Game Recaps 5/23: Tice is right for Kinston

Jeremie Tice (Photo: Tony Lastoria)

Tice's return sparks Kinston

The return of a familiar face and a brilliant bullpen was the story as Kinston beat Potomac 5-3 Monday night in Woodbridge, Virginia. With the win, Kinston has won six of their last seven games. The K-Tribe is now just five games out of first place in the Carolina League Southern Division.

Playing in his first game since April 12th, Kinston first baseman Jeremie Tice hit a three-run home run in his first at-bat. The game began with Potomac starter Cameron Selik walking Tyler Holt and Casey Frawley. With one out in the inning, Tice hit the home run over the left field wall. Tice was on the disabled list with a wrist injury since April 16th and had played only four games this season.

Toru Murata made the spot start for Kinston and carried a perfect game into the fourth inning. Back-to-back singles from Eury Perez and Jeff Kobernus, and a two-out intentional walk loaded the bases for Potomac. The K-Tribe went to the bullpen for Francisco Jimenez, who coaxed Potomac’s Sandy Leon into grounding out to end the inning and the threat. Murata ended up going 3 2/3 innings, giving up just two hits while striking out five.

The Indians would add a run in the top of the sixth. Tice would single with one-out in the inning. With two-outs in the frame, Nationals left fielder J.P. Ramirez dropped a fly ball off the bat of Tyler Cannon. The error would prove costly as a walk by Justin Toole would load the bases. Potomac pitcher Adam Olbrychowski would then walk Perez to drive in Tice, giving Kinston a 4-0 lead. Tice went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Tice also made a great defensive play at first base to save a run in the fourth inning.

Potomac would chip away, scoring two runs in the sixth inning and one in the seventh to trim the lead to one. Kinston reliever Jimenez went 1 2/3 innings, giving up three hits and two runs. Jimenez (1-0) struck out three for his first win of the season. Jose Flores picked up a hold with 1 2/3 innings of work. He gave up two hits and one run. Adam Miller pitched a perfect eighth inning for his first hold of the year, striking out one. Preston Guilmet picked up his ninth save in as many opportunities, striking out one in a perfect ninth. Guilmet has yet to give up a run in 16 2/3 innings of work this season. The bullpen did not walk a batter.

The two teams will meet up again for game two of the three game series Tuesday night in Woodbridge, Virginia. Clayton Cook will get the start for Kinston.

Clippers Win on Arm of Gomez

The Clippers got another win against the Durham Bulls 3-2 at Huntington Park. Jeanmar Gomez (4-1) got the win. Alex Cobb (1-1) was hit with the loss.

Luis Valbuena scored on a Luke Carlin single to give Columbus an early 1-0 lead. The Clippers would add a second run in the inning when Wes Hodges came in from third on a Jason Kipnis RBI sacrifice fly to make it 2-0 at the end of two.

The Bulls would get a run back in the top of the third when Robinson Chirinos homered to left field to cut the Columbus lead in half 2-1. The Bulls would later tie the game at 2-2 when Brandon Guyer scored on a Jose Lobaton RBI double.

The Clippers got the lead back in the bottom of the seventh when Cord Phelps doubled to right centerfield allowing Luke Carlin to score to make it 3-2 Clippers.

The Clippers will take on the Bulls at 10:35 AM. Scott Barnes will start for the Clippers. Alex Torres of the Bulls will oppose him.

Aeros Bats Red Hot In Rainy Akron

The Akron Aeros scored runs in six of the eight innings they batted in as they won game one of a four-game series against the Harrisburg Senators 12-8 Monday at Canal Park.

Monday’s game also included a 1:36 rain delay in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Left-handed pitcher Kelvin De La Cruz got the win for Akron tossing five innings, giving up three earned runs on six hits, walking two and striking out six.

Right-handed pitcher Shairon Martis suffered the loss for the Senators lasting three innings, giving up five earned runs on four hits, walking three and striking out one.

Tim Fedroff went 2-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to 17 games, which is tied for the longest in the Eastern League this season. Trenton’s Corban Joseph had a 17-game hitting streak earlier this season from April 18-May 6.

The Aeros (22-23) got on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Fedroff led off with a double. With two outs, Matt McBride walked and Chun Chen hit a two-RBI double to give the Aeros the lead.

Akron scored a run in the bottom of the second and two in the third on a McBride two-run home run to make it 5-0.

Karexon Sanchez hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to give the Aeros a 6-0 lead.

The Senators (20-20) scored three times in the top of the fifth inning and once in the sixth to cut the Aeros lead to 6-4.

Akron answered in the home half of the sixth. With two outs, Cristo Arnal walked and scored on a Fedroff RBI triple. Fedroff scored on a wild pitch to give the Aeros an 8-4 lead.

Derek Norris hit a three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to cut the Aeros lead to 8-7 lead.

The Aeros scored four in the bottom of the seventh inning and went on to win game one of this four-game series.

The Aeros and Senators will continue their series Tuesday night. Right-hander Joe Gardner will get the start for the Aeros. Gardner is 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA in 2011. The Senators have yet to announce a starter for Tuesday’s game.

Captains Outlast Dragons 6-3

On Monday night Lake County and Dayton began the final game of their four game series from Fifth Third Field. On Tuesday morning the Captains were the last men standing as they outlasted the Dragons for a 6-3 win, after a two and half hour rain delay.

Ronny Rodriguez drove in the game’s first run in the top of the second, with a two-out RBI single to center scoring Anthony Gallas who reached on walk to extend his on-base streak to 24 straight games.

After the rain delay Luis Encarnacion entered in relief of Jordan Cooper in the bottom of the second. The Dragons tied the game up in the third scoring run on a double play ball hit by David Vidal.

In the fourth inning, Argenis Martinez tripled to lead things off and scored on a Brian Heere sacrifice fly. Rodriguez reached on his second hit of the game. Carlos Moncrief hit a two run homerun his fifth of the season putting the Captains up 4-1.

Martinez drove in his second run of the game on an RBI double in the fifth inning, scoring Jesus Aguilar as Lake County led 5-2.

Giovanny Urshela extended his hit streak to seven straight games leading off the seventh with a single. Anthony Gallas loaded the bases with an infield single to short, to extend his hit streak to ten straight games. Martinez drove in his second run of the game reaching on an error to give the Captains a 6-2.

Encarnacion (1-1) picked up his first professional win going three innings allowing two runs, one earned not allowing hit, walking five and striking out two. Nate Striz picked up his first career save working five innings allowing a run on three hits, striking out three. Pat Doyle (2-2) took the loss, going 4.1 innings, allowing five runs, on seven hits, walking two and striking out four.

Lake County will continue the road trip in South Bend on Tuesday night at The Cove at 6:30PM. The Captains will start RHP Kyle Blair (2-2) against LHP Patrick Schuster (2-2) for the Silver Hawks.

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