The Cleveland Indians organization continues to look like one of the best in baseball. The big league Indians, led by a resurgent Fausto Carmona and a powerful offense, swept the falling Royals with an 8-2 victory.
Now word comes out that Alex White will be making his major league debut this coming Saturday. While I doubt that this will be anything but a one or two-time deal for White with Carlos Carrasco out, it would be interesting to see what happens should he continue to pitch well. Will the Tribe brass handle him like Steve Strasburg, and let him continue to pitch in Cleveland, or will they handle him like the Rays handled David Price. The Rays brought him up for a taste in September of 2008, then made him earn his way on the club in 2009, keeping him in the minors until the end of May. Either way, interesting stuff.
The Clippers are continuing their winning ways after last season's run to the triple A national championship with their eighth victory in a row. Zach McAllister may be adding his name to the list of potential major league starters with a brilliant outing tonight, but the real story may be the re-emergence of Lonnie Chisenhall. "Chiz" went 2-for-4 tonight, with a homerun and the only two RBI's of the game.
Akron split a doubleheader with Bowie. T.J. McFarland garnered the win in the Aeros victory, while Matt Packer looked solid while taking the loss in the other game. Cory Burns swept in in relief of McFarland to nail down his organizational best seventh save. He faced one batter, and struck him out.
Lake County perhaps has the hottest bat on the team in first baseman Jesus Aguilar. Aguilar has hit five homers in his last four games, including one tonight in a 5-4 loss. This 20-year-old power hitter could be the Chun-Hsiu Chen of 2011 if he continues to progress and develop.
It really has been a fantastic month to be an Indians fan. On to the recaps:
The win streak continues to be alive and well as the Clippers bested the Gwinnett Braves Thursday 2-0. It is the eighth straight win for the Clippers and their 11th win in their last 14 contests. They are now 11 games over .500, 16-5 overall to be exact. That mark is good for the best record in the International League.
It was the starting pitchers, Zach Mccalister of the Clippers and Braves left hander Mike Minor, dominating early. Both pitchers combined for eight strikeouts while only giving up 4 hits through five innings. The offense would come to life in the top of the sixth for the clippers. Clippers catcher Paul Phillips beat it out for an infield hit. Jason Kipnis then sacrificed Phillips over second on a bunt. Two batters later, Lonnie Chisenhall stepped to the plate with two outs and a runner on second. He fouled off a 1-2 pitch that popped out of the glove of Braves catcher J.C. Boscan. Chisenhall lived to see another pitch and he took advantage of the given opoortunity. Finally there were runs put up on the scoreboard as the Clippers took a 2-0 lead over the Braves on Chisenhall's two-run shot in the top of the 6th.
In the bottom half of the sixth, the Braves threatened to do some offensive damage of their own. Gwinnett led off the inning with singles by Jose Constanza and Jordan Schaefer. McCalister then struck out Matt Young and induced a groundball by Mauro Gomez to end the Braves threat. The Clippers had an opportunity to add to their lead with two out singles by Jordan Brown and Wes Hodges in the top of the 7th. However, Paul Phillips was not able to come through for the Clippers. He struck out swinging to end the inning. Just like the bottom of the 6th, the Braves threatened the Clippers lead. The leadoff batter Diory Hernandez led off the inning with an infield hit, but Mccalister got a little help from his defense as they turned a double play to end the inning.
In the eighth, it was the same story for the Braves as they again got the lead-off hitter on with a Dan Nelson walk. Jensen Lewis, who came on for Mcalister in the 8th, then struck out J.C. Boscan, got Constanza to fly out to center, and induced an inning ending groundout by Jordan Scaefer to first to retire the side.
The Braves would stage one last rally in the ninth. Matt Young and Mauro Gomez both singled to begin the inning. Diory Hernandez would then break up the shutout with looper that found a spot in the outfield for an rbi single to make it 2-1. Braves designated hitter Stefan Gartrell would then sacrifice the runners over with a bunt. After an intentional walk to shortstop Ed Lucas, the bases were loaded with one out. Josh Judy needed a groundball in the worst way and he got it for a game ending double play.
The Clippers will go for the sweep over the Braves on Friday. Columbus will send Corey Klubler to the hill, looking for his first win of the season. He will oppose Braves starter Rodrigo Lopez, who's looking for his 5th win of the season.
Aeros Split Doubleheader with Bowie
The Akron Aeros split a doubleheader with the Bowie Baysox Thursday at Canal Park winning game one 2-1 and dropping game two 4-2.
The Aeros (10-11 following the doubleheader) won game one behind a Chun Chen solo home run in the bottom of the fifth.
T.J. McFarland earned his first win for the Aeros pitching five innings, giving up one unearned run on three hits, walking four and striking out five. Cory Burns pitched 1/3 of an inning to pick up his seventh save of the season.
Rick Zagone got the loss for Bowie lasting five innings, giving up two earned runs on five hits, walking three and striking out three.
The Baysox (10-10 following the doubleheader) scored first in the top of the third inning on a Robbie Widlansky RBI single.
Akron tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. John Drennen led off the frame with a double. He advanced to third on a Matt McBride fly out. Following back-to-back walks, Donnie Webb scored Drennen on a sacrifice fly to center field.
Chen’s fifth inning homer proved to be the difference as Akron won game one.
In game two, Steve Johnson outdueled Matt Packer to give Bowie the split.
Packer pitched all seven innings but suffered the loss giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits, walking two and striking out four.
Johnson got the win pitching six innings, giving up one earned run on one hit, walking one and striking out six. Jose Diaz gave up a run in the bottom of the seventh inning, but got a double play to end the game and to earn his eighth save of the season.
Bowie scored in the top of the first inning on a Widlansky RBI single that made it 1-0.
The Aeros answered back in the bottom of the frame on a Juan Diaz solo home run to right field that tied it 1-1.
The Baysox took the lead in the top of the fifth inning on a Carlos Rojas RBI single. Bowie added two more in the top of the sixth inning to make it 4-1.
The Aeros scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Webb grounded into a double play to end game two.
The Aeros head to Binghamton Friday to begin a three-game series with the B-Mets. Friday’s game is the first of seven straight on the road for Akron. Left-handed pitcher Kelvin De La Cruz will get the ball for the Aeros. De La Cruz is 1-3 with a 3.00 ERA in 2011. The B-Mets have yet to announce a starter for Friday’s game. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on Fox Sports 1350 AM or online on sportsradio1350.com. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m.
Salem Slips by Kinston, 4-3
Rain delayed the start and then stopped the game at the end, as Salem slipped by Kinston 4-3 Thursday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. The game was stopped in the top of the ninth inning after storms ripped through the area.
The game started off sunny enough, as Kinston (7-13) took a 2-1 lead thanks to a monster two-run home run by Abner Abreu in the bottom of the second inning. The bomb to left-field was Abreu's first home run of the season. Kinston would add another run later in the inning on Bo Greenwell's RBI, infield single. The hit drove in Roberto Perez and gave Kinston a 3-1 lead. All three runs were charged to Salem starter Chris Balcom-Miller who had given up only one earned run all season.
Off of Kinston starter T.J. House, Salem (14-5) would pull within one run thanks to an RBI double by Peter Hissey in the top of the third frame. In the top of the fourth inning, Reynaldo Rodriguez led off with a walk. Dan Butler then hit a two-run home run to give Salem a 4-3 lead they would never let go of. House (0-3) took the loss, giving up four runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out three.
Both bullpens did not give up a run, as Salem's Anatanaer Batista (3-0) got the win in relief. Cesar Cabral picked up his Carolina League leading fifth save of the season. Travis Turek pitched two innings of two hit ball for Kinston. Jose Flores struck out the side in the top of the eighth for the Indians. Tyler Holt went 3-for-4 on the night for Kinston at the plate.
The K-Tribe hits the road for a Friday night tilt at Lynchburg. Game time 6:05 in Virginia, Brett Brach on the mound for Kinston.
Hawks Sink Captains, 5-4
Silver Hawk Ramon Castillo hit a solo homerun in the top of the ninth to lift South Bend over Lake County on Thursday night 5-4.
South Bend jumped on Mike Goodnight in the top of the first inning. Mike Freeman walked to start the game off. Zach Walters doubled into the leftfield corner to score Freeman. Yazy Arbelo hit a two-run homerun to right field to put the Hawks up 3-0.
Carlos Moncrief singled to center to start the Captains half of the first inning. Tyler Cannon doubled to left putting runners on second and third. Jason Smit walked to load the bases for Lake County. Jesus Aguilar drew a bases loaded walk to drive in his 19th run of the season. Alex Monsalve hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Cannon, and make it 3-2.
Alex Lavisky hit his third homerun of the season and his first at Classic Park in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game three.
In the Captains fifth inning, Jesus Aguilar hit his sixth homerun of the year to right centerfield to give Lake County a 4-3 lead.
Owen Dew entered the game in the top of the seventh inning for Goodnight and walked the first hitter Chris Jarrett and hit Ramon Castillo hit with a pitch. Roberto Rodriguez laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up. Jhoan Pimentel tied the game up at four with sacrifice fly to leftfield.
Mike Bolsinger (1-0) picked up the win for South Bend pitching 1.2 scoreless innings allowing just one hit, walking one and striking out two. Blake Cooper picked up his second save pitching a perfect ninth striking out two. Dew (1-3) took the loss for the Captains pitching three innings allowing two runs on two hits, walking one, striking out three and hitting a batter. Goodnight picked up a no-decision in his quality start going six innings allowing three runs on three hits walking two and striking out five.
Lake County and South Bend continue their three game series on Friday night at Classic Park at 7:00PM. The Captains will start LHP Mike Rayl (2-0) against RHP Bradin Hagens (1-1) for the Silver Hawks. Catch all the action on AM1330 WELW or online at captainsbaseball.com.
Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. Also, his latest book the 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is available for purchase for $20.95 to customers in the US (shipping and handling extra).
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