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| Mike Rayl (Photo: Lianna Holub) |
The Kinston Indians used some of the season’s best pitching to weather a number of early threats from the Nationals and hang on for a 2-0 victory Monday night at Historic Grainger Stadium.
Starting pitcher Mike Rayl set the tone early in what would become a career night for the K-Tribe newcomer. Rayl allowed a one out double while striking out all three batters he faced. After allowing the first two men to reach in the second inning, Rayl retired the next three, two on strikes.
The biggest threat Rayl faced came in the third. Staring down the barrel of a bases loaded, no-out situation, the lefty struck out Brian Peacock. Potomac’s Francisco Soriano tried to test the defense one batter later. Steven Souza lifted a pop foul down the right side that Jeremie Tice caught on the edge of the playing surface. Tice turned to see Soriano tag for home. The Indians part time first baseman put a dart on catcher Roberto Perez to beat Soriano home for out number three.
In the home half of the third, the K-Tribe managed to put the game’s only runs on the scoreboard. With Argenis Martinez having already walked and advanced on a wild pitch, Jordan Casas used Kinston’s first hit of the night to bring Martinez home. Adam Abraham pushed his team leading rbi mark to 60 in bringing home Casas one batter later.
The Kinston pitching staff combined the rest of the way for a season best 18 strikeout performance. Rayl picked up his first Carolina League victory, going to 1-1 in his fourth start at the “Advanced-A” level. Kinston’s starter did not yield a run over five innings of work. Rayl matched a career high with 11 strikeouts while walking two. Toru Murata took Kinston in to the eighth, striking out five over two and two thirds innings. All Star closer Preston Guilmet punched Kinston over the hump while picking up a four out save. Guilmet locked down his 31st save of the season, striking out two and giving up one hit in doing so.
The previous season high for strikeouts was 16, set on May 31st against Wilmington. Rayl matched Marty Popham’s July 17th 11 strikeout night as Kinston’s best individual performance of the year. On May 4th, Rayl struck out 11 while pitching for the Low-A Lake County Captains.
Game two in Kinston’s current three game homestand begins at 6:30 pm Tuesday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. Clayton Cook will try for his team leading ninth win of the season.
Clippers split with Rochester
It was a day of mixed results for the Clippers in Rochester as they split a doubleheader Monday.
Joe Martinez was masterful on the mound as he pitched Columbus to a 2-0 win over the Red Wings in game 1 of a doubleheader. The Clippers could not complete the sweep as they dropped a 4-3 decision in game 2.
The Clippers got off to a fast start in game one of the doubleheader. Tim Fedroff singled to begin the game. The next batter, Cord Phelps, doubled down the left field line, putting runners on second and third with nobody out. Luis Valbuena would the get the Clippers on the board with an RBI groundout to second base for a 1-0 Clippers lead. The lead would double as Chad Huffman was able drive in Phelps with an RBI single to left field, making it 2-0 in favor of the boys from Columbus.
Those two runs would be more than enough for Clippers starter Joe Martinez, who was dominant on the mound for Columbus. Martinez (8-6) gave up no runs on seven hits while striking out six and walking nobody in six innings of work. He gave way to Josh Judy in the seventh who picked up his 19th save of the season. Scott Diamond, Rochester's starter on the mound, dropped to 4-13 on the season and the Clippers took game one by a 2-0 margin.
Like game one, Columbus got off to a rather quick start in the second game of the doubleheader. Chad Huffman walked with two outs in the top of the 1st. That allowed Jerad Head to come to the plate and he made the most of his at-bat with tonight's phoenix bats big hit of the game. Head's 23rd longball on the season helped Columbus jump out to an early 2-0 lead.
Clippers starter Paolo Espino ran into a little bit of trouble in the bottom of the second. With one out, Luke Hughes hit a ball to deep centerfield. Travis Buck initially made a great play by catching the fly ball on the warning track, but the ball popped out of his glove as he collided with the wall. That allowed Hughes to advance all the way to third. After Espino struck out Aaron Bates swinging for the second out of the frame, Chase Lambin laced a base hit into the right center field gap, driving in Hughes and making it 2-1 Columbus. It would stay that way as Rene Rivera flew out to centerfield for the final out of the inning.
More offense would be produced in the top of the fourth for Columbus. Jared Goedert and Nick Johnson walked to begin the inning. They both moved up a base when Paul Phillips laid down a successful sacrifice bunt. Argenis Diaz then came to bat and took advantage of the RBI opportunity. Diaz's RBI single increased the Clippers lead to 3-1 at that point.
Espino was cruising on the mound as he entered the sixth inning. That all changed when Jeff Bailey hit a one out, two-run shot over the left field wall, tieing the contest at 3-3.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Red Wings were looking for some walk-off magic. With two outs, Rene Rivera singled to left field. Brandon Roberts then walked to put the potential winning run in scoring position. Ray Chang would then drive in the winning run with a single to left field, allowing the Red Wings to walk off with the victory 4-3. Chuck James (2-1) got the win for Rochester. Nick Hagadone (4-2) was tagged with the loss.
The Clippers will travel to Pawtucket to begin a four game series with the Red Sox. Corey Kluber (6-8) will get the start for Columbus. He will oppose Felix Doubront (1-3) who gets the ball for the Paw Sox. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm.
Captains Win Wild One in Dayton
Nick Bartolone scored from third base on a wild pitch by Pat Doyle in the top of the tenth inning to give the Lake County Captains a 3-2 come from behind extra-inning win over the Dayton Dragons on Monday night. The Captains salvaged the final game of the series but went 6-12 against Dayton on the year.
The Dragons took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning when Chris Berset walked. He would steal second and go to third base on a throwing error on the steal by Alex Monsalve. Frank Pfister would hit a sacrifice fly to score Berset and the Dragons led 1-0. The Dragons added another unearned run in the bottom of the sixth inning when a dropped fly ball by Carlos Moncrief allowed Jefry Sierra to score and it was 2-0.
The Captains cut the lead to 2-1 when Brian Heere hit an inside-the-park home run in the top of the seventh inning. It was second inside-the-park homer for the Captains in the last five days. Carlos Moncrief bombed a solo two out home run in the top of the eighth inning to tie the game at 2-2. The home run was hit out of the stadium down the right field line.
Captains starter J.D. Riechenbach got a no decision working six innings and allowing two unearned runs on six hits, walking two and striking out two. Cody Allen (2-0) got the win throwing three scoreless innings allowing two hits, walking one and striking out a career high six batters. Jordan Cooper worked a scoreless tenth inning to lock down his third save of the year.
Dragons starter Daniel Corcino also did not receive a decision pitching six scoreless innings allowing three hits, walking one and striking out ten. Pat Doyle (6-4) took the loss going four innings allowing three runs on six hits and striking out four.
The Captains have a day off on Tuesday and will be in South Bend Wednesday through Friday with all games beginning at 6:30 PM. On Wednesday the Captains will have LHP Kirk Wetmore on the mound against the Silver Hawks RHP Mike Bolsinger (5-5, 2.93).
Note: Akron and Mahoning Valley both had scheduled off days.
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