chris Jarrett in the ninth inning making it 7-5.
Owen Dew (1-1) picked up the win in relief pitching 2.2 scoreless innings walking only one and striking out two. Preston Guilmet pitched the ninth to earn his tenth save of the season. Adam Worthington (5-6) took the loss for South Bend giving up six runs on eight hits over 4.2 innings, walking four and striking out two. Captains’ starter Jason Knapp picked up a no-decision throwing 4.2 innings giving up four runs, three earned on seven hits, walking two and striking out eight.
Lake County and South Bend wrap up their series Tuesday night at 7:00PM at Classic Park. LHP Francisco Jimenez (8-1) will make his second career start for the Captains and will be matched up with RHP Scottie Allen (4-4) for the Silver Hawks.
Scrappers end five game skid
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers brought nine men to the plate and scored three times in the bottom of the fourth inning to win game one of a two-game series against the Auburn Doubledays 4-2 tonight at Eastwood Field.
The win snapped the Scrappers five-game losing streak and improved their record to 29-41 on the season. The Doubledays fell to 31-38.
Mike Rayl picked up his second win of the season for the Scrappers pitching five innings, giving up two runs on five hits and striking out eight.
Clayton Ehlert pitched a scoreless top of ninth to earn his ninth save of the season. Seven of Ehlert's nine saves have come in the month of August.
Aaron Sanchez gave up two of the three runs in the fourth inning and three overall to get the loss for Auburn.
The Scrappers got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning off of Sanchez on a Diego Seastrunk sacrifice fly that made it 1-0.
The Doubledays answered a half inning later in the top of third off Rayl scoring two times to take a 2-1 lead.
The Scrappers went in order in the bottom of the third inning, but got to Sanchez in the fourth. Giovanny Urshela led off the inning with a single to get things started. Sanchez walked the next batter Jesus Aguilar and was replaced by reliever Zach Outman, who walked the first man he faced, Brian Heere, to load the bases with no one out. Tyler Cannon grounded into a force out to score the tying run.
Seastrunk followed with a walk and Outman was pulled for right hander Zach Anderson. Anderson threw a wild pitch with Fontanez at the plate to give the Scrappers the lead and later walked Nick Bartolone to force in a run and make it 4-2.
In relief of Rayl, Julio Ramirez made the lead stand up pitching three scoreless innings, facing the minimum and turning the ball over to Ehlert, who shut the door in the ninth to give the Scrappers a game one win.
The Scrappers will look to sweep the Doubledays in this two-game series tomorrow night. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.
Note: Kinston had a scheduled off day.
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