Game Recaps 7/3: Serna drives home Scrappers win

KC Serna (Photo: IPI)

Serna Helps Scrappers Split

KC Serna singled down the third baseline with the bases loaded to knock in the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning to help the Mahoning Valley Scrappers edge the Batavia Muckdogs 12-11 on Sunday evening. Serna, who went 4-5 with an RBI and a walk, knocked in Cody Elliott to end a back-and-forth battle between the Pinckney Division foes.

Enosil Tejeda (1-1) picked up the win for the Scrappers while Adam Bileckyj (0-2) saddled the loss for the Muckdogs. The victory pushed the Scrappers record to 11-6 and the visiting Muckdogs dropped to 7-10.

The Scrappers had a four-run cushion headed into the fourth, but Batavia unleashed five runs in the top half of the inning. Consecutive RBI-singles and a double off of the bat of David Medina, followed by a wild pitch saw the Scrappers lead vanish.

The Scrappers would have a big inning of their own in the sixth as miscues from the Batavia defense led to four runs. Jordan Smith singled on a swinging bunt to bring in a run, and then a throwing error by shortstop Cesar Valera allowed Serna to score. After a John Barr RBI-single, pitcher Travis Miller threw a wild pitch to the backstop to allow Smith to scamper home.

The Scrappers are back in action tomorrow night, July 4, when they travel to Batavia to play the Muckdogs once again. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.

Clippers rally to drop Bats 4-2

The Clippers couldn't solve Louisville starter Scott Carroll, but were able to jump on the Bats bullpen and win, 4-2.

Carroll went seven innings, allowing one run. Reliever Jerry Gil came on in the eighth inning with Louisville up 2-1, and immediately ran into trouble.

Jason Donald led off the inning with a single, and Luis Valbuena then walked to put the go-ahead runner on. Gil's throwing error on a Chad Huffman sacrifice bunt allowed Donald to score and tie the game. Jerad Head was hit by a pitch, and then Tim Fedroff singled home Valbuena and Huffman to give the Clippers a two-run lead.

Jeanmar Gomez (9-2) matched Carroll almost pitch for pitch - going eight innings, allowing two runs and striking out four to pick up the win. The only runs he allowed were on a Dave Sappelt two-run shot that just snuck over the right field wall.

Those Bats runs came in the third, answering the one-run Clippers second. Paul Phillips' bunt single drove home Fedroff - the only Clipper who would score off of Carroll.

With a thin bullpen to work with, Clippers manager Mike Sarbaugh called for Justin Germano to close out the game in the ninth. Germano responded by striking out the side to pick up his third save of the year.

The Clippers (56-27) and Bats (45-39) move to Louisville and continue play on Independence Day, with a 7:05 PM first pitch.

Aeros Plagued By SeaWolves Five-Run First

Right-handed pitcher Austin Adams allowed five Erie runs in the bottom of the first inning as the Akron Aeros lost the finale of a four-game series to the SeaWolves 6-2 Sunday at Jerry Uht Park.

Adams suffered the loss for the Aeros pitching 4.2 innings, allowing six runs on 10 hits, walking four and striking out three.

Left-handed pitcher Jay Voss recorded the win for Erie tossing seven innings, giving up two earned runs on six hits and striking out eight while walking just one.

The SeaWolves (42-40) erupted for five runs in the bottom of the first inning. Jamie Johnson and Gustavo Nunez began the frame with back-to-back singles. With two outs, Rawley Bishop doubled home Johnson and Nunez to give Erie a 2-0 lead. Michael Bertram followed with an RBI single and then scored on a Justin Henry RBI triple to make it 4-0. Henry scored on an Adams balk giving the SeaWolves a 5-0 lead.

Erie increased their lead to 6-0 on a Bryan Holaday RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Aeros (41-42) cut into the deficit in the top of the seventh inning. Nick Weglarz opened the frame with a single. Chun Chen followed with a two-run home run to center field to cut the Erie lead to 6-2.

That was as close as Akron would get as they lost three of four to Erie.

The Aeros will head to Altoona Monday to begin a four-game set with the Curve. Akron will give the ball to left-handed pitcher T.J. McFarland, who is 4-4 with a 4.55 ERA in 2011. He will face fellow southpaw Jeff Locke, who is 5-7 with a 4.20 ERA this season. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.

Frederick Hands Kinston a 4-1 Defeat

Frederick got by Kinston 4-1 Sunday afternoon at Historic Grainger Stadium. With the win, Frederick takes two straight games and the series from Kinston. It is the first time the K-Tribe has lost back-to-back games since May 15th and 16th. Kinston owns a 31-13 record during that stretch.

Kinston starting pitcher Clayton Cook ran into early trouble, starting with a lead-off walk by Steve Brumby to start the game. The free pass was cashed in with a two-run home run by Tyler Townsend in the top of the first inning. Cook gave up one more hit in the inning and did not return to the game, leaving with a sore elbow between innings. Kinston knuckleballer Steve Wright took over in the second inning, giving up a run on three hits in his first inning of work. Wright would then settle down, but Frederick would take a 4-0 lead thanks to a solo home run by Kipp Schutz. The fourth inning shot was the second for Schutz this season. Wright saved the K-Tribe bullpen, going the last eight innings of the game. He ended up giving up six hits and two earned runs. He struck out five and walked two. Cook (6-5) was stuck with the loss.

Kinston cut into the lead in the fourth inning. Casey Frawley started the bottom of the frame with a walk, advancing to second base on a single by Jeremie Tice. Adam Abraham would get his team leading 42nd RBI of the season with a single later in the inning. Kinston did not score another run, managing just four hits on the day. Frederick starter Nathan Moreau (8-6) picked up the win, giving up three hits and one run in five innings. Moreau walked four and struck out three.

The K-Tribe continues the homestand with a special July 4th game Monday night at 6:30 pm. The contest will feature a fireworks show after the game. Pre-game fun starts at 6:10 with a F-15 flyover scheduled for 6:15 pm. United States of America native Marty Popham gets the start for Kinston.

Lugnuts Walk Off with 5-4 Win Over Captains

Garis Pena with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning delievered the final blow with a single to centerfield sending Lansing to a 5-4 walk off win on Sunday night.

Down 2-0, in the sixth inning, Alex Monsalve collected his third of the game with a single to leftfield. Jesus Aguilar crushed his 16th homerun of the season to leftfield to tie the game at two. One out later, Ronny Rodriguez hit a solo homerun to left to gave the Captains a 3-2 lead.

In the bottom half of six, Marcus Knecht drew a big two out walk. KC Hobson on the first pitch he saw from Cole Cook belted a two-run homer to right giving Lansing back the lead at 4-3.

Argenis Martinez led the seventh inning off with an infield single on the right side. Washington grounded out to second to move Martinez into scoring position. Jordan Casas singled to right center scoring Martinez tying the game at four.

Shawn Griffith (2-0) picked up the win tossing 2.1 scoreless innings allowing just one hit, walking one and striking out two. Kyle Petter (0-1) took the loss in his Captains debut, allowing a run on one hit in 1.2 innings, walking one and striking out three.

Lake County and Lansing continue the series on Tuesday night at 7:05PM celebrating the Fourth of July at Cooley Law School Stadium. Making his Captains debut will be LHP Kirk Wetmore (0-0) against RHP Danny Barnes (4-0) for the Lugnuts.

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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