Aeros left-hander Scott Barnes dazzled through seven scoreless innings Friday to end Akron’s six-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the host New Britain Rock Cats. Only 45 minutes away from his hometown of Chicopee, MA, Barnes scattered just two hits to earn the win in front of 7,268 fans at New Britain Stadium, many supporting the local hero. The win improved the Aeros to 57-54 and 4.5 games behind the wild card-leading Bowie Baysox while the Rock Cats dropped to 33-80.
The game started on a great note for the visitors as the top of the Akron lineup blasted New Britain starting pitcher Chris Province. Center fielder Jordan Henry and second baseman Jason Kipnis led the game with back-to-back singles and Lonnie Chisenhall followed with a sacrifice fly. Two batters later, right fielder John Drennen plated Kipnis with a run-scoring fielder’s choice to the first baseman, giving the Aeros a quick 2-0 lead.
Barnes walked his first batter of the game and also permitted a single to Chris Parmelee, but cruised after that. He retired 18 of his final 19 batters and faced the minimum through the second to seventh innings, simply hitting Joe Benson with a pitch in the fourth.
Akron loaded the bases in the top of the sixth after a single, a wild pitch and two walks, but reliever Cole DeVries ended the frame with two straight fly outs. The Rock Cats jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the ninth on a run-scoring error by Chisenhall before Connor Graham struck out Alexander Soto to end the rally and secure the victory.
Barnes (6-8) earned the victory in one of his most dominant start of the season, simply permitting four base runners with eight strikeouts in his seven frames. The left-hander has been dominant recently, posting a 5-3 record with a 3.34 ERA in his last 11 starts. Province (5-4) took the loss in permitting two runs on eight hits in four innings pitched while Graham avoided a comeback in the ninth inning for his second save of the season.
The Aeros collected nine hits in the contest, led by the contributions from the top hitters in the lineup. Henry finished 3-for-4 and Kipnis collected two more hits, igniting the first inning attack. Catcher Juan Apodaca was 1-for-3 in his debut in the Indians organization, arriving with Akron the other day following a trade from the Boston Red Sox.
This three-game series between the Aeros and the Rock Cats continues Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at New Britain Stadium. Akron has yet to announce their starting pitcher for the contest against Deolis Guerra (2-7, 5.32 ERA) of the Rock Cats.
Walk-off homer defeats Clippers, 7-5
The Columbus Clippers dropped their second consecutive game to the Buffalo Bisons on Friday night, 7-5, as Lucas Duda sent Buffalo fans home happy with a walk-off, two-run home run off of Vinnie Pestano.
The Clippers out-hit Buffalo 13-6 on the night, but Buffalo drew 10 walks from the Clippers pitching staff. Duda drew two walks on the night to go along with his game winning blast.
The Clippers got on the board first with an RBI groundout from Jose Constanza, which scored Jerad Head. Columbus' lead would not last long as the Bisons responded in the bottom of the inning with two runs on a sacrifice fly from Mike Cervenak and an RBI single from Michael Barrett.
The score remained the same until Columbus tied the game in the top of the seventh inning when Ezequiel Carrera dropped down a sacrifice bunt scoring Argenis Reyes. Like the second inning, the Bisons had an answer, and a big one at that, as Valentino Pascucci blasted a three-run home run to give the Bisons a 5-2 advantage.
The Clippers mustered up one final rally in the top of the eighth as Columbus got RBI knocks from Head and Damaso Espino, but Duda's home run sent Columbus back to the clubhouse searching for answers.
Tomorrow, the Clippers and Bisons meet at 7:05 p.m. in game three of the series. Carlos Carrasco (9-4, 4.00) will start for Columbus against Dillon Gee (10-7, 4.88) from Buffalo.
Hillcats Scratch Out a 2-1 Win at Kinston
Kinston lost their third straight game, a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Lynchburg Friday night at Historic Grainger Stadium.
Kinston got on the board in the third inning against Lynchburg starter Jordan Hotchkiss. Doug Pickens led off the inning with a single to left and Ronald Rivas knocked a base hit to right to move Pickens to third. The next batter, Donnie Webb, lifted a sacrifice fly to right to score Pickens and put the K-Tribe ahead 1-0.
The Hillcats answered in the fourth against Kinston starter Austin Adams. Denis Phipps slammed a home run to left field to lead off the inning and tied the game at one. Adams lasted five innings, surrendering just a run on five hits. He had no walks and four strikeouts, but did not factor in the decision. Over the last eight games, Kinston starters have given up only six earned runs in 43 1/3 innings.
Chris Jones came on in relief for the K-Tribe in the sixth inning. He struck out Neftali Soto, but it was a wild pitch allowing Soto to reach. Chris Richburg then drilled an RBI double to left to give Lynchburg a 2-1 lead. Jones (2-2) was the tough luck loser, giving up only one hit in three innings. David Roberts came in later to pitch a scoreless ninth.
Hotchkiss lived up to the billing, with another stellar start for the Hillcats, giving up a run on four hits in seven innings. He struck out eight and walked none, dropping his league-leading ERA to 2.39. Kinston managed just five hits on the night (all singles). Sanchez went 2-for-4 for Kinston.
The K-Tribe will take on Lynchburg on Saturday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. Game time 7pm, Marty Popham will start on the mound for Kinston.
Captains Lose Finale to Dragons 3-0
The Dayton Dragons defeated the Captains on Friday night by the final score of 3-0. With the win the Dragons avoided a four game sweep by Lake County.
The Dragons touched up Trey Haley in the second inning following a leadoff walk to Josh Garton. Tommy Nurre hit a two out double to right field to put runners in scoring position. Frank Pfister delivered a two run single giving Dayton a 2-0 lead.
In the seventh inning the Dragons added an insurance run to make it 3-0. Tommy Nurre was hit by a Haley pitch to start the inning off. A ground out by Chase Weems moved Nurre over to second. Andrew Means singled up the middle to score Nurre.
Dayton starter Jacob Johnson (6-6) picked up the win tossing six scoreless innings giving up just three hits and striking out six. Haley (5-7) took the loss giving up three runs on just three hits striking out seven. Doug Salinas picked up the save with 2.1 innings of work giving up a hit and striking out six.
The Captains travel to South Bend on Saturday at 5:30 PM to begin a four game series with the Silver Hawks. The Captains will send RHP Clayton Cook (5-6, 3.68) to the bump to face the Hawks RHP Andrew Walcott (1-3, 5.20).
Scrappers drop game three to ValleyCats, 6-2
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers lost game three of a three-game series Friday night to the Tri-City ValleyCats 6-2 at Eastwood Field. Kirk Wetmore got the loss for the Scrappers lasting three innings, giving up five runs on four hits and striking out three.
Bobby Doran recorded the win for the ValleyCats pitching five innings, giving up two runs on seven hits and striking out one. Chase Burnette went 1-4 with a RBI double to lead the way offensively for the Scrappers.
The New York-Penn League All-Star selections were made Friday night and the Scrappers were well represented. Pitchers Alex Kaminsky and Owen Dew and second baseman Dan DeGeorge were selected to be a part of the American League-Affiliated All-Star team. The game will be played on August 17.
DeGeorge is hitting .263 with five RBI on the 2010 season. Kaminsky's 2.15 ERA and Dew's 2.53 ERA rank them both in the top ten in the New York-Penn League. Kaminsky also has four wins in 2010 to lead the team.
The Scrappers will begin a three-game series with the Aberdeen IronBirds tomorrow night at Eastwood Field. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.
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1 comments:
Berger walked 8 tonight? 8 freaking guys? THat's crazy. His K/BB ratio was .5 man....
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