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| Jesus Aguilar (Photo: IPI) |
Jesus Aguilar lead an offensive charge on Thursday night at O’Brien Field hitting a pair of homeruns leading Lake County to a 10-2 win over Peoria.
The Captains jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back. Giovanny Urshela who finished the night 2-for-5 singled in the game’s first run. Ronny Rodriguez doubled in two more runs to finish up the scoring.
LeVon Washington and Nick Bartolone put together perfect nights at the plate for Lake County. Washington finished 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI along with a walk. Bartolone matched a career high with a 4-for-4 night, including a double and an RBI.
Cole Cook (4-9) picked up the win tossing five innings allowing two runs, one earned on six hits, walking one and striking out three. Austin Kirk (5-6) suffered the loss for Peoria allowing six runs on ten hits in just four innings of work.
Lake County will finish up their three game series with Peoria on Friday night at 8:00PM from O’Brien Field. The Captains will start LHP Kirk Wetmore (1-0) against RHP Starling Peralta (0-1) for the Chiefs.
Clippers miss opportunities, fall 7-4
The second half of the 2011 season got under way and the Clippers got off to a sloppy start as they dropped a 7-4 decision to Indianapolis Indians at Huntington Park, their 7th loss in eight games.
The Indians would get on the board first when John Bowker crushed a solo bomb off of the Columbus Dispatch scoreboard to give Indianapolis an early 1-0 lead.
Already down by a run, the Clippers came to bat in the bottom of the first, looking to get some offense going. Tim Fedroff led off the frame with a single to right.
After a Cord Phelps strikeout, Jason Donald hit a fly ball that hit off of the left-center field wall for a double. Fedroff raced around third and was barely safe at home as the Clippers tied the game at 1-1.
It would end up being a rough 2nd inning for Clippers infielders. Matt Hague and Dusty Brown hit one out singles that were just out of the reach of Columbus shortstop Jason Donald. Miles Durham then hit grounder up the middle that deflected off of the glove of a diving Cord Phelps and went into left field. Hague scored from second and Indianapolis got the lead back 2-1. Luckily, Clippers starter David Huff got out of the inning by snagging a Gorkys Hernandez line drive and striking out Corey Wimberly.
The Indians would again threaten to blow open the game. In the top of the third, with runners on 1st and 2nd with two outs, Matt Hague hit a double down the left field line that increased the Indians advantage to 3-1. It would stay that way as Huff stranded runners on second and third by getting Dusty Brown to fly out to right field for the final out.
The Clippers would inch closer in the bottom half of the third when Fedroff scored on a Jason Donald double play groundout to make it 3-2.
The top of the fourth would be to be an ugly inning for Columbus. After a Miles Durham strike out, Gorkys Hernandez singled to left field. After Hernandez stole second, Corey Wimberly reached on an error by Clippers first baseman Chad Huffman. Columbus would then have an opportunity to turn an inning ending double play. They got the out at second, but the relay through went straight into the Clippers dugout, allowing Hernandez to score and extend the Indians advantage to 4-2.
Indianapolis would get another run in the fifth when Steve Pearce hit a line drive solo shot to start off the inning, making it 5-2 Indians.
The Clippers attempted a rally in the bottom of the sixth. Jason Donald worked a one-out walk. That was followed by Chad Huffman reaching on a fielding error by Indians third baseman Pedro Alvarez. Jerad Head would single to right and the bases were loaded. After a Jared Goedert fly-out to right that was deep enough to score from third, Paul Phillips could not do anything as he flew out to left field for the third out.
Columbus would try to rally once again in the bottom of the seventh. Matt McBride singled to begin the frame. Donnie Webb grounded into a fielder's choice as McBride was out at second base. Fedroff then walked. That was followed by a Cord Phelps single that loaded the bases for Columbus for the second straight inning. This time, the Clippers were able to get some runs out of the situation. Jason Donald coaxed a bases loaded walk to cut the deficit to two runs. It would become a one run affair when Fedroff scored on a Huffman RBI groundout. That was all Columbus was able to get as Jerad Head popped out in foul territory to end the inning.
The Indians would get both of those runs back in the very next inning. With two outs and runners on 1st and 2nd, Corey Wimberley laced an RBI single to left field. The Indians would get their second run of the inning when Gorkys Hernandez scored on a passed ball by Paul Phillips. In summation, Indianapolis regained a three run advantage over Columbus 7-4.
Alas, the Clippers would go 1-2-3 in the 8th and would strand two runners in the 9th inning, ending any chance of a comeback.
Indianapolis will renew acquaintances with Columbus on Friday night. Corey Kluber (4-5) will start on the mound for Columbus. He will face Brad Lincoln (7-7), who gets the nod for the Indians. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm.
Packer outdueled by Wang as Aeros fall to Senators
The Akron Aeros mustered just one run against right-hander Chien-Ming Wang and the Harrisburg Senators bullpen as they lost game one of a four-game series 3-1 Thursday at Metro Bank Park.
Left-handed pitcher Matt Packer was the tough-luck loser for Akron tossing 7.1 innings, allowing just two earned runs on six hits and striking out eight while walking none.
Wang picked up the win for Harrisburg pitching six scoreless innings, scattering six hits and striking out one while walking none. Right-handed pitcher Rafael Martin recorded the last four outs to earn the save.
Tim Pahuta gave the Senators a 1-0 lead on a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning.
Harrisburg (54-36) added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Josh Johnson singled to get things started. With two outs, Chris Rahl tripled him home to give the Senators a 2-0 lead.
The Aeros (47-45) got their lone run in the top of the eighth inning on a Chun Chen RBI double to cut the Senators lead to 2-1.
Harrisburg tacked on a run in the home half of the frame and went on to the win.
The Aeros and Senators will continue their series Friday. Akron has yet to announce a starter for Friday’s game. The Senators will give the ball to right-handed pitcher Tanner Roark, who is 4-5 with a 6.45 ERA in 2011. First pitch is at 7 p.m.
Kinston postponed again
Thursday’s doubleheader between the Indians and Nationals scheduled to start at 6:05 has been postponed due to an unplayable playing surface. First pitch Friday has been scheduled for 7:05 pm
Kinston and Potomac’s four game series was set to start on Wednesday before rains postponed that days game. Brett Brach was scheduled to get the Game one start on Thursday for Kinston.
Scrappers rally to defeat Tigers
The Scrappers overcame four runs in the first inning by the Tigers and came from behind to win, 9-6.
Mahoning Valley answered with three runs in the bottom of the first to cut the deficit to 4-3. Connecticut scored in the fourth inning to make it 5-3, but again the Scrappers answered to make it 5-4. The Scrappers scored five runs in the sixth inning to take the lead. Todd Hankins singled in two runs and Cody Elliott doubled in two more to make it 9-5. Connecticut scored a run in the eighth inning to make it 9-6, but the Scrappers held the Tigers scoreless in the ninth inning.
Harold Guerrero started for the Scrappers and lasted just three innings allowing five runs on two hits and six walks. Nate Striz came in and put up four shutout innings of relief and earned the win, and Enosil Tejada closed it out in the ninth for his third save.
At the plate all but one player in the lineup recorded at least one hit, with outfielder John Barr leading the way going 2-for-4 with an RBI and catcher Alex Lavisky going 1-for-4 with a homer and RBI.
The Scrappers and Tigers will play game three of their series on Friday night at 7:05 pm.
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6 comments:
Jesus Aguilar started out this season looking like a promising player.
I hoped he would continue hitting doubles, an occasional HR, and enough singles to justify a promotion next year.
Maybe, I hoped he could finish in AA.
All of the sudden, my estimation of his progress potential has jumped.
this young man deserves to move up, now!
Maybe he ought to be given a taste of AA this year.
2013 seems very possible for an impact bat to join the Indians.
I will have an update on Aguilar in today's Minor Happenings. I will say though that there is no need to promote him at this point. Will be best served working on plate discipline still. I could see a promo to Kinston but absolutely not Akron. It is exciting to see what he has done but there is a lot of development left at the Single-A level with the bat and defense. Great story this year.
He's an extremely raw player...but clearly learning quickly. I'm sure they'll think twice about moving him up to Kinston even this year. The Carolina League has been absolute murder on Lake County batters this season, so perhaps the best bet would be to keep him in Lake County this year, with the plan of a half season of Kinston and Akron next...followed by a full season at Columbus in 2013...when if he continues...would start the Aguilar watch...
I'll bet money that every conversation that Antonetti has with regards to trades has the other GM saying, "Yeah, and perhaps you could throw that kid in Low A...um...Aguilar I think his name is..."
Which hopefully is followed by a hang up...
I actually think Aguilar is the exact kind of guy that they could trade. Upside lower level guy that teams would want. Think Peralta-Soto last year. I would be fine with it depending on the return.
I wouldn't. I'm a trade guy, But I think that a deal this year for a Peralta-like player is a stretch. If you're going to deal a power corner infielder, even in the low minors, in an organization without many...and a righty to boot, you better be getting something more than what appears to be out there now. If he goes for a Francoeur, Willingham, Reed Johnson...etc. While I'm high on Soto, he's 50-50 to me. He's got great command and presence, and a body that suggests more velocity, he doesn't hit 90 often. That doesn't mean he's not MLB viable...just that it is a hurdle. I'd trade Soto long before Aguilar...more pitching depth, and Aguilar APPEARS to have more upside. Of course, one year doesn't a big-time prospect make, but I gotta believe he's heading towards your top 10 or 20. Soto...still in the 30's...
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