Game Recaps 8/10: Espino continues his success with Akron

Paolo Espino (Photo: Lianna Holub)

Espino leads Aeros past Sea Dogs

Ben Copeland and John Drennen both hit solo home runs to back the Akron Aeros offensively as they won game two of a three-game series against the Portland Sea Dogs 3-0 Wednesday at Hadlock Field.

Copeland broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning with his solo home run, while Drennen’s solo homer came in the top of the seventh to make it 2-0. The Aeros (61-56) added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning.

Right-handed pitcher Paolo Espino recorded the win for Akron tossing five scoreless innings, scattering four hits and striking out seven while walking one. Relievers Eric Berger and Rob Bryson helped get the ball to right-hander Cory Burns, who got the last three outs to earn his 31st save of the season and give the Aeros their 10th shutout of 2011.

Righty Brock Huntzinger suffered the loss for Portland lasting 5.2 innings, allowing the Copeland solo homer, giving up four hits and striking out five while walking two.

The Aeros and Sea Dogs (49-67) will play the rubber match of this three-game set on Thursday. Akron will give the ball to left-handed pitcher T.J. McFarland, who is 8-6 with a 3.86 ERA in 2011. He will face right-handed pitcher Chris Balcom-Miller, who is 2-5 with a 4.82 ERA this season. First pitch is at Noon.

Indianapolis beats Clippers 8-1

The Indianapolis Indians dropped the Clippers 8-1 at Huntington Park on Wednesday night.

The visitors jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first two innings and never looked back. Jose Tabata led the Indy offense with three hits and Matt Hague hammered a two-run homer.

Clippers starter Corey Kluber (6-8) allowed six earned runs over seven innings in the loss. Mitch Talbot and Matt Langwell each allowed one run in relief.

Indianapolis lefty Aaron Thompson (1-0) picked up the win in relief after Tony Watson pitched one scheduled inning as the fill-in starter for the injury Rudy Owens.

The Clippers and Indians will meet again Thursday at 12:05pm with Jeanmar Gomez (10-4, 2.43) facing Brian Burres (3-8, 4.94).

Aguilar’s homer pushes Kinston past Lynchburg

The Kinston Indians (23-21, 61-52) defeated the Lynchburg Hillcats (19-25, 49-65) in ten innings by a score of 4-3 on Wednesday Night in Lynchburg, Virginia. Jesus Aguilar hit his first homerun as a member of the K-Tribe. In fact, it was Jesus’ first Carolina League homerun overall, as it came in the tenth inning giving the K-Tribe the lead. The homer to dead center proved to be the difference.

The Lynchburg Hillcats scored first. In the bottom of the sixth inning Christian Bethancourt reached on an infield single, Marcus Lemon also got a bunt base hit to move Bethancourt into scoring position. L.V. Ware didn’t miss his opportunity as he singled through the hole between shortstop and third base plating Bethancourt. The score heading into the third inning was 1-0 Lynchburg.

In the forth the K-Tribe came roaring back. Jesus Aguilar reached base on a single Jeremie Tice then was hit by a pitch and Tyler Cannon laid down a sacrifice bunt. David Hale (Lynchburg’s starting pitcher) fielded the bunt and decided to throw the ball to third base. His throw was wide and it got past third base. Aguilar came into score and Tice moved to third and Cannon went to second base. Casey Frawley hit a sac-fly to right field giving the K-Tribe the lead 2-1. With Cannon at third base, Hale uncorked a wild pitch which scored Cannon and that gave the Indians a two run lead 3-1.

The lead didn’t last long as in the bottom of the 4th inning Joe Leonard singled to center field to start the inning. Geraldo Rodriguez then blasted a homerun to dead center field tying the game at 3-3.

The score remained tied through nine innings. It got a little dramatic in the bottom of the ninth when Marcus Lemon walked and was sacrificed to second base. Todd Cunningham hit a rocket to third base but Justin Toole made an incredible play to keep Lemon from not only scoring but also advancing to third base. With two outs Phil Gosselin hit a routine ground ball to Toole at third and the play was made to send the game to extra innings.

In extra innings it just took two hitters and then the game was no longer tied. The winning pitcher was Jose Flores who improved to (4-3) and the loss went to Ryan Buchter of Lynchburg, his record drops to (1-4). Preston Guilmet earned his 30th save of the season.

The Kinston Indians will remain on the road as they will head to Salem, Virginia to open a four game set against the Salem Red Sox on Thursday Night. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm and the K-Tribe will send Clayton Cook to the center of the diamond to take on Drake Britton for Salem.

Loons stop Captains 6-4 in 11 innings

Michael Pericht drove home Leon Landry and a second run scored on a wild pitch as the Great Lakes Loons defeated the Lake County Captains 6-4 in eleven innings on Wednesday night.

Ronny Rodriguez doubled home Luigi Rodriguez in the top of the first inning to give the Captains a 1-0 lead. The Captains made it 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning when Carlos Moncrief drove home Henry Dunn with a single. The Loons tied it at 2-2 when Steve Domecus and Nick Akins each collected a RBI in the top of the third inning. The Captains regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Nick Bartolone scored from third base when Loon starter Tim Sexton threw an errant toss to first base on a pick off throw.

The Loons took the lead in the top of the sixth inning when Jon Garcia scored from third on a wild pitch and Jesse Bosnik singled home Chris Jacobs and the Loons led 4-3. The Captains tied it at 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth inning when Moncrief drove home Aaron Fields with a two out single.

Captains starter J.D. Reichenbach got a no decision working 5.2 innings allowing four runs on eight hits, walking one and striking out five. Nick Sarianides followed Reichenbach and threw 2.1 scoreless innings allowing three hits while striking out two. Dale Dickerson (2-2) took the loss working three innings allowing two runs on four hits, walking two and striking out three.

Loons Starter Tim Sexton did not get a decision either lasting seven innings and allowing three runs, two earned on eight hits, walking one and striking out four. Pete Budkevics (4-3) got the win pitching three innings allowing a run on four hits walking two and striking out five. Bret Montgomery pitched a scoreless eleventh inning to register his third save of the year.

The Captains and Loons play game two of the three game series on Thursday at 7:00 PM with the Captains LHP Kirk Wetmore (3-1, 6.62) taking the mound against RHP Zach Lee (7-3, 3.14).

Scrappers split doubleheader

Mahoning Valley split their doubleheader against Tri-City on Wednesday night, and pushes them out of first place by a half game.

In game one of the doubleheader the Scrappers lost 4-3. Tony Wolters (3-for-4) and Bryson Myles (2-for-4) paced the offense, and Will Roberts was effective as he pitched 5.0 innings and allowed six hits, three runs, zero walks, and had two strikeouts.

In game of the doubleheader the Scrappers bounced back for a much needed 4-0 win. Cody Elliott chipped in going 1-for-3 with a triple and RBI and Jerrud Sabourin went 1-for-2 with an RBI and walk.

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