 |
| Justin Germano (Photo: AP) |
Columbus came into tonight's game really struggling offensively, scoring one run in their last 18 innings of play. A fast start offensively was badly needed for Clippers and they got it in the top of the first inning. Tim Fedroff led off the game with a double down the right field. After a Jason Donald pop out and a Luis Valbuena groundout that allowed Fedroff to advance to third, Cord Phelps stepped to the plate with two outs and gave the Clippers an early 1-0 lead with an RBI double.
There would be more clutch hitting for Columbus in the top of second. Chad Huffman drew a two out walk. That was followed by a Paul Phillips single. It set the stage for Tim Fedroff who came up big with a two run triple that increased the Clippers advantage to 3-0 at that point.
Clippers starter Justin Germano had one of those nights on the mound where everything was working for him. Germano retired the first twenty four batters he faced through eight innings. In the bottom of the ninth, Germano went to work, hoping to achieve history. The first batter that he faced, Jhonaton Solano, flew out to center field for the first out. Jeff Frazier then flew out to left field for the second out. All that stood between him and perfection was Syracuse centerfielder Corey Brown. Germano struck out Brown and succeeded in throwing a perfect game, the first perfect game in Clippers history and the first thrown in International League play since 2003. It is the sixth no-hitter in Clippers history.
The Clippers and the Chiefs will be back at it on Wednesday night for game two of this series. Venezuelan right-hander Jeanmar Gomez (10-3) will start for Columbus and oppose Syracuse starter Brad Peacock (1-1). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 pm.
Video of post game interview with Germano and also clubhouse celebration:
Aeros late rally falls short
The Akron Aeros rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but could not overcome three errors as they lost game two of a three-game series against the Trenton Thunder 4-3 Tuesday at Canal Park.
With the loss, the Aeros (54-50) have dropped three in a row for the first time since May 24-26.
Left-handed pitcher T.J. McFarland suffered the loss for Akron pitching five innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits and striking out six while walking two.
Right-handed pitcher Craig Heyer recorded the win for Trenton tossing six innings, giving up two earned runs on three hits and striking out six while walking two. Right-hander Chase Whitley got the last three outs to earn the save.
The Thunder (55-48) got things started in the top of the second inning. Melky Mesa led off with a single. Cristo Arnal booted a Zolio Almonte groundball and then overthrew first allowing Mesa to get to third base. Mesa came across to score on a Jose Pirela single to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead.
Trenton added to their one-run lead in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Pirela and Damon Sublett rapped back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second. On an Addison Maruszak ground ball, Arnal committed his third error as the Thunder loaded the bases. Ray Kruml followed with an infield single scoring Pirela and giving Trenton a 2-0 lead. Sublett scored when Corban Joseph grounded into a force out to make it 3-0.
The Thunder grabbed a key run in the top of the sixth inning on a Joseph RBI single to increase the lead to 4-0.
The Aeros rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning. Donnie Webb led off with a walk and advanced to third on a Ben Copeland single. Following the single, Heyer was replaced by Josh Romanski, who allowed an RBI single to Raul Padron giving Akron their first run. Webb advanced to third on the single and then scored when Maruszak dropped the relay throw at third to make it 4-2. Following a ground out, Karexon Sanchez doubled home Padron to cut the Thunder lead to 4-3.
That, however, was as close as they would get as Trenton held off a late charge to win.
The Aeros will look to avoid the sweep at the hands of the Thunder on Wednesday. Akron will give the ball to right-handed pitcher Joe Gardner, who is 7-7 with a 4.79 ERA in 2011. He will face left-handed pitcher Manny Banuelos, who is 3-5 with a 3.74 ERA this season. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
Kinston thumped by Winston-Salem
It was all Winston-Salem, as Kinston fell to the Dash 9-2 Tuesday night in the Triad.
Winston-Salem got to Kinston starting pitcher Brett Brach in the top of the second inning. Ian Gac singled, Mike Blanke followed with a walk. Nick Ciolli drove in Gac with a run scoring single. The lead grew to four when Juan Silvero took the first pitch from Brach and hit it over the left field wall. The three-run home run was the first homer of the year for Silvero. Kinston cut into the lead in the top of the third inning. Tyler Holt took the first pitch from Dash starter Cameron Bayne and placed it down the third base line for a double. After Justin Toole advanced Holt with a ground-out, Abraham drove him home with a sacrifice fly.
The Dash would continue to get the best of Brach, scoring a single run in the third, fourth and fifth innings. A solo home run by Andy Wilkins in the fifth inning, gave Winston-Salem a 7-1 lead. Jeremie Tice would get a run back with a monster home run in the top of the sixth inning. His solo shot to start the frame cleared the grass berm in left field. It was his seventh homer of the season. Brach (6-7) took the loss and lasted until the sixth inning, when a long, two-out double by Jared Mitchell chased him from the game. Brach went 5 2/3 innings, giving up eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits. He walked two and struck out four. Trey Haley was greeted rudely from the K-Tribe bullpen when Nick Ciolli snuck a home run just inside the left-field foul pole. The two-run shot gave Winston-Salem a 9-2 lead. Haley went 2 1/3 innings, giving up two hits and one run. He walked one and struck out one. Bayne got the win for the Dash, giving up two runs on five hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out five.
The two teams will meet at high noon on Wednesday for a 12 pm day game tilt at BB&T Ballpark. Marty Popham gets the start for Kinston.
Note: Lake County and Mahoning Valley both had scheduled off days.
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