Game Recaps 7/30: Head leads Columbus to Victory

Clippers homer past Tides 5-4

With the offense struggling, the Clippers jumped up early en route to a 5-4 victory over the Norfolk Tides.

A two-run home run by Jerad Head in the first put the Clippers up 2-0. Trailing 3-2 heading into the sixth, Jared Goedert contributed a two-run blast of his own.

One inning later, Head came through again with an RBI double to put the Clippers up 5-3. On the game, Head went 2-4 with three RBIs and one run scored.

Josh Judy came on in the ninth and allowed one run but still hung on for the save - his 15th of the season.

Corey Kluber (5-7) started the game for Columbus and allowed two earned runs in six innings and struck out eight. Mitch Talbot pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Kluber.

Aeros Shutout by Seawolves, 5-0

Right-handed pitcher Adam Miller allowed two runs in the top of the fifth inning that broke a scoreless tie as the Akron Aeros were shutout by the Erie SeaWolves 5-0 in game three of a four-game series Saturday at Canal Park.

Miller suffered the loss for the Aeros pitching two innings of relief, allowing five earned runs on eight hits, walking one and striking out one.

Left-handed pitcher Drew Smyly recorded the win for Erie tossing seven scoreless innings, scattering four hits and striking out eight while walking two.

The game was scoreless until the top of the fifth inning. Deik Scram and Bryan Holaday opened the frame with back-to-back singles. Jamie Johnson followed with an RBI single scoring Scram and giving the SeaWolves a 1-0 lead. Following a double play, Ben Guez singled home Holaday to make it 2-0.

Erie (50-57) grabbed three more runs in the top of the fifth inning and went on to the win.

The Aeros (55-53) will look to split this four-game series with the SeaWolves on Sunday. Akron will give the ball to left-handed pitcher T.J. McFarland, who is 7-5 with a 3.97 ERA in 2011. The SeaWolves have yet to name a starter for tomorrow's contest. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. The game can be heard on Fox Sports 1350 AM or online at sportsradio1350.com. Coverage begins at 12:50 p.m.

Sunday is Family FUNday featuring fun for the entire family throughout the game. The first 2,000 youngsters 12 and under will receive an Orbit Bobblehead, courtesy of FirstMerit.

The Clippers continue their four game set with Norfolk Sunday at 5:05. Justin Germano (1-2, 3.65) - in his first start since his perfect game Tuesday - will go for the Clippers and will be opposed by Brian Matusz (0-3, 4.83).

Blue Rocks Get The Better of Kinston 4-1

The K-Tribe again fell victim to great starting pitching in a 4-1 Saturday night loss in Wilmington. The loss sent Kinston's current skid to six games.

The Indians appeared to have put recent offensive woes in the rearview mirror with a first inning run. Jordan Casas managed a one out triple for his first Carolina League hit and came home one batter later thanks to a throwing error on Wilmington's starting pitcher Michael Mariot.

The Blue Rocks were held off the scoreboard until the sixth inning. Leadoff man Whit Merrifield drew a one out walk, was pushed to second on a sacrifice bunt and took advantage of a fielding miscue to score. A third strike pitch got away from catcher Adam Abraham, who threw to first to complete the strikeout. First baseman Jesus Aguilar threw wild across the diamond, trying to double off Merrifield advancing from second base. The throwing error, charged to Aguilar, allowed Merrifield to score the tying run.

Back-to-Back leadoff singles bolstered the Blue Rocks in the seventh as both base runners scored to put Wilmington on top for good. Wilmington did the damage in the eighth with two outs to space its lead. Reliever Kyle Landis allowed a two out single to John Whittleman. Whittleman moved to second when batter Ryan Stovall was hit with a pitch and scored on a bloop single off the bat of Tim Ferguson.

Clayton Cook received the tough luck loss after departing with the score tied in the seventh. Cook threw 6 1/3 innings, yielding only three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. The first run given up was not earned. Cook departed with the bases loaded in the seventh. Gerard Hall singled in both runs as the first batter Kyle Landis faced. Landis worked 1 2/3 innings, giving up one run on three hits.

The K-Tribe faces Wilmington for the final time in the regular season Sunday afternoon at 1:35 pm. Brett Brach will look to salvage one game out of the current road trip for Kinston. The Indians return home to Historic Grainger Stadium Tuesday, August 2nd.

Late Rally Lifts Scrappers Over IronBirds

The Scrappers scored four runs off the IronBirds bullpen and came from behind to defeat Aberdeen, 4-1, in the series opener at Ripken Stadium.

Mahoning Valley trailed 1-0 heading into the eighth inning after Aberdeen starter Jake Cowan and one reliever pitched seven innings of shutout ball. Cowan allowed just two hits and two walks and struck out eight batters over six innings.

Will Roberts started for the Scrappers and matched Cowan through five innings, striking out five and allowing three hits and one walk.

In the eighth, the Scrappers scored four times. The first run came home on a throwing error by IronBirds reliever Devin Jones, who attempted to throw out the lead runner at third on a bunt by Tony Wolters but threw the ball away down the left field line. Jake Lowery, Jerrud Sabourin and John Barr had run-scoring singles.

Drew Rucinski picked up the win with three innings of one-run ball. He improved to 1-0. Jones picked up the loss to fall to 0-1. Enosil Tejeda pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his sixth save of the season.

The Scrappers and IronBirds will continue their three-game series on Sunday afternoon at 2:35 pm.

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).

Posted in: Game Recaps,Jerad Head