The Clippers ran their winning streak to four games, using more solid pitching and a big third inning to earn a 13th and final victory in 2010 against the Indianapolis Indians, 4-1. With the victory, Columbus could now earn a spot in the International League playoffs as early as Thursday.
Corey Kluber stepped into the rotation spot vacated by Carlos Carrasco and was solid in six innings of work. He gave up just the one run on four hits, while striking out four.
Trailing 1-0 in the third, the Clippers knotted the score with Matt McBride's lead-off home run. Two batters later, Josh Rodriguez' triple scored Luke Carlin, with Rodriguez then coming home on an Ezequiel Carrera single.
Columbus added an insurance run in the seventh when Rodriguez doubled home Carlin, shortly after both McBride and Manager Mike Sarbaugh had been ejected for arguing a call at first base. The Clippers outhit Indy on the night, 13-5. Saul Rivera gave Vinnie Pestano some much-needed rest, picking up his fifth save of the season by pitching around two walks in the ninth.
Louisville's kept pace with Columbus in the IL West Division with a win of their own. The Bats still trail by a half-a-game, but both teams appear to be in good shape for the postseason, with the division loser likely headed for a wild card berth.
The Clippers return home for the final two regular season games at Huntington Park Thursday and Friday. First pitch on Thursday is set for 4:35 p.m., moved up because of the Ohio State football game, with David Huff (7-2, 4.81) on the bump for Columbus against Toledo's Charlie Furbush (3-3, 5.24).
Aeros Thunderstruck by Trenton 4-2
The Aeros handed away the game they earned Tuesday in the wild card standings as they lost to Trenton 4-2 Wednesday at Waterfront Park. The loss brings Akron (70-67) closer to elimination as Harrisburg defeated New Hampshire. The two separate decisions put the Thunder (80-57) a step closer to clinching the Eastern Division regular season title.
Akron struck first in their opening at-bat for the third-straight game. Center fielder Jordan Henry led off with a single through the hole at shortstop. Henry eventually stole second, advanced to second on a ground out, and scored on a single up the middle by third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall.
Trenton answered as Justin Christian led off with a home run to left field. The Thunder would take a 2-1 lead in the second inning when Marcos Vechionacci scored on a fielding error by first baseman Miguel Perez. Their lead would increase to 3-1 after Christian hit his second homer of the game in the fifth inning.
The Aeros attempted to come back in the sixth as designated hitter Beau Mills singled to right-center field to score Chisenhall. Akron could not get any closer as they left two on base to end the frame.
The Thunder added an insurance run in the eighth as Daniel Brewer singled in Christian for the final 4-2 count.
Right-handed starter Rob Bryson (1-1) took the loss despite allowing only two runs (one earned) on one hit with two strikeouts. Andrew Brackman (4-7) earned the win after he allowed two runs on five hits in six innings of work.
Akron is once again 3.5 games back of the Senators for the wild card and has an elimination number of three with five games remaining in the regular season. Bowie was also a winner Wednesday and is three games ahead of the Aeros.
Akron southpaw Matt Packer (1-2, 3.60 ERA) will take the hill against Trenton’s Manny Banuelos (0-1, 9.53 ERA) in hopes of keeping the playoff hopes alive.
Kinston Wins Eighth Straight, Magic Number at Three
T.J. McFarland pitched six scoreless innings and Bo Greenwell was 2-for-5 with two RBI to lead the K-Tribe to a 7-4 victory over Frederick on Wednesday night in Maryland. Kinston has won a season-high eight consecutive games and 13 of their last 16. Their magic number is down to three to clinch a spot in the Carolina League playoffs.
Kinston got on the board in the second inning off of Frederick starter Zach Clark. Abner Abreu reached on an infield single with one out. He stole second and moved to third when the catcher’s throw ran into center field. Juan Diaz hit an RBI single down the right field line to give the K-Tribe a 1-0 lead.
The K-Tribe added on in the third inning, led off by a Karexon Sanchez single. Jeremie Tice singled and Chun Chen’s groundout moved the runners to second and third. Kyle Bellows hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Sanchez and make it 2-0.
In the top of the fourth inning, Kinston kept the pressure on when Diaz reached on an infield single. After Doug Pickens was hit by a pitch, Donnie Webb bounced a grounder to the third baseman who forced Diaz at the bag. With two on and two-out, Kinston broke through with a two RBI double from Bo Greenwell. Sanchez followed with an RBI single to give Kinston a 5-0 lead. Clark (2-3) took the loss, getting roughed up for five runs on ten hits in five innings.
Kinston starter T.J. McFarland (11-5) put together his second straight solid start, holding the Keys to two hits in six scoreless frames. He walked three and struck out four. McFarland’s 11 wins are tied for second in the Carolina League.
Frederick scored an unearned run in the seventh off of Kinston reliever Chris Jones when an error by first baseman Jeremie Tice allowed Pedro Florimon to score and cut the lead to 5-1.
The Keys came back for more in the eighth. Kyle Hudson hit a lead-off single and Bobby Stevens followed with an infield single. Ronnie Welty clubbed a two-run double to center to make it 5-3. L.J. Hoes hit an RBI single to right to narrow the lead to one. Matt Langwell came on to get the final two outs of the inning and keep the K-Tribe on top.
The K-Tribe gained some insurance in the ninth. Webb was hit by a pitch and Sanchez walked. Jeremie Tice then hit an RBI single to center to increase the lead to 6-4. After a walk to Chen loaded the bases, Bellows walked in a run to make it 7-4.
Cory Burns pitched a scoreless ninth for his Carolina League-leading 27th save in 30 chances with the K-Tribe. His 39 combined saves between Kinston and Lake County this season are the third most saves in all of Minor League Baseball.
Game three of the four game series will be Thursday night at 7 pm. Right hander Joey Mahalic will be on the bump for Kinston.
Loons Rally Past Captains 4-3
The Loons’ Angelo Songco hit a two run double with the bases loaded in the bottom of the tenth delivering a 4-3 walk off win over the Captains.
Lake County jumped in front 2-0 in the first inning on Casey Frawley’s 12th homerun of the season. The two-run shot followed Tyler Holt’s second triple of the season extending his hit streak to five straight games.
The Loons tied things up in the bottom of the second inning. JT Wise singled off starter Trey Haley to lead things off. Rafael Ynoa singled to put runners on first and second. Brian Ruggiano hit into a fielder’s choice to the mound putting runners on first and third. Chris Jacobs hit a two out, two run double to right center scoring Wise and Ruggiano to making it 2-2.
Casey Frawley hit a clutch two out single to right field that scored Delvi Cid in the top of the tenth inning giving the Captains a 3-2 lead.
Steve Smith (4-5) picked up the win for Great Lakes pitching four innings allowing one unearned run and striking out four. Takafumi Nakamura (0-1) took the loss giving up two runs on three hits in one plus innings of work. Captains’ starter Trey Haley pitched well going five innings giving up two runs on seven hits with three strike outs. Preston Guilmet was very good as he struck out a season high seven in three innings of relief.
Lake County will make their final road trip of the regular season up in Midland, MI for a three game series with Great Lakes.
Scrappers down Crosscutters, 6-1
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers scored their first three runs with two outs and never trailed winning game one of a two-game series against the Williamsport Crosscutters 6-1 tonight at Bowman Field.
With two outs, Kyrell Hudson misjudged a Kevin Fontanez fly ball in center field in the top of the third inning that gave Fontanez a triple and a RBI and gave the Scrappers the lead. Mahoning Valley added another run when Jesus Aguilar singled home Fontanez to make it 2-0. The Scrappers scored again with two outs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 3-0 lead.
Those three runs were enough for Alex Kaminsky who pitched a season-high six scoreless innings scattering four hits and striking out six to earn the win. Kaminsky has now got through the sixth inning three times this season.
Mario Hollands was saddled with the loss lasting just four innings, giving up two runs on five hits and striking out five.
Ryan Gardner made his New-York Penn League debut in relief tonight for the Scrappers and pitched two scoreless innings.
The Scrappers brought nine men to the plate in the top of the eighth inning and scored three runs increasing their lead to 6-0.
Mahoning Valley gave the ball to Dale Dickerson for the bottom of the ninth inning and he got into trouble. Dickerson gave up a double to Carlos Alonso to start the frame. He later scored when Aaron Fields couldn't handle a Matthew McConnell ground ball and the Crosscutters had a run. Dickerson got the next batter Kyrell Hudson to strike out swinging, but went on to load the bases with Miguel Alvarez due up. Dickerson induced a groundball double play from Alvarez to get out of trouble and give the Scrappers a game one win.
The Scrappers will go for the sweep of the Crosscutters tomorrow night. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.
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