With the Ohio State football opener looming, the Clippers did their part and took out the Toledo Mud Hens early on Thursday, scoring eight runs in the first three innings en route to an 8-0 victory at Huntington Park.
The win clinched a playoff berth for Columbus, their first since 2004, ending the longest drought in Clippers history. The race with the Louisville Bats for the International League West Division, and to determine a postseason opponent, will continue into the weekend, but the Clippers would at worst be the wild card team.
Wes Hodges singled home Jose Constanza to open the scoring in the first. The Clippers added two in the second, thanks to an RBI-double from Josh Rodriguez and a run-producing single off the bat of Damaso Espino.
The five-run third inning chased Toledo starter Charlie Furbush (3-4), and featured RBIs from Hodges, Jared Goedert, Espino, Argenis Reyes and Drew Sutton. Columbus had 10 hits in the first three frames, giving plenty of run support to David Huff (8-2). The Clippers had 17 hits in all, with each starter delivering at least one.
Huff went seven innings, giving up five hits and a walk, while striking out five. Aaron Laffey and Jess Todd each threw an inning to finish off the shutout, the ninth of the year for Columbus.
Toledo Manager Larry Parish, who earlier this season set the Mud Hens franchise record for victories while at Huntington Park, reached another milestone in Columbus on Thursday, despite his team's loss. The game was his franchise-record 1,116th as the skipper.
The Clippers will play their final home game of the regular season on Friday at 7:05 p.m., with Zach McAllister (9-11, 5.20) scheduled to start against Toledo southpaw Andy Oliver (2-4, 3.06).
Aeros Fall to Thunder 3-2
Akron’s playoff chances took a sharp decline as Trenton took the lead in the eighth inning to win 3-2 at Waterfront Park. The Aeros (70-68) now have an elimination number of two while the Thunder (81-57) is up by two games on New Hampshire.
The Thunder struck initially in the first inning as Austin Romine doubled in Daniel Brewer for a quick 1-0 lead.
Akron did not score until the fourth inning when they took advantage of a Trenton miscue. Right fielder John Drennen started the Aeros offense with a walk and advanced to second on a single by catcher Miguel Perez. With left fielder Lucas Montero batting, Drennen and Perez both advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch. A fielding error by Trenton allowed Montero to reach safely while Drennen and Perez scored to give Akron a 2-1 lead.
Trenton regained control in the eighth frame as Justin Christian hit his third home run in two games to lead off the inning. An RBI single by Brewer gave the hosts a 3-2 lead.
The Aeros right-handed starter Matt Packer turned in his second-straight excellent performance as the reigning Akron Aeros Player of the Week allowed one run on five hits while striking out eight against two walks in seven innings of work. However, he would take the no decision as reliever Connor Graham blew the save and took the loss to fall to 3-6. Pat Venditte earned his first win and only decision with Trenton.
Akron did receive some help from Harrisburg as they lost 3-2 to New Hampshire, but the Western Division wild card lead now belongs to Bowie after their 7-2 victory over Altoona. The Aeros are 3.5 games behind the Baysox with four games to play. Elimination from the postseason could happen as early as Friday if the Aeros lose and Bowie wins.
The Aeros now travel to Erie to finish the regular season. Left-handed starter Scott Barnes (6-10, 5.10 ERA) will head to the hill to battle fellow southpaw Duane Below (6-12, 5.11 ERA) on Friday, with a first pitch time of 7:05 p.m.
Kinston Wins Their Ninth Straight Game
Kinston won their ninth straight game, carving their magic number down to one with a 5-3, ten inning win over Frederick Thursday night in Maryland. The nine straight victories are the most by a K-Tribe team since the 2004 Kinston Indians started the season 10-0.
Bo Greenwell started things for Kinston in the top of the first with a lead-off walk. After a Karexon Sanchez foul out, Jeremie Tice blasted a two run home run over the wall in left field. The blast was the fifth of the season for Tice, giving Kinston a 2-0 lead. Frederick starting pitcher Luis Noel lasted two innings giving up two runs on two hits while walking two.
Kinston starting pitcher Joey Mahalic was great, allowing just two hits through his first five innings of work. Frederick would finally get to Mahalic in the top of the sixth with a two-out double from Pedro Florimon. After the Keys first extra base hit of the game, Ronnie Welty was hit by a pitch. Billy Rowell then delivered a bases clearing double to tie the game at two. Mahalic went a season high seven innings, giving up just five hits and two earned runs. He walked one and struck out three.
Frederick’s bullpen was just as good, as Jose Duran and Will Startup combined to throw five innings of two hit ball against Kinston. Tyler Sturdevant (3-3) was sturdy from Kinston’s pen, throwing two innings of one hit ball for the eventual win.
The game would stay tied at two until the top of the tenth inning. Donnie Webb started things with a one-out single. After a Greenwell single, Justin Toole then loaded the bases with a walk. Tice then came to the plate with the bases full. After fouling off four pitches with a full count, Tice took ball four to drive in Greenwell and give Kinston a 3-2 lead. Kyle Bellows then followed with a two RBI single. Cory Burns then came in for his Carolina League leading 27th save of the season.
The final game of the four game series takes place Friday night at 7pm in Frederick. With a Kinston win or a Salem loss to Potomac, Kinston will capture the final playoff spot in the Carolina League Southern Division. T.J. House will take the hill for Kinston.
Loons Beat Captains 5-2
Angelo Songco for the second straight night delivered the game winning hit for Great Lakes in the sixth to score Blake Smith to make it 3-1. The Loons scored five times in the sixth inning to defeat the Captains 5-2.
Lake County took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning. Adam Abraham hit his 23rd double of the season to get abroad. Greg Folgia singled to center putting runners on first and third. Roberto Perez hit into a double play, but it did allow Abraham to score.
The Loons finally got to Vidal Nuno in the sixth inning. Nuno hit Gorman Erickson with a pitch to start things off. Nick Buss failed to bunt Erickson over, and with a 1-2 pitch hit a double to right putting two runners in scoring position. Christain Lara grounded out to short that scored Erickson and moved Buss to third. JT Wise hit a sacrifice fly to right to give Great Lakes a 2-1 lead. Brian Ruggiano capped off the five run sixth inning with a two run, two out double to score Songco and Becker to make it 5-1.
Tha Captains would load the bases in the top of the ninth. Adam Abraham singled to left to lead things off. Folgia drew a walk off Luis Vasquez. Roberto Perez singled to centerfield to load the bases. Unfortunately, Lake County second run scored when Kyle Smith hit into a double play making to 5-2.
Allen Webster (12-9) earned the win for the Loons going six innings, allowing one run on three hits and striking out six. Vidal Nuno (6-8) took the loss, despite pitching great for the first five innings. Nuno finished the night allowing five runs on five hits, walking one and striking out five.
Lake County and Great Lakes will finish up their three game series and Friday night at 7:05PM from Dow Diamond. The Captains will start RHP Brett Brach (5-8) against the LHP Greg Wilborn (4-2) for the Loons.
Scrappers fall to Crosscutters, 9-5
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers lost the finale of a two-game series to the Williamsport Crosscutters 9-5 Thursday night at Bowman Field. The Scrappers fell to 30-43 on the season, while the Crosscutters improved to 41-32 in 2010.
Jordan Cooper suffered the loss for the Scrappers lasting 1.1 innings and giving up seven runs. Eric Pettis got the win for the Crosscutters pitching 3.2 scoreless innings of relief.
Anthony Gallas made his Scrappers' debut going 0-4 with a RBI groundout to drive in one of the five Scrappers runs on the night.
The Scrappers will wrap up the season at home as they begin a three-game series against the Jamestown Jammers Friday night at Eastwood Field. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.
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