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| Zach McAllister |
The Clippers beat the Louisville Bats 8-5 on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon at Huntington Park, thanks to a six-run 2nd inning.
The Clippers would grab an early lead in the bottom of the second. Chad Huffman led off the inning with a double to left center. After a Beau Mills ground out allowed Huffman to advance to third, Luke Carlin knocked Huffman in with an RBI groundout to 1st base, giving Columbus an early 1-0 lead. The Clippers were just getting started offensively. Ben Copeland, making his Columbus debut, doubled to left field. The Clippers then took advantage of wildness by Louisville lefthander Travis Wood. Two wild pitches by Wood allowed Copeland to score the second run of the inning, increasing the Clippers lead to 2-0. With still two outs in the inning, Argenis Reyes cracked his second home run of the season, a solo shot into the left field bleachers, augmenting the Clippers advantage to 3-0. The inning would continue as Luis Valbuena lopped a single into shallow left field and Tim Fedroff walked, allowing Jared Goedert to come to the plate. Goedert blew open the inning when he went deep with a three-run long ball to the left field bleachers, opening up a 6-0 lead for the Clippers.
The Bats would take advantage of wind blowing out of the ballpark. Kristopher Negron slammed a one out, two-run shot up into the jet stream and onto the lawn seating area out in left center field, making it 6-2 Columbus.
The Clippers would get those two runs back in the bottom of the fifth. After a one out double by Chad Huffman, Beau Mills lined a two run shot into the right field balcony for his 5th home run of the season, making it 8-2 in favor of boys from Columbus.
The top of the sixth would be a rough inning for Columbus starter Zach McAlister. Chris Valaika led off the frame with a single to left field. The next batter, Juan Francisco grounded to second. Argenis Reyes threw to second, but his throw was wild as it went into left field. McAlister got Denis Phipps to strikeout for the first out of the inning. He then proceeded to walk Jeremy Hermida to load the bases with only one out. Devin Mesoraco came to bat for Louisville and was promptly plunked by McAlister, allowing Valaika to come into score and make it 8-3 Columbus. Needing to get out of the inning in a hurry, McAlister struck out Danny Dorn for out #2 and Mike Constanzo for out #3.
The Bats would draw closer to Columbus in the top of the 7th. Kris Negron led off the inning with a single. Two batters later, Chris Valaika went deep over the right field wall, driving in Negron and amking it a three run affair 8-5.
That's would end up being all of the scoring as Josh Judy came on in the top of the ninth and closed out the game for his 23rd save of the season. McAlister picked up his 11th win on the 2011 campaign (11-3), striking out nine in six innings of work. Travis Wood (2-3) was hit with the loss.
The Clippers will wrap up their short two game series with Louisville tomorrow night. Mitch Talbot (2-2) will get that start on the hill for Columbus. He will be opposed by Louisville right-hander Daryl Thompson (3-2). First Pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm.
Aeros split four-game series with Squirrels
The Akron Aeros scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning to erase a two-run deficit and win the finale of a four-game series against the Richmond Flying Squirrels 5-2 Sunday at Canal Park.
With the win, the Aeros (68-66) split the four-game series with Richmond.
Right-handed pitcher Austin Adams recorded the win for Akron tossing five innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and striking out six while walking none. Left-handed pitcher Kelvin De La Cruz retired the side in order in the top of the ninth to earn the save.
Left-hander Wilmin Rodriguez suffered the loss for Richmond lasting three innings, giving up four runs (two earned) on four hits, walking three and striking out two.
The Flying Squirrels (71-63) got on the board in the top of the first inning. With two outs, Francisco Peguero and Chris Dominguez rapped back-to-back singles. Back-to-back RBI singles from Wes Hodges and Juan Perez followed as Richmond jumped in front 2-0.
It remained 2-0 until the bottom of the third inning. Karexon Sanchez led off with a double and advanced to third on a Jordan Henry single. Sanchez scored when Richmond third baseman Chris Dominguez dropped the ball in a run down between third and home to make it 1-0. Following a Juan Diaz stolen base, John Drennen rapped a two-RBI single to right field to give Akron a 3-2 lead. The Aeros added a run later in the inning when Drennen scored on a Donnie Webb sacrifice fly to make it 4-2.
Akron scored again in the bottom of the seventh inning and went on to the win.
The Aeros will continue their homestand as they begin a four-game series against the Reading Phillies on Monday. Akron will give the ball to left-handed pitcher Matt Packer, who is 7-12 with a 4.36 ERA in 2011. He will face right-handed pitcher Joseph Esposito, who is 5-4 with a 4.67 ERA this season. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.
Kinston wins makeup game
The Kinston Indians cruised to a 9-2 victory late Sunday night over the Lynchburg Hillcats to keep pace with Winston-Salem in the 2011 second half playoff chase.
Despite a tough travel day and late appearance in Lynchburg the K-Tribe wasted no time in getting to Lynchburg starter Caleb Brewer. Tyler Holt managed to draw a walk to lead off the first. The next batter, Jordan Casas had to work harder for his, but did draw a free pass one pitch after Holt stole second base. Adam Abraham worked the count full before reaching first on the third walk in a row. Jeremie Tice made Brewer pay for the walks by promptly blasting his 11th homer of the season beyond the left field wall to tie Kinston to a 4-0 early lead. Two more walks were issued in the inning, but no more runs came home for the Indians.
After leading off the third with a walk, Jesus Aguilar added to Kinston’s total by coming home on Delvi Cid’s two out single.
With two men on in the fourth, Tyler Cannon singled to right to bring home Adam Abraham. Delvi Cid and Tyler Holt both scored in the fifth, thanks to Abraham’s two rbi single.
Clayton Cook had more than enough support, allowing just one run on four hits over five full innings. The only blemish on Cook’s line came in the second inning. With two outs Barrett Kleinknecht managed a solo home run to put the Hillcats on the scoreboard. Cook struck out two while walking one and won his ninth game of the year, remaining Kinston’s winningest pitcher this season.
Toru Murata allowed one run in three innings of relief and Preston Guilmet finished the game with a perfect ninth.
Eight Kinston batters got in on the hit parade while six separate K-Tribers scored at least one run. Toru Murata’s scoreless inning streak came to a close in the eighth. Todd Cunningham scored as the first run Murata allowed since the 15th of May, a streak totaling 25 and one third innings, a 2011 Kinston best.
Kinston had the leadoff man reach base in six of the first seven innings. Five of the 12 men walked, came around to score for the K-Tribe.
The Indians and Hillcats play the finale of a shortened two game make-up series on Monday night at 5:00 pm. Francisco Jimenez is set to get the start for Kinston.
Captains rally stalls, lose 3-2
Raywilly Gomez’s RBI single in the sixth inning was just enough for South Bend to defeat Lake County 3-2 on Sunday afternoon. The Captains struggles continue, losing their seventh straight.
Lake County took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Alex Monsalve doubled down the right field line scoring LeVon Washington.
With the game tied at one, Ender Incairte connected on his first homerun of the season in the third inning lifting South Bend in front 2-1.
The Captains mounted a rally in the ninth inning, with runners on first and third Brian Heere grounded out to third to score Ronny Rodriguez to make it 3-2 and moved Giovanny Urshela to second with one out. Aaron Fields singled to leftfield putting runners on first and third but that was as close as Lake County would get as the rally stalled.
Jeff Shields (9-12) earned the win with six strong innings, allowing a run on three hits, walking one and striking out six. Kable Hogben worked the ninth allowing a run on three hits for the save. Jordan Cooper (2-8) pitched well but took the loss, allowing three runs on eight hits, walking one and striking out three in six innings.
Lake County and South Bend resume the four game series on Monday night at The Cove at 6:30PM. The Captains will start RHP Mike Goodnight (5-12) against RHP Bradin Hagens (8-6) for the Silver Hawks.
Scrappers race past Jammers for 9-2 win
The Scrappers scored nine unanswered runs to overcome an early deficit and defeat the Jamestown Jammers, 9-2.
The Jammers scored two runs in the top of the first off starter Elvis Araujo, who pitched four innings in his first start. The Scrappers scored three in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good.
Todd Hankins tied the game with a two-run single and Alex Lavisky scored the go-ahead run with a ground out. Jerrud Sabourin and John Barr had run-scoring hits in the fourth to make it 5-2.
In the seventh, Jake Lowery made it 6-2 with a single and later in the inning, Hankins scored a run with a sacrifice fly. Mahoning Valley tacked on two in the eighth, one on a double by Barr and another when Lowery was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Will Krasne picked up the win in relief. He improved to 3-4. Jamestown starter Thomas Peale picked up the loss. He fell to 3-2.
The Scrappers begin a two-game road series against the Williamsport Crosscutters on Monday night at 7:05 pm.
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