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| Jason Kipnis (photo: Tony Lastoria) |
When Jason Kipnis gets hot, minor league pitchers go to die. Jason Kipnis continued his torrid spring, going 3-4 with two runs, a double, a homer and two RBI.
Zach McAllister got the start, and was well on his way to another outstanding outing when a rain delay ended his night after four innings. The 6'6" righty went' four innings, giving up only two hits and a walk, while striking out three batters.
McAllister hadn't pitched since a blowout loss on June 5th.
Joe Martinez got the win in relief, pitching two innings of shutout baseball.
Kipnis has been nothing short of sensational over the past six games. In the six games he has played since June 9th, Kipnis has gone 14-26 for a scorching .538 average. He's scored nine runs, with a double, three triples, three homers and eight RBI. He's raised his overall average to .304, and is certainly making a case that his time in Cleveland may be coming soon.
Kipnis has been known to carry his offensive acumen to the next level during this torrid streaks of his, as he showed last season in carrying the Clippers to the International League title during his first taste of Triple A baseball.
Perhaps his time in Cleveland is now.
The win was the Clippers ninth in a row, bringing their overall record to an international League best 45-22. They currently have a 7 1/2 game lead on second place Louisville in the West division. They continue their series with Scranton tomorrow night at 7:05 P.M.
Hafner rehabs, Aeros drop rubber match
The Akron Aeros dropped the rubber match of a three-game series to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats 8-5 Thursday at Canal Park.
Travis Hafner went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and a strikeout in his second rehab start with the Aeros.
Right-hander Chad Jenkins got the win for the Fisher Cats tossing seven innings, giving up four earned runs on five hits and striking out five while walking just one.
Left-handed pitcher Matt Packer suffered the loss for the Aero lasting 4.2 innings, giving up seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits and striking out five while walking none.
Thursday's game also featured a 28-minute rain delay
The Fisher Cats (39-26) got on the board in the top of the first inning. With one out and runners on second and third, Mike McDade drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to give New Hampshire a 1-0 lead.
The Aeros (32-35) tied the game in the bottom of the first inning on a Beau Mills solo home run.
The Fisher Cats answered in the top of the third inning. John Tolisano led off the inning with a double and scored on an Adeiny Hechavarria two-bagger to make it 2-1. With two outs, Mike McDade doubled to give the Fisher Cats a 3-1 lead.
New Hampshire scored two runs in the top of the fourth and fifth innings to take a 7-1 lead.
Akron got three back on a Nick Weglarz three-run shot in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Fisher Cats added a run in the top of the eighth inning to make it 8-4.
Weglarz hit his second home run of the game in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Aeros drew no closer as the Fisher Cats went on to the win.
The Aeros will continue their homestand as they host the Portland Sea Dogs for the first of a three-game set Friday. Akron will give the ball to right-hander Austin Adams, who is 5-5 with a 3.17 ERA in 2011. He will face fellow righty Chris Balcom-Miller, who is 1-2 with a 3.55 ERA this season. First pitch is at 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.
Kinston Beats Lynchburg in Extra Innings, 2-1
The K-Tribe clawed their way to a 2-1, 10 inning victory over the Hillcats Thursday night in Lynchburg. With the win, Kinston (36-30) stays 1 ½ behind first place Myrtle Beach with three games to go in the first half.
In the top of the third inning, former University of Virginia star Tyler Cannon led off the frame with a triple to left field. Casey Frawley followed soon after with a run scoring single off of Lynchburg starter Aaron Shafer. Shafer would settle down from there, going on to not allow another run through his seven innings of work. Shafer gave up six hits while walking two and striking out seven.
Drew Pomeranz put together another great start, carrying a no-hitter into the fourth inning. With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, the Hillcats Phil Gosselin put a single through the left side. Adam Milligan would then drive home Gosselin with a double down the left field line. The hit evened the score at one. Pomeranz lowered his Carolina League low ERA to 1.93. Cleveland's 2010 first round draft pick went seven innings, giving up five hits and one run. He struck out three and walked one. The game would stay tied at one through seven innings. A thunderstorm then ripped through the area and before the eighth inning would begin, the game would be delayed one hour and fifteen minutes.
Lynchburg's defense would keep them in the game as the Hillcats threw out two K-Tribe runners at the plate. The combination of Lynchburg left fielder Kennan Wiley, shortstop Andrelton Simmons and catcher Shawn McGill nabbed two potential K-Tribe runs in both the second and eighth innings.
Kinston would escape a sticky situation of their own in the bottom of the ninth. Gosselin led off with a double and advanced to third base on a wild pitch by Kinston reliever Chris Jones. With the winning run on third base and nobody out, Jones got a ground out from Milligan, then intentionally walked Joey Terdoslavich and Joe Leonard. Jones got Barrett Kleinknecht to hit into an inning ending 6-4-3 double play. Jones (3-0) picked up the win, giving up two hits and no runs in two innings.
In the top of the tenth inning Tyler Cannon led off with a hit. Delvi Cid came in to pinch run and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tyler Holt. Cid then stole third base. After a walk to Frawley, Anthony Gallas was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Adam Abraham then delivered a sacrifice fly to right field to give Kinston a 2-1 lead. Kinston closer Preston Guilmet came in for a perfect ninth inning to notch his 16th save of the season. He struck out two.
The final series of the first half continues this weekend in Lynchburg. Game two of the four takes place on Friday night at 7:05 pm. Brett Brach will get the start for Kinston.
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1 comments:
All that is left for Kipnis is his defense. Unless the Indians get back on track and regain some momentum over the next few weeks, I see no reason to rush Kipnis before September. Let him continue to gain confidence and focus on defense.
However, I feel like the Matt Packer experiment as a starter is nearing its conclusion. It's about time to promote Pomeranz which means someone in Akron will be heading to the bullpen soon. I'm sad Packer couldn't build on last years great campaign, but I'm not surprised due to his size and lack of dominate stuff.
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