Game Recaps 7/29: Rodriguez, Captains win 5th straight

Ronnie Rodriguez (Photo: Lianna Holub)

Captains win 5th straight, 9-7 over BG

Moises Montero’s two out, two run double down the line in left lifted Lake County ahead of Bowling Green 7-5, as the Captains went on to win their fifth straight game by the final of 9-7.

Cody Rogers kicked this ballgame off with a solo homerun giving the Hot Rods a 1-0 in the top of the first.

The Captains took a 2-1 lead, in the bottom half of the first inning, following an RBI single by Chase Burnette and an RBI double from Ronny Rodriguez.

In the second, Luigi Rodriguez in his Captains debut ripped a two run double to centerfield extending the lead to 4-1.

Trailing 4-2, Bowling Green took back the lead in fifth. Phil Wunderlich hit a solo homerun leading off the inning. Nick Schwaner connected on a two run double giving the Hot Rods a 5-4 edge.

In the sixth, the Captains loaded the bases with a Carlos Moncrief single, followed by Luigi Rodriguez’s second double of the game and walk to Burnette. Moncrief scored on a Victor Mateo wild pitch tying the game at five.

The Captains added some needed insurance in the bottom of the seventh inning. Ronny Rodriguez tripled to drive in Giovanny Urshela to make it 8-6. Rodriguez scored on Steve Hiscock wild pitch for a 9-6 lead.

The Hot Rods managed to string together a rally in the eighth inning, but feel short 9-7, scoring just one run on an RBI single by Steve Tinoco.

Dale Dickerson (2-1) picked up the victory working two innings allowing an unearned run on two hits, striking out two. Clayton Ehlert worked and 1.2 innings for his 13th save of the season. Victor Mateo (10-5) took the loss allowing three runs on five hits, walking two and striking out three in three innings of work.

Lake County will head to Lansing for a three game series at Cooley Law School Stadium beginning on Saturday night at 7:05PM. The Captains will put the ball in the hand of RHP Felix Sterling (1-0) against RHP Marcus Walden (5-2) for the Lugnuts.

Clippers shutout 3-0

Syracuse continued the Clippers recent slide with a 3-0 win on Friday night.

Chiefs starter J.D. Martin (3-6) pitched seven scoreless innings, earning the win. The Clippers have now lost eight of the last ten games.

Martin recorded three strikeouts include a called third strike on Shelley Duncan in the first inning, leading to plate umpire Kelvin Bultron ejecting Duncan and Clippers manager Mike Sarbaugh.

Clippers starter Joe Martinez (6-5) allowed 12 hits and three runs over 5.1 innings in the loss. Chen Lee pitched 2.2 innings of scoreless relief.

The Clippers return home to begin a four-game series with the Norfolk Tides on Saturday. Right-hander Corey Kluber (4-7, 6.05) will oppose left Chris George (4-4, 4.50) for the Tides. First pitch is 7:05pm.

Costly error burns Aeros

Left-handed pitcher Matt Packer went 8.2 innings, but Juan Diaz committed a fielding error in the top of the fifth inning that allowed the game’s only run to score as the Akron Aeros lost game two of a four-game series to the Erie SeaWolves 1-0 Friday at Canal Park.

Packer allowed the unearned run and suffered the loss for Akron scattering seven hits and striking out six while walking two. His 8.2 innings was the longest start for an Aero this season.

The last nine-inning complete game by an Aero was Jeanmar Gomez’s perfect game May 21, 2009 at Trenton.

Left-hander Jay Voss recorded the win for Erie tossing seven scoreless innings, scattering three hits, walking four and striking out two. Right-handed pitcher Tyler Stohr got the last six outs to earn the save.

The Aeros (55-52) and SeaWolves (49-57) will play game three of this four-game series on Saturday. Akron will give the ball to left-handed pitcher Drew Pomeranz, who is 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA in 2011. He will face right-handed pitcher Jacob Turner, who is 3-5 with a 3.48 ERA this season. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

Kinston blanked in 4-0 loss

Kinston’s offense could only muster two hits Friday night at Frawley Stadium as Tim Melville turned in a two hit shutout effort in a 4-0 Kinston loss. The Indians have now lost five straight games and have lost first place for the first time in the second half.

Wilmington struck in the first off of Kinston starting pitcher Mike Rayl, making his Carolina League debut. After an infield hit and a seeing eye single, John Whittleman hit his 17th home run of the season to give the Blue Rocks all the advantage they would need. An unearned run crossed in the fifth inning to add to the Wilmington Advantage.

Blue Rocks starting pitcher Tim Melville turned in a seven inning shutout, limiting Kinston to just two hits. The two hits came in the fifth as Jesus Aguilar and Tyler Cannon led off the frame with back-to-back singles. A double play turned the tide and Aguilar was left stranded at third as the inning came to close on a pop fly. Allen Caldwell came on to work a perfect final two innings. Kinston managed to reach base three times in the game.

K-Tribe pitcher Mike Rayl turned in a solid debut, allowing four runs (three earned) over five innings on six hits. Rayl struck out four and walked one in picking up the loss. Trey Haley fired two scoreless innings and Jose Flores did not allow a run in the eighth, his only inning of work.

Kinston will try to even the series on Saturday night, with first pitch set for 6:05 pm. Clayton Cook is set to get the start for Kinston, he will look to become the first K-Triber to seven wins in 2011.

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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