Game Recaps 8/17: Scrappers keep pace in playoff race

Daniel Jimenez (Photo: Lianna Holub)

Late surge lifts Scrappers over Lake Monsters

The Scrappers scored five runs over the final four innings to erase a 1-0 deficit and defeat the Vermont Lake Monsters, 5-1.

Vermont scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning. Dusty Robinson walked and stole second, and when Alex Lavisky’s throw went into centerfield, Robinson advanced to third. Sean Jamieson grounded out to Tony Wolters at shortstop to score Robinson and give the Lake Monsters a 1-0 lead.

The game remained 1-0 until the sixth when the Scrappers tied the game. Jake Lowery walked with the bases empty and one out and Jordan Smith followed with a single. Lowery advanced to third on Todd Hankins’ fly out to center and scored on Cody Elliott’s infield single. In the seventh, the Scrappers took the lead. Jerrud Sabourin led off the inning with a single and later scored on Wolters’ single.

Mahoning Valley tacked on three runs in the eighth on a single by Bryson Myles and an error. Myles grounded a pitch through the right side with the bases loaded to score two and the third run came home when the Lake Monsters right fielder’s throw bounced away from the catcher.

Starting pitcher Danny Jimenez and three relievers combined to hold Vermont scoreless over the final six innings. Jimenez pitched 4.2 innings of one-run ball. Drew Rucinski came out of the bullpen and picked up the win to improve to 2-0. Lake Monsters reliever J.C. Menna took the loss to fall to 2-6.

Mahoning Valley remains tied for the Wild Card lead with the Brooklyn Cyclones and Williamsport Crosscutters after both teams won on Wednesday. The Auburn Doubledays won as well to remain a game ahead of the Scrappers and Crosscutters in the Pinckney Division. The Scrappers and Lake Monsters will continue their three-game series on Thursday night at 7:05 pm.

Clippers lose 5-2

The Columbus Clippers scored a run in the first inning, but Pawtucket responded with two in the bottom half of the inning and three runs two innings later to cruise to a 5-2 victory on Wednesday night.

Jeanmar Gomez was the tough-luck loser for Columbus as four of the five runs he allowed were unearned. In seven innings of work he allowed just six hits, but three errors by the defense behind him was the difference in his sixth loss of the season. Gomez drops to 10-6 on the season, and his ERA lowers to 2.39.

The PawSox and Clippers will battle in the third of four consecutive games Thursday night at McCoy Stadium. Pawtucket will send Alex Wilson (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound in his first start on the Triple-A level against Columbus' Zach McAllister (9-3, 3.27 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Aeros hit three homers, but lose 5-3

The Akron Aeros hit three solo home runs, but the Harrisburg Senators hit three homers of their own that accounted for four runs as they won game two of a three-game series 5-3 Wednesday at Canal Park.

Left-handed pitcher T.J. McFarland allowed all three Senators home runs and suffered the loss for Akron pitching six innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits, walking three and striking out three.

Right-handed pitcher Tanner Roark recorded the win for Harrisburg tossing 7.2 innings, giving up three earned runs on six hits and striking out eight while walking one. Right-hander Hassan Pena got the last three outs to earn the save.

Derek Norris hit a solo home run in the top of the first inning to give the Senators an early 1-0 lead.

The Aeros (64-59) answered in the bottom of the second with a pair of solo home runs from Juan Diaz and Raul Padron that gave them a 2-1 lead.

Akron’s third solo shot came off the bat of Ben Copeland in the bottom of the third inning increasing the lead to 3-1.

The Senators (69-54) answered with back-to-back home runs in top of the fifth inning. Leonard Davis hit a two-run home run and Tyler Moore followed with a solo homer of his own to give Harrisburg a 4-3 lead.

Harrisburg added a run in the top of the seventh inning and went on to the win.

The Aeros and Senators will play the rubber match of this three-game series on Thursday. Akron will give the ball to right-handed pitcher Austin Adams, who is 9-9 with a 4.00 ERA in 2011. He will face left-handed pitcher Danny Rosenbaum, who is 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA this season. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.

Kinston beats Potomac 2-1

The Kinston Indians proved pitching wins ballgames Wednesday night at Grainger Stadium, hanging on for a 2-1, series clinching win over the Potomac Nationals.

All the offense came early for the K-Tribe. In the first Delvi Cid singled and stole second. Jeremie Tice singled in Cid with two outs. After Jesus Aguilar walked, Tyler Cannon brought Tice in with a single of his own.

From there it was Francisco Jimenez' ballgame. Jimenez allowed just two hits through the first four innings in making just his fourth start of the season. Jose Lozada led off the fifth with a double to left field. After retiring the next two batters he faced, Jimenez gave up a run scoring single to Francisco Soriano. Jeff Kobernus was the last man Jimenez faced, singling as the next batter.

Nick Sarianides retired the only man he saw in the fifth to preserve Kinston's advantage. Sarianides worked three scoreless frames to pick up the win and Preston Guilmet retired all four men he faced for the all stars 32nd save of the year.

Kinston will head to Myrtle Beach for the first half of an extended road trip starting Thursday night. Marty Popham is set to take the rubber in Thursday's 7:05 pm contest.

Silver Hawks Walk Off with 5-4 Win

Raywilly Gomez singled home Niko Gallego with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the South Bend Silver Hawks to a 6-5 walk off win over the Lake County Captains on Wednesday night. This was the 9th walk off loss for the Captains this year.

The Silver Hawks took the lead in the bottom of the third inning when Ender Inciarte doubled home Niko Gallego for a 1-0 lead. The lead was short lived as the Captains came back in the top of the fourth inning when Carlos Moncrief and Luigi Rodriguez both singled. Ronny Rodriguez doubled home Moncrief and Brian Heere’s ground out scored Luigi Rodriguez and the Captains led 2-1.

The Captains made it 3-1 when Nick Bartolone singled home Kevin Fontanez in the top of the fifth inning. The Hawks cut the lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Roberto Rodriguez singled home Matt Helm. The Silver Hawks regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning and they did it without a hit capitalizing on three walks. The tying run scored on a wild pitch and the go ahead run scored on a ground ball by Gerson Montilla and the Hawks led 4-3.

The Captains tied it up at 4-4 in the top of the seventh inning when Chase Burnette doubled and eventually scored on a wild pitch. The Silver Hawks again took the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning when Niko Gallego scored on a wild pitch for a 5-4 lead. The Hawks scored this run without a hit as well. The Captains tied it up in the top of the ninth inning when Alex Monsalve hit a ground rule double to score Aaron Fields. Had the ball not bounced into the stands, another run would have scored.

Captains starter Kirk Wetmore got a no decision working 5.2 innings and allowing four runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out one. Dale Dickerson allowed a run while walking two. Kyle Petter (2-4) took the loss.

Silver Hawks starter Mike Bolsinger did not receive a decision pitching five innings allowing three runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out four. Randy Hamrick allowed a run in two innings of work. Kable Hogben allowed a run in 1.2 innings. Victor Cappellan (1-1) recorded just one out and picked up his first win of the season.

The Captains and Silver Hawks play game two of the three game series on Thursday at 6:30 PM with the Captains sending RHP Jordan Cooper (2-5, 4.80)to the mound to oppose RHP Jeff Shields (7-11, 4.64).

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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