The Clippers were hoping to gain some momentum heading into the postseason, and wrap-up the International League West Division at the same time, but Toledo had other plans and won their fourth straight on Monday afternoon, 5-2. Coupled with Louisville's win over Indianapolis, Columbus will open the playoffs against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, the IL North champs.
The Mud Hens opened the scoring in the second inning, when Robinzon Diaz hit a two-run home run. Columbus answered in the very next inning, when Ezequiel Carrera hit his first long ball as a Clipper, scoring Jose Constanza as well to knot the game at 2.
Toledo broke the tie in the fourth, when Shawn Roof singled off of Columbus starter Corey Kluber, scoring Max Leon. Kluber (1-1) went five innings for the Clippers, allowing three runs off of six hits and four walks. He struck out four.
Columbus didn't register a hit against Toledo starter Ryan Ketchner (6-4) after Carrera's home run in the third. Ketchner went seven innings, striking out six.
Cale Iorg added insurance for the Mud Hens in the seventh, when he doubled home Justin Henry. He then scored on Michael Bertram's sacrifice fly. The Clippers threatened in the eighth against Toledo's Fu-Te Ni, but Brendan Wise relieved Ni and stranded runners at second and third.
The Clippers will open the postseason at 6:35 p.m. on Wednesday at Huntington Park. David Huff (8-2, 4.36) is likely to get the ball for Columbus against the Yankees in game one of the best-of-five series. The Yankees won five of the eight regular season meetings with the Clippers, but Columbus won the 1992 Governor's Cup by defeating the Yankees, 3-2.
Aeros End Season on Good Note
The Aeros scored seven runs in the seventh inning and ended the season on a high note with a 9-2 defeat of Erie Monday afternoon at Jerry Uht Park. The win ended a five-game losing streak and prevented a four-game series sweep. Akron ends the season 71-71 while the SeaWolves finish 66-76.
Both teams got on the board in the fourth inning. Center fielder Jordan Henry scored for the Aeros after third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall singled him in from third base. Erie answered with a pair of runs when Bryan Pounds and Billy Nowlin scored on a single by John Murrian.
Akron’s seventh inning rally started with a bang as catcher Juan Apodaca hit a three-run home run to left field on a 3-2 pitch that scored first baseman Miguel Perez and left fielder Lucas Montero. Second baseman Jason Kipnis then hit a two-RBI single that allowed right fielder Trent Baker and designated hitter Daniel DeGeorge to cross home plate for a 6-2 Aeros lead. Kipnis eventually scored, along with Henry who reached on a single, on a Chisenhall base hit.
Kipnis scored the final run of the game and season in style with a solo home run for the final 9-2 count.
Reliever Alex Kaminsky (1-0) earned the win for the Aeros and allowed two hits with two strikeouts and two walks in three innings of work. Erie starter Anthony Shawler (5-4) took the loss after he gave up four runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and one walk in six innings pitched. The win secures the Aeros sixth-straight season of having a .500 record or better.
Potomac Outlasts K-Tribe in Regular Season Finale
Robby Jacobsen’s walk-off two-run single in the ninth inning carried Potomac to a 7-6 victory over Kinston in a wild regular season finale for two playoff-bound teams. The K-Tribe had overcome a five-run deficit to take a 6-5 lead in the top of the ninth.
Potomac opened the scoring in the second on a leadoff homer by Carolina League MVP Tyler Moore. In the sixth, Sean Nicol hit an RBI single, Jacobsen hit a sac fly and Nick Moresi hit a two-run homer to make it 5-0.
P-Nats starter Marcos Frias shutout the K-Tribe on six hits in 6 2/3 innings. The K-Tribe began their rally in the eighth, when Jeremie Tice’s RBI single cut the lead to 5-1. Kinston started the ninth with five straight singles against Potomac reliever A.J. Morris. Justin Toole had an RBI single to make it 5-2. Donnie Webb hit an infield RBI single with the bases loaded, and Nicol threw the ball away down the right field line, allowing two more runs to score to tie the game. With Webb on third, Karexon Sanchez hit an RBI groundout to put the K-Tribe on top 6-5.
In the bottom of the ninth, Bill Rhinehart and Jose Lozada singled off of Tyler Sturdevant. Matt Langwell was brought in to relieve him with two out. He walked Nicol to load the bases and Jacobsen hit the two-run single down the left field line on a 3-2 pitch to give the Nationals the walk-off win.
Sturdevant (3-2) took the loss, while A.J. Morris (5-3) earned the win despite giving up five runs (two earned) on five hits in the ninth.
Kinston will have Tuesday off before starting the best-of-five Southern Division Championship Series against the Winston-Salem Dash on Wednesday night at 7 pm in Winston. The Dash will host the first two games and game five if necessary, while Kinston will host games three and four (if necessary).
Captains Fall to the Lugnuts in Season Finale 11-0
Lake County finished the 2010 regular season on Sunday afternoon losing to Lansing 11-0. The Captains will open the postseason on Wednesday night at 7:00PM in Grand Rapids against the White Caps.
The Lugnuts jumped on Captains’ starter Trey Haley to take a 3-0 lead. Randy Schwartz hit a two run single to start the scoring. Jake Marisnick singled in the third run of the inning forcing Haley out of the game after just two thirds of an inning.
Lansing pushed it out to 7-0 in fourth inning on reliever Mike Rayl. Brad Glenn hit into a fielder’s choice to score Brad McElory. Marisnick singled to drive in Glenn. Back to back sacrifice flys by Michael Crouse and Karim Turkamani capped off the scoring.
Randy Schwartz hit his first homerun of the season in the sixth inning off Nick Kirk to make it 8-0 Lugnuts.
In the seventh inning, Brad McElory doubled off Captains reliever Jeremy Johnson to score Oliver Dominguez putting Lansing up 9-0.
The Lugnuts made it 11-0 in the eighth inning scoring twice more on Johnson. Jon Del Campo singled in a run for their tenth run. McElory drove in his second RBI with a single to finish the frame.
Casey Lawrence (2-0) picked up the win for Lansing tossing seven scoreless innings giving up just two hits and striking out five. Trey Haley (5-11) took the loss throwing just two thirds of an inning giving up three runs on two hits, walking three and hitting one hitter.
Lake County will begin the first round of the Midwest League Playoffs on Wednesday night at 7:00PM against West Michigan in a best of three series. The Captains will start RHP Brett Brach (5-8, 3.46) in game one against a TBA for the WhiteCaps.
Note: Mahoning Valley's season ended on Sunday.
Photo courtesy of Lianna Holub
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3 comments:
Will Kipnis be promoted to AAA for the playoffs?
No, Phelps is in Columbus and Kipnis is already on the way home in the Chicago area.
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