Game Recaps 7/16: Mills has another big night

Beau Mills (Photo: Lianna Holub)

Aeros bats explode in win over Senators

The Akron Aeros banged out 15 hits and scored 11 runs as they won game three of a four-game series against the Harrisburg Senators 11-5 Saturday at Metro Bank Park.

Left-handed pitcher T.J. McFarland recorded the win for Akron tossing seven innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits, walking two and striking out one.

Right-handed pitcher Erik Davis suffered the loss for Harrisburg lasting 3.2 innings, giving up six runs (five earned) on seven hits, walking five and striking out four.

The Aeros (49-45) got things started in the top of the first inning. Jordan Henry led off with a walk and Juan Diaz hit a two-run home run to right field to give Akron a 2-0 lead. Beau Mills followed with a solo home run of his own to make it 3-0. It was the first time that the Aeros had two players hit back-to-back home runs in a game since John Drennen and Wyatt Toregas hit back-to-back homers in the top of the third inning at Altoona April 28, 2010.

The Senators (54-38) answered in the bottom of the frame. Jerry Hairston scored on a Bill Rhinehart ground out to cut the Aeros lead to 3-1. McFarland uncorked a wild pitch to allow another run to score to make it 3-2.

Akron got those runs back in the top of the second inning. Karexon Sanchez led off with a single and stole second when Drennen struck out. Sanchez advanced to third on a Cristo Arnal bunt single and scored on a fielding error to make it 4-2. Later in the frame, Mills singled home Arnal to give Akron a 5-2 lead.

The Aeros added a run in the top of the third inning when Ben Copeland scored on a Drennen ground out to increase the lead to 6-2.

The Senators cut the lead to 6-3 when Bryce Harper crossed the plate on an Adam Fox ground out in bottom of the fourth inning.

The Aeros added runs in the top of the sixth and eighth innings on a Chun Chen RBI sacrifice fly and a Mills RBI ground out to make it 8-3.

Harrisburg got a run back in the bottom of the eighth inning, but Akron tacked on thee runs in the top of the ninth and went on to the win.

The Aeros will go for the series win over the Senators on Sunday. Akron will give the ball to right-handed pitcher Joe Gardner, who is 6-6 with a 4.11 ERA in 2011. He will face left-handed pitcher Oliver Perez, who is 2-1 with a 2.48 ERA this season. First pitch is at 6 p.m.

Clippers use big inning to defeat Indianapolis

A pair of clutch hits from Jason Kipnis and Jason Donald lifted the Clippers to a 7-5 victory over the Indianapolis Indians, Saturday night at Huntington Park.

After the Indians scored three in the top of the sixth, the Clippers responded with five runs of their own in the bottom of the inning.

Nick Johnson's solo shot onto the roof of the right field balcony brought the home team within two. Later in the inning - with the bases loaded and one out - Kipnis doubled to left to tie the game at five. Donald then followed with a two-RBI single up the middle to put the Clippers up for good.

The other two Columbus runs came in the first. Cord Phelps grounded into a force out to drive their first run in and a Jerad Head sacrifice fly brought home the second run.

Justin Germano - in his third start of the year - went five innings, giving up two runs and striking out five. Chen Lee (2-0) went 1.2 innings, striking out two and picked up the win. Steven Jackson gave up two runs out of the Indianapolis bullpen and fell to 1-2 on the year.

The two teams continue their four game set Sunday afternoon at 5:05 PM. Joe Martinez (6-3, 4.03) goes up against Indians' left-hander Garrett Olson (3-0, 2.37).

Kinston swept in doubleheader

In game one Kinston had to come from behind after Potomac struck with a first inning run.

Trailing, the K-Tribe struck in the second inning in dramatic fashion. Jeremie Tice took his fourth home run of the season beyond the right field fence and one pitch later Abner Abreu blasted another homer deep to left. Tice broke a homerless streak dating back to June 8th with the shot.

With the score tied at three, Potomac gave Kinston a taste of the back-to-back medicine with solo home runs from Destin Hood and Justin Bloxom. The blasts came off of starter T.J. House and spelled doom for His chances at becoming Kinston's first pitcher to seven wins.

House fell to 6-8 after throwing 5 2/3 innings of five run baseball. House gave up seven hits, walked two and struck out two. Both walks came back to haunt House for two runs against him. Francisco Jimenez retired the only man he faced.

In game two, Kinston was pegged to a two run advantage thanks to a second inning Chase Burnette home run.

The lead would not last as walks continued to hurt Kinston. With a one run advantage, Steve Wright walked Francisco Soriano to start the fifth. Soriano stole second, advanced to third on an error and scored one batter later. In the sixth, Kyle Landis entered to pitch for Kinston with runners at the corners. A chopper to short stop Justin Toole allowed the go ahead run to score.

Wright takes a tough luck loss allowing three runs, one earned in 5 1/3 innings. Wright walked four and struck out four. Landis retired the only two batters he faced.

Kinston returns home with a 4:30 pm start on Sunday family fun day, welcoming second placed Winston-Salem to town for three games. Marty Popham is set to get the Sunday start for Kinston.

Captains rally falls short in Bees 7-5 win

John Nester led the offensive charge for Burlington on Saturday night driving in four runs as the Bees defeated Lake County 7-5. The Captains trailed 7-0 and rallied to score five times in the eighth inning only to fall short.

Nester capped off a three run second inning for Burlington with a two run homerun off Mike Rayl for a 3-0 lead.

Leading 5-0, the Bees Nester was at it again with a two run single in the sixth inning to give Burlington the lead 7-0.

In the eighth inning, Carlos Moncrief scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-1. Giovanny Urshela drove in a pair of run with a single up the middle. Brian Heere and Nick Bartolone added RBI’s to make it 8-5.

Nate Long (6-3) picked up the win for the Bees working six innings, giving up just two hits, no runs, walking one and striking out eight. Mike Rayl (5-4) took the loss for the Captains allowing six runs on nine hits, over 5.1 innings walking one and striking out three.

Lake County continues their three game set with Burlington at Community Field at 3:00PM. Taking the mound for the Captains will be LHP JD Reichenbach (4-1) against Bees RHP Josh Bowman (6-3).

Scrappers fall to Jamestown

Mahoning Valley fell to Jamestown on Saturday night by a score of 13-6. Starter Robert Nixon struggled for the Scrappers throwing just 4.1 innings and allowed 8 runs (5 earned) on 10 hits, 4 walks, and did not record a strikeout. Grant Sides and Will Krasne relieved Nixon and combined to throw 3.2 innings and allow 5 runs on 5 hits, 1 walk, and 3 strikeouts.

At the plate the Scrappers were led by designated hitter Jake Lowery who went 2-for-4 with a double and walk, and outfielder Henry Dunn who went 2-for-4 with a homer and 4 RBI.

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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