Game Recaps 5/12: Wright dominates in Lake County loss

Steven Wright (Photo: Tony Lastoria)

Steven Wright has long toiled in the Indians farm system. Wright was selected in the 2nd Round of the 2006 draft by the Indians, and slowly worked his way up to triple A Columbus. Once there, Wright began the journey so many pitchers take when they just aren't good enough. The only difference is that Wright decided to change tacks. Wright gave Tom Candiotti a call, and both began working on a knuckleball to add to Wright's repertoire.

Wright has more-or-less dominated low A batters. While he hasn't had a decision in five starts, his ERA is a stellar 2.10. He's yet to give up more than two earned runs in a game, and the knuckleball has turned into a strikeout pitch.

Wright is currently throwing the knuckleball about 60% of the time. When he's not throwing the flutterer, he has a solid low-90's fastball to really give hitters trouble. While it's likely that Wright will throw the knuckleball more as he learns it, the fastball could work in a sort of bizzaro twist on the change-up. Imagine facing low-90's heat after to 60 MPH floaters go by you for strikes.

Yeah, not fun at all, is it. Here are your recaps:

Dragons Sweep Captains with 3-2 Win

Juan Duran with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning singled in a pair of runs as the Dragons came from behind to defeat the Captains 3-2 on Thursday night.

Lake County took the lead in the first inning when Jesus Aguilar doubled in Argenis Martinez to make it 1-0. It was Aguilar's teams high 26th run batted in.

Anthony Gallas hit his fourth homerun of the season in the second inning; the solo homerun put the Captains up 2-0.

Devin Lohman cut the lead in half in the seventh inning with an RBI single to center as Dayton trailed just 2-1.

Tim Crabbe (2-2) picked up the tossing 3.1 scoreless frames allowing just two hits, striking out two. Drew Hayes worked a perfect ninth for his fourth save of the season. Luis Encarnacion (0-1) suffered the loss allowing three runs on two hits, walking three. Steven Wright had an excellent outing earning a no decision going six scoreless innings on just three hits, striking out a season high nine.

Lake County returns home and begin a three games series with West Michigan at Classic Park at 7:00PM. The Captains will start RHP Mike Goodnight (2-3) against the WhiteCaps LHP Kyle Ryan (2-3). Catch all the action AM1330 WELW or online at captainsbaseball.com.

The Lake County Captains, the 2010 Midwest League Champions and Class A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, return home for a six-game home stand beginning Friday as the West Michigan Whitecaps and the Ft. Wayne Tincaps make their first appearances at Classic Park this season.

Charlotte takes series finale 10-7

The Charlotte Knights jumped to an eight run lead and won 10-7 over the Clippers on Thursday afternoon at Huntington Park.

Gaby Hernandez earned the win, allowing four earned runs over six innings. The Knights righty did not allow a run in the first four innings. CLippers starter Joe Martinez suffered the loss.

Columbus' bullpen struggles continued as Eric Berger was hit for six runs (five earned) in one frame.

Jared Head was 3-for-5 for the Clippers, while Luis Valbuena and Josh Rodrigez each picked up two RBI.

The Clippers open a four-game series in Indianapolis at 7:15pm Friday. David Huff will start for Columbus.

Five-run Bowie third does in Aeros

The Akron Aeros allowed five runs in the bottom of the third inning and lost game one of a four-game series to the Bowie Baysox 6-2 Thursday at Prince George’s Stadium.

All five runs in the third were charged to Aeros starter Joe Gardner, who suffered the loss lasting 2.2 innings, walking four and striking out one. Just one of the five runs Gardner allowed was earned.

Zach Clark got the win for Bowie pitching 8.2 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits, walking one and striking out four.

The Baysox (18-16) began the bottom of the third with back-to-back walks from Billy Rowell and Carlos Rojas. Xavier Avery followed with a single to load the bases and Greg Miclat plated the first Bowie run when he grounded into a force out. Following a pop out, Jared Goedert missed a pick off attempt from Gardner at first base to allow another run to score and Miclat to move to second. Gardner went on to load the bases walking Steve Lerud and hitting Ronnie Welty. With the bases full, Gardner walked Pedro Florimon to force in a run and make it 3-0. Gardner was replaced by Kyle Landis, who allowed two more Bowie runs to make it 5-0.

The Aeros (15-19) got a run in the top of the fourth inning on a Jared Goedert solo home run to left field.

Bowie added a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to make it 6-1.

Akron rallied for a run in the top of the ninth inning, but Raul Rivero came in from the bullpen and got out of a jam as the Baysox won game one of this four-game series.

The Aeros and Baysox will continue their four-game series Friday. Akron will turn to right-handed pitcher Austin Adams, who is 3-2 with a 2.76 ERA this season. He will face fellow righty Wynn Pelzer, who is 1-3 with a 3.60 ERA in 2011. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on Fox Sports 1350 AM or online at sportsradio1350.com. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m.

Myrtle Beach Downs Kinston 4-2

It was a pitching battle at the beach, as the Pelicans took down Kinston 4-2 Thursday night in South Carolina.

Thursday night featured a match-up of two of the best pitching prospects in the Carolina League as Kinston's Drew Pomeranz took on Robbie Erlin of Myrtle Beach. Both pitchers came into the season as two of the top five prospects in both the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers organizations.

Myrtle Beach got to Pomeranz in the bottom of the second inning. Chris McGuiness delivered a hot, one-hopper that glanced off of Kinston's Casey Frawley and made it into the outfield. Vinny DiFazio was then hit by a pitch. With two outs in the inning, Jared Prince hit a bloop single the other way to drive in McGuiness. In the bottom of the third inning, Leury Garcia delivered an infield single, followed by a Ryan Strausborger bloop single. After Mike Olt walked, Chris McGuiness delivered another bloop single the other way to give the Pelicans a 2-0 lead.

The Pelican's ace had a no-hitter going until Bo Greenwell hit a double in the top of the fourth inning. Adam Abraham followed with an RBI single to put Kinston on the scoreboard.

The K-Tribe's chance to tie came in the fifth after Justin Toole's leadoff three bagger. Toole was stranded as Kinston's next three batters recorded outs.

Myrtle Beach promptly used the opportunity to add insurance. Ryan Strausborger drew a one out walk in the fifth, which ended the night of Kinston starter Drew Pomeranz. Strausborger stole second and scored on an RBI single from Mike Olt. Six Pelicans came to the plate in the sixth as Myrtle Beach added its fourth run of the game. The Pelicans advantage was threatened late in the contest.

Delvi Cid drew a walk to lead off the eighth, he then promptly swiped second base without a throw. A single from Tyler Holt gave Cid more than enough time to score as Jared Prince's throw to the plate from right field arrived late. It seemed to be a spark for Myrtle beach reliever Kasey Kiker; He struck out Casey Frawley and Bo Greenwell before departing. That left the final out to Trevor Hurley who forced Adam Abraham to pop out on the infield.

Drew Pomeranz (1-1, 1.93) picked up the loss in allowing three runs on six hits in four and 1/3 innings of work. The Ole Miss product struck out six batters and walked two. Kinston releiver Adam Miller worked two innings. Showing obvious progress in returning from injury, he fanned four and gave up one hit without giving up a run.

Pomeranz' counterpart Robbie Erlin (3-1, 2.14) continued his strong start to the season by fanning seven batters over six innings. Erlin allowed just three hits and walked one in picking up his third win of the season.

Kinston opens up a seven game homestand Friday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. Game time 6:30 pm agains the Advanced A Affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, Frederick. Clayton Cook gets the start for Kinston.

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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