Game Recaps 6/24: Lowery homers twice in Scrappers win

Jake Lowery (Photo: Lianna Holub)

Bats Come Alive in Win Over Doubledays

Mahoning Valley hit three home runs and shut out Auburn through eight innings in a 9-3 win over the Doubledays.

Jake Lowery hit his first two home runs of the season and Aaron Siliga added his second as part of a 12-hit attack against Auburn’s pitchers. Lowery went 3-for-5 with a double and Siliga finished with a 3-for-4 night.

The Scrappers got another strong start from left-hander Kirk Wetmore, who went five innings and held the Doubledays to two hits. He struck out eight batters and picked up the win to improve to 2-0. Enosil Tejada pitched three innings of shutout relief before the Doubledays scored three runs off Drew Rucinski in the ninth inning.

Mahoning Valley’s nine-run night set a new season high. The Scrappers came within one hit of tying their season high for hits in a game. The final game of the three-game series is Saturday night at 7:05 pm.

Chisenhall leads Clippers to 9-5 win over Braves

A Lonnie Chisenhall grand slam in the bottom of the first gave Columbus an early four run lead. He added another RBI with a single in the third that scored Jason Donald. Chisenhall went 3-4 with 5 RBI and two runs scored.

Later in the third, Luis Valbuena's three run-shot over the right field balcony put the Clippers up eight.

David Huff (7-2) went 6.2 innings, striking out three and surrendering five runs off of nine hits to pick up the win. Braves starter Todd Redmond (5-7) went four innings, giving up eight runs.

In his first appearance as a Columbus Clipper, reliever Chen-Chang Lee went 1.1 innings and struck out two. Zach Putnam returned to the hill at Huntington Park and pitched the top of the ninth, striking out the side.

Diaz’s Two-Run Homer Propels Aeros Past R-Phils

Juan Diaz hit a tie-breaking two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead the Akron Aeros to a 3-1 win over the Reading Phillies in game one of a three-game series Friday at Canal Park.

Left-handed pitcher T.J. McFarland got the win for the Aeros tossing seven innings, allowing one earned run on four hits and striking out five while walking two. Right-handed pitcher Cory Burns pitched a scoreless top of the ninth inning to earn his league-best 19th save of 2011.

Right-hander Austin Hyatt suffered the loss for Reading pitching seven innings, giving up three earned runs on four hits and striking out eight while walking none.

The R-Phils (36-37) scored first in the top of the fourth inning. Michael Spidale and Carlos Rivero rapped back-to-back singles to open the inning. Matt Rizzotti walked to load the bases. Derrick Mitchell followed with a sacrifice fly scoring Spidale and giving the R-Phils a 1-0 lead.

The Aeros (35-39) answered in the home half of the frame. With two outs, Matt McBride doubled and Beau Mills followed with a bloop RBI single to tie the game 1-1.

Akron took the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, Beau Mills singled. Diaz followed with a two-run home run to give Akron the win.

The Aeros and R-Phils continue their three-game series Saturday. Akron will give the ball to left-handed pitcher Kelvin De La Cruz, who is 4-5 with a 4.41 ERA in 2011. He will face right-handed pitcher Tyson Brummett, who is 2-4 with a 3.21 ERA this season. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.

Kinston wins it in ninth

Ninth inning heroics propelled Kinston to another win Friday night in Salem. Adam Abraham broke a 2-2 tie with a two run home run in the ninth inning for a 4-2 Kinston victory. It was the second time in as many nights Kinston dashed the hopes of Salem in the ninth as the Indians guaranteed a series win with the victory.

K-Tribe starter Brett Brach pitched with a 2-1 lead heading in to the seventh but a leadoff home run from Shannon Wilkerson appeared to turn the tide for the Tribe. Brach allowed two more base runners in the inning and was lifted with two outs and two on for Chris Jones. Brach went 6 2/3 innings giving up two runs on eight scattered hits. He did not figure in the decision but never trailed in the strong outing.

The Indians offense waited until the last out to pile on the dramatics. Anthony Gallas drew a one out walk and was replaced by pinch runner Delvi Cid. Jeremie Tice followed by flirting with a home run, lifting a pitch to right field for out number two to bring the teams leading home run hitter to the plate. Adam Abraham then smashed his third hit of the night beyond the distant left center field fence to lift Kinston to a two run advantage. The line drive homer completed Abraham's three hit night. He finished 3/4 with two rbi's, a run, his 11th home run and a walk.

Jones was the only reliever Kinston used and he set down the side in order in the ninth with two strikeouts. Jones retired all seven men he faced and recorded four strikeouts in picking up his fourth win of the season.

With a series victory wrapped up, the K-Tribe will try for a sweep in Saturday's finale. Drew Pomeranz is scheduled to start for the Indians. First pitch is set for 6:05 at Salem's Memorial Ballpark.

Captains Win 7-3 Over the TinCaps

Alex Monsalve went 4-for-5 on Friday night at Parkview Field including the game winning RBI single in the fourth inning driving in Brian Heere for 4-2 lead. Lake County started the second half of the season off with a 7-3 win over Fort Wayne.

The TinCaps jumped in front 2-0 in the first inning. Rymer Liriano singled and stole two bases to get to third. Tyler Stubblefield drove in his seventh run of the season with a sacrifice fly to right. Jake Blackwood hit a line drive shot to leftfield for his ninth homerun of the season for Fort Wayne.

Jesus Aguilar hit his twelfth homerun of the season in the second inning cutting the lead in half at 2-1.

Lake County took a 4-2 lead, scoring three runs in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded, Argenis Martinez drove a run with a sacrifice fly to rightfield to score Jordan Casas. LeVon Washington doubled to centerfield scoring Ronny Rodriguez making it, 3-2 Captains.

Jesus Aguilar who went 3-for-4 led the seventh inning off with a double. Giovanny Urshela tripled home Aguilar. Casas drove in his first run of the season with a single up the middle to score Urshela. Martinez drove in his second run of the night with a sacrifice fly to leftfield scoring Casas.

In the ninth, Blackwood drove in his second run of the night with a double to centerfield scoring Liriano to make it 7-3.

Captains’ Jordan Cooper (2-2) picked up the win going five innings allowing two runs on four hits, walking one. Mark Hardy (3-7) took the loss for the TinCaps, tossing just 3.2 innings allowing four runs on ten hits, no walks and three strike outs.

Lake County and Fort Wayne continue their three game weekend series on Saturday night at Parkview Field at 7:05PM. The Captains will start LHP Mike Rayl (4-2) against RHP Adys Portillo (1-7) for the TinCaps.

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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