 |
| Brett Brach (Photo: IPI) |
Brett Brach carried the Indians to a series evening 1-0 victory over Myrtle Beach, Thursday night in South Carolina. It was the K-Tribe’s (6-2, 44-33) Carolina League leading ninth shutout of the season and second 1-0 victory of the season. Kinston is now all alone in first place in the Southern Division’s second half.
Kinston pitcher Brett Brach dazzled, working eight very efficient innings in which he only allowed five hits and struck out three without walking a batter. Brach picked up the win, out dueling Myrtle Beach's Barrett Loux for Brach's (5-5) fifth win of the year.
Former first round draft pick Barret Loux got the start for Myrtle Beach and was in and out of trouble early. Kinston had runners in scoring position in three of the first five innings, but failed to drive anyone home, as Loux struck out 11 K-Tribe batters through six innings. Joseph Ortiz picked up where Loux left off, striking out the side in the seventh. In all, Kinston struck out 14 times. Despite the offensive struggles, the K-Tribe again proved clutch, waiting until the last inning to squeeze a run across.
Adam Abraham led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Abraham's pinch runner, Delvi Cid, was safe at third on an Abner Abreu bunt. Cid then scored on Chase Burnette's looper to center field. Kinston could not add any more in the inning thanks to two stellar plays from Pelicans short stop Leury Garcia. It didn't matter though, as Jose Flores closed out the ninth in dramatic fashion.
Flores induced an inning ending 4-6-3 double play with Pelican's runners at the corners. A microscopic play at first ended the inning to the sounds of boos from Pelicans fans who hoped to see a safe call which would have allowed the tying run to score. Flores gave up two hits and managed the save, his second, in one inning of work. With the win, Kinston avoided losing back-to back games for the first time since May 16th.
Kinston starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz will take the hill for the final game of the series Friday night in Myrtle Beach. Game time 7:05 pm in South Carolina.
Pitching leads to 6-2 win at Toledo
Scott Barnes allowed just one hit in his first seven innings on the hill and the Clippers defeated Toledo 6-2 on Thursday night at Fifth Third Field.
Columbus scored single tallies in the fourth and fifth innings and added four more in the seventh in route to another win.
Toledo starter L.J. Gagnier gave up two runs, lasting six innings. Reliever Matt Hoffman was on the wrong end of the four-run inning.
Ezequiel Carrera and Jason Kipnis each had 2 RBI for the Clippers while Luis Valbuena and Paul Phillips each collected a pair of hits.
The Clippers attempt a four-game sweep on Friday night at 7:05pm. Zach McAllister (8-2, 2.93) will face Toledo lefty Duane Below (7-4, 3.41).
Aeros Winning Streak Snapped
The Akron Aeros saw their six-game winning streak come to an end with a 7-3 loss to the Erie SeaWolves on Thursday night, in the first of a four-game series at Jerry Uht Park. The Aeros faced a balanced attack, as the SeaWolves scored in five of their eight innings.
Kelvin De La Cruz took the loss, giving up five runs on eight hits, and striking out eight in five innings of work. Eric Berger pitched three innings of relief for the Aeros (40-40) allowing two runs on four hits, with two walks and two strikeouts.
SeaWolves starter Jacob Turner earned the win, pitching seven innings and scattering nine hits, while walking two and striking out five. Luis Marte pitched two innings of shutout relief for the SeaWolves (40-39).
Erie started their scoring early as they took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st inning. Jamie Johnson led off with a double, and after a Gustavo Nunez ground out, Francisco Martinez doubled home Johnson.
The SeaWolves added three more runs in the 2nd inning. Rawley Bishop started the inning with a strikeout. Justin Henry legged out an infield single and Brandon Douglas dropped down a bunt single. Bryan Holaday followed with a 3-run home run, his fourth of the season, making it 4-0.
Akron started their scoring in the 4th inning. After a Juan Diaz ground out and a Beau Mills fly out, Nick Weglarz hit a ground rule double to center, and Karexon Sanchez brought Weglarz home with an RBI single, to make it 4-1.
After the SeaWolves scored runs in the 5th and 6th innings, the Aeros were able to generate some offense in the 7th inning. Karexon Sanchez led off the inning with a walk, and advanced to second on a Donnie Webb ground out. Jordan Henry singled home Sanchez and then scored on a Ben Copeland RBI single, making it 6-3. Erie finished the game’s scoring with another run in the bottom half of the 7th inning.
The Aeros continue their series with the SeaWolves on Friday. Akron will give the ball to right-handed pitcher Joe Gardner, who is 5-5 with a 3.92 ERA in 2011. He will face fellow right hander Brooks Brown, who is 1-2 with an 8.50 ERA this season. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.
Silver Hawks Rally to Stun Captains
The South Bend Silver Hawks score four times in the eighth inning after being shutout through the first seven innings en route to a 4-2 win over the Lake County Captains on Thursday. The Captains are still tied for first place in the Midwest League Eastern Division despite the loss.
The Captains took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when Jesus Aguilar smacked his fifteenth home run of the year, a two run shot, and the Captains led 2-0.
Captains starter Mike Rayl did not get a decision despite working 6.2 scoreless innings allowing only two hits while striking out seven. Rayl has allowed only three earned runs in his last 29.1 innings of work. Joey Mahalic (0-1) took the loss lasting .2 of an inning and allowing four runs, three earned on two hits and walking one.
Silver Hawks Starter Bradin Hagens did not get a decision working three scoreless innings allowing one hit and striking out one. Dan Taylor (3-2) got the win pitching a scoreless inning and Blake Cooper picked up his eighth save working a scoreless ninth inning.
The Captains and Silver Hawks play game two of the series on Friday at 7:00 PM with the Captains sending LHP J.D. Reichenbach (3-1 3.60) to the hill to oppose RHP J.R. Bradley (2-10, 5.11).
Scrappers win again, 7-3
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers won again on Thursday night, 7-3 over State College. They are now 10-4 on the young season.
Seven of the nine hitters in the Scrappers lineup got at least one hit, and were led by right fielder Bryson Myles who went 1-for-4 with 2 runs scored and a stolen base and third baseman Jordan Smith who went 1-for-4 with 3 RBI.
On the pitching side of things, the Scrap Attack was led by starter Robert Nixon who went six strong innings and allowed six hits, three runs, no walks, and had four strikeouts. Lefty Kyle Petter came in late and slammed the door throwing one inning of scoreless-hitless ball and allowed two walks and had two stikeouts.
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).
Everything on this site is free, but for those interested in making any monetary contributions to help support the stability and growth of this site please click on the "Donate" button below.
0 comments:
Post a Comment