Game Recaps 8/5: McFarland shuts the door for Akron

T.J. McFarland (Photo: IPI)

Aeros power their way to shutout win

Karexon Sanchez and Raul Padron both hit home runs as the Akron Aeros shut out an opponent for the ninth time this season winning game one of a three-game series against the New Britain Rock Cats 6-0 Friday at Canal Park.

With the win, the Aeros (59-54) have won four straight games.

Left-handed pitcher T.J. McFarland recorded the win for Akron tossing six scoreless innings, scattering three hits and striking out eight while walking just one.

Right-handed pitcher Deinys Suarez suffered the loss for New Britain pitching seven innings, allowing six earned runs on nine hits, walking two and striking out one.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning. Chun Chen and Padron led off with back-to-back singles and then pulled off a double steal. Michel Hernandez doubled them home to give the Aeros a 2-0 lead. Hernandez advanced to third on a Kyle Bellows single and scored on a double play to make it 3-0. Sanchez followed with a solo home run to right field to increase the lead to 4-0.

Padron clubbed a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning as the Aeros went on to the win.

The Aeros and Rock Cats (55-57) will continue their series on Saturday. Akron has yet to announce a starter for Saturday’s game. The Rock Cats will give the ball to left-handed pitcher Andrew Albers, who is 2-1 with a 4.42 ERA in 2011. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

Clippers hold on for 7-5 win

The Clippers scored all seven of their runs in the first four innings and held on to beat the Syracuse Chiefs, 7-5.

Jerad Head drove home Tim Fedroff on an RBI groundout in the first. He would homer to center field in the third, his fifth home run in his last six games and his 20th on the season.

In the second, Nick Johnson and Jared Goedert left the yard in back-to-back fashion to lead off the inning.

The other three Clippers runs came in the fourth inning. Luke Carlin doubled home Goedert and then Cord Phelps plated Carlin and Beau Mills with a one out double.

In his return to his native Ohio, the Clippers were not kind to Craig Stammen (8-6). The Chiefs starter picked up the loss and went three innings, giving up seven runs on eight hits. Corey Kluber started for Columbus, going five innings, striking out six and giving up two earned runs.

He improves to 6-7 on the season.

Nick Hagadone picked up his third save of the year after going 1.1 innings of relief and striking out two.

After winning the first two games of the series, the Clippers look to take game three Saturday night. They will send Jeanmar Gomez (10-4, 2.40) to hill to matchup against Brady Meyers (4-4, 4.10).

Kinston rips Socks

The Kinston Indians won their third straight game, with a 10-2 win over Salem Friday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. With the win, Kinston (21-18, 59-49) stays two games back of first place Winston-Salem in the Carolina League Southern Division.

Kinston scored a run in the first inning without recording a hit. Salem starting pitcher Drake Britton walked Tyler Holt to start the bottom of the first, then threw wild to first base on a pick-off attempt. As the ball went up the right field line, Holt got all the way to third base on the Britton error. Holt would score later in the inning on a wild pitch. Kinston took a 1-0 advantage into the bottom of the third inning, when Delvi Cid started things with a double. Adam Abraham delivered an RBI single. Abraham went to second when Casey Frawley walked later in the inning. Both would score on a towering double by Tyler Cannon. Britton lasted just 2 1/3 innings, giving up four runs on three hits. Britton (1-11), walked four batters.

Kinston's advantage would be cut in half, when Salem put up single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Kinston starter Clayton Cook was solid in the win, giving up just two runs (one earned) in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out four and gave up just three hits.

Kinston put the game away with a five run sixth inning. The Indians batted around, helped by four walks and one hit batter. Frawley and Holt each had RBI singles in the messy frame. Delvi Cid had a great game for Kinston, reaching base five times in a 3-for-3 night. Adam Abraham went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Kinston’s bullpen was strong again. Jose Flores got his fourth hold of the season, giving up one hit in 1 1/3 innings. Trey Haley pitched two perfect innings, striking out two.

The K-Tribe continues the homestand with a fireworks Saturday Night at Historic Grainger Stadium. Game time 6:30 pm, Brett Brach will get the start for Kinston.

Ronny Rod Lead Captains to 4-1 Win

Ronny Rodriguez’s two-out two run double in the first inning put Lake County up for good as the Captains defeated Great Lakes 4-1. Rodriguez drove in three runs on the night.

Carlos Moncrief drove in Nick Bartolone in the second inning with a two out single to center giving Lake County a 3-0 lead.

The Loons scored their only run in the second inning; Jon Garcia scored Nick Akins with an RBI ground out short making it 3-1.

Ronny Rod drove in his third RBI with a double in the sixth inning to score Giovanny Urshela for a 4-1 lead, who also had a pair of hits.

JD Reichenbach (6-1) tossed five strong allowing a run on five hits, no walks and struck out four for the Captains. Ryan Christenson (7-8) went six innings allowing four runs on nine hits, no walks and two strike outs.

Lake County returns to Classic Park on Saturday night to begin a seven game home stand against Dayton at 7:00PM. The Captains will start LHP Kirk Wetmore (3-0) against RHP Josh Smith (9-6) for the Dragons.

Defense falters in Scrappers loss to Doubledays

The Scrappers committed seven errors leading to eight unearned runs in a 10-1 loss to the Auburn Doubledays. Auburn scored three runs in the first, three in the second and two in the third en route to the win. Khayyan Norfork had three hits for the Doubledays, one of three Auburn batters with a multi-hit night. Connor Rowe scored three times in the game.

The Scrappers only run came in the fifth on an error by Auburn third baseman Carlos Alvarez. The Doubledays committed three errors in the game. The Scrappers set a new season high for errors in a single game, surpassing the mark of six on June 20th against Batavia. The team tied their season-high for errors in an inning with three in the second. Tony Wolters committed three errors, becoming the first Scrappers player to do that this season.

Starter Danny Jimenez picked up the loss, allowing eight runs – two earned – in three innings. He fell to 1-3. Auburn starter Manny Rodriguez picked up the win to improve to 2-2. The Scrappers and Doubledays conclude their two-game series on Saturday night at 7:05 pm before the teams head to Auburn to open up a two-game series.

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: