Game Recaps 9/4: K-Tribe clinches playoff spot

K-Tribe celebrates clincher
(photo: Tony Lastoria)

Kinston Secures Playoff Spot!

The K-Tribe secured a berth in the 2011 postseason with a doubleheader sweep of the Potomac Nationals Sunday afternoon. Kinston won game one 5-3 before taking game two 1-2.

The Indians continued a trend of early dominance in the series by jumping on top in the first inning of game number one. Tyler Holt leadoff with a double to right-center and was advanced to third on Bo Greenwell's bunt. Jeremie Tice walked to load the bases and Jesus Aguilar drew a bases full pass to bring Holt in from third. The first inning came to close with the bases loaded and the Indians on top 1-0.

Kinston kept the gas pedal floored in the second. With two outs, again it was Holt reaching on a single and advancing to third on a throwing error on Potomac third baseman Justin Bloxom. Holt came home when Greenwell looped a single to left. Adam Abraham provided the exclamation point by roping his 17th home run of the year to left.

Abraham has collected three home runs in Kinston's last four games.

Delvi Cid added insurance in the sixth by racing home from first on an errant pickoff throw from pitcher Neil Holland.

Toru Murata picked up his third win of the season in a crucial spot start. Murata allowed three earned runs over six innings while striking out five. Preston Guilmet worked a perfect seventh complete with two strikeouts to pick up his league-leading 35th save of the season.

A game two pitchers duel saw Mitchell Clegg and K-Tribe newcomer Michael Goodnight carry a scoreless tie to the fifth.

Kinston again drew first blood, this time on a Potomac error. With Casey Frawley on second base, Jordan Casas dropped a bunt down the third base line. Bloxom charged, barehanded and threw wild to first to allow Frawley to stroll home.

In the sixth Frawley again was in the middle of the action. With Greenwell aboard and two outs, Frawley laced a single to give Kinston what would be a crucial insurance run.

Eury Perez scored in Potomac's half of the inning to cut Kinston's lead to one.

With a 2-1 lead, Trey Haley allowed a seventh inning leadoff double to Brian Peacock. Peacock moved to third on a sacrifice bunt which forced the Indians offense to draw in. With a postseason on the line and a man at third, Haley clinched the second half title by striking out Cutter Dykstra, walking Eury Perez and punching out Francisco Soriano swinging to clinch the second half title.

Just one day after joining the K-Tribe, Michael Goodnight earned the win in his Carolina League debut. Goodnight struck out six over five and one third innings. Kinston's newcomer allowed one run on three hits. Haley picked up his first save of the season.

Through three games the Indians have not trailed against the Nationals. Kinston also guaranteed a series victory.

With the postseason clinching win, at least one more game will be played at Historic Grainger Stadium.

Kinston will be opposed by the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in the 2011 Southern Division Championship Series. Game three is Friday night in Kinston followed by games four and five if necessary. By winning the second half, Kinston gathered home field advantage and will get the final three games at home if the matchup needs five games. In the Northern Division Championship Series, Frederick will face Potomac.

Toledo drops the Clippers 6-2

A four-run 6th inning by Toledo doomed Columbus as the Clippers dropped a 6-2 decision to the Mud Hens.

It would be the Clippers grabbing an early lead. In the top half of the first, Time Fedroff got things going with a one out double to left field. After a Jared Goedert flyout that allowed Fedroff to advance to third, Travis Buck came to bat with a two-out RBI opportunity. Buck put the ball in play and got some help from sloppy Mud Hens defense as Mud Hens second Justin Henry was charged with an error. It allowed Buck to reach safely and Fedroff to score, giving Columbus a quick 1-0 lead.

The lead would not last long for the Clippers as the Mud Hens came to bat in the bottom of the first. Justin Henry singled to begin the inning. Toledo then executed a hit and run to perfection as Henry went to third on a Danny Worth single. Clippers starting pitcher Joe Martinez found himself in trouble at that point. Although Henry would come into score to tie the game at 1-1, Martinez was helped by his defense on a much-needed groundball double play. Martinez got Scott Thorman out on a long flyout to centerfield and the Toledo side was retired.

The Clippers would come through on another two out RBI scenario. Thomas Neal reached on an infield single with one out. After a Paul Phillips lineout to right field, Argenis Reyes singled on a sharp line drive to center field, advancing Neal to third. Luis Valbuena, who has had a tremendous season offensively for Columbus, improved on his offensive numbers with an RBI single that gave the Clippers lead back 2-1.

The Mud Hens would regain the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Scott Thorman led off the frame with a single. After Thorman sacrificed over to second on a Ben Guez bunt, Clete Thomas bashed his 12th home run of the season over the right field wall, giving Toledo its first lead of the night 3-2. The Mud Hens were just getting started offensively. The Thomas longball was followed by a Jeff Salazar single to left field. Salazar stole second, and Martinez walked Argenis Diaz. There was still only one out in the inning when Max St. Pierre delivered with an RBI single, extending the Mud Hens advantage to 4-2. The next batter, Justin Henry, continued the Toledo frame with an RBI double off of the right field wall, making it 5-2 Mud Hens. Martinez got Danny Worth and Timo Perez to groundout to third to end the inning, but the damage was done as Toledo emerged with a three run lead.

The Mud Hens would add on to their lead in the bottom of the seventh. Jeff Salazar singled to right field, driving in Clete Thomas and augmenting Toledo's lead to 6-2.

The Clippers offense was held in check in the glass city. First it was Taiwanese righthander Fu-Te Ni, who handcuffed the Clippers to two runs on six hits while walking three and striking out two in 7 1/3 innings of work. From there, Brendan Wise came out of the bullpen and shut down the Columbus bats in the final 1 2/3 innings as Toledo triumphed over the Clippers 6-2. Fu-Te Ni (6-3) got the win. Martinez (8-9) was hit with the loss.

The Clippers will be back at it tomorrow against Toledo and will wrap up the 2011 regular season in the process. Corey Kluber (7-10) will get the nod on the hill for the Clippers. He will oppose Mud Hens lefty Adam Wilk (8-6). First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.

Aeros Rally Late, Down Senators 6-4

The Akron Aeros scored two runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to erase a two-run deficit as they won game three of a four-game series against the Harrisburg Senators 6-4 Sunday at Metro Bank Park.

Right-handed pitcher Bryce Stowell recorded the win for Akron pitching an inning and a third of scoreless relief, giving up one hit, walking one and striking out three. Right-hander Cory Burns got the last four outs to earn the save. Righty Brett Brach got the start for the Aeros tossing six innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits, walking two and striking out five.

Left-handed pitcher Cory VanAllen suffered the loss for Harrisburg lasting two innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits and striking out three while walking none.

The Aeros jumped in front 2-0 in the top of the first inning on a Michel Hernandez two-RBI double.

The Senators answered in the bottom of the frame with back-to-back home runs. Chris Rahl hit a two-run home run to tie the game 2-2 and Tyler Moore followed with a solo shot to give Harrisburg a 3-2 lead.

The Senators took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the third inning on a Tim Pahuta RBI single.

It remained 4-2 until the top of the seventh inning when the Aeros rallied. Cristo Arnal led off with a walk and, following a fly out, advanced to third on a Juan Apodaca double. With two outs, Karexon Sanchez singled home Arnal and Apodaca to tie the game 4-4.

An inning later, the Aeros took the lead. With two outs, John Drennen and Kyle Bellows rapped back-to-back singles. Cristo Arnal followed with a two-RBI single to give the Aeros a 6-4 lead as they went on to the win.

The Aeros will go for the sweep of the Senators as they conclude the 2011 season on Monday. Akron will give the ball to right-handed pitcher Steve Wright, who is 2-3 with a 5.62 ERA in 2011. He will face left-handed pitcher Oliver Perez, who is 3-5 with a 3.27 ERA this season. First pitch is at 2 p.m. The game can be heard on Fox Sports 1350 AM or online at sportsradio1350.com. Coverage begins at 1:45 p.m.

Captains Walk Off in Extras 3-2

Giovanny Urshela's RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the tenth inning scored LeVon Washington lifting Lake County past Bowling Green 3-2 in walk off fashion. It was just the third walk off win for the Captains this season.

In the fifth, Hot Rod Derek Dietrich gave his team a 2-0 lead with a two-run double to leftfield scoring Kevin Kiermaier and Robby Price.

Giovanny Urshela crushed a ball that hooked the leftfield foul pole for his ninth homerun of the season putting Lake County on the board at 2-1.

Chase Burnette with two outs and Alex Monsalve on second base ripped a double off the wall in right field to tie the game up at two.

Drew Rucinski (1-0) gets the win in his second appearance pitching the tenth inning and striking out all three hitters. Austin Hubbard (5-3) took the loss after blowing the save working 1.1 allowing two runs. Joe Colon (0-0) in Captains debut fired six strong innings allowing two runs on five hits, walking two and striking out four in a no-decision.

Lake County finishes the 2011 season Monday afternoon at Classic Park against Bowling Green with first pitch set for 1:00PM. The Captains will start RHP Danny Salazar (0-2) against LHP Braulio Lara (5-11) for the Hot Rods. Catch all the action AM 1330 WELW or online at captainsbaseball.com.

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). Use discount code 2Z6F362B to receive 40% off the book through the site store!

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Game Recaps 7/30: Head leads Columbus to Victory

Clippers homer past Tides 5-4

With the offense struggling, the Clippers jumped up early en route to a 5-4 victory over the Norfolk Tides.

A two-run home run by Jerad Head in the first put the Clippers up 2-0. Trailing 3-2 heading into the sixth, Jared Goedert contributed a two-run blast of his own.

One inning later, Head came through again with an RBI double to put the Clippers up 5-3. On the game, Head went 2-4 with three RBIs and one run scored.

Josh Judy came on in the ninth and allowed one run but still hung on for the save - his 15th of the season.

Corey Kluber (5-7) started the game for Columbus and allowed two earned runs in six innings and struck out eight. Mitch Talbot pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Kluber.

Aeros Shutout by Seawolves, 5-0

Right-handed pitcher Adam Miller allowed two runs in the top of the fifth inning that broke a scoreless tie as the Akron Aeros were shutout by the Erie SeaWolves 5-0 in game three of a four-game series Saturday at Canal Park.

Miller suffered the loss for the Aeros pitching two innings of relief, allowing five earned runs on eight hits, walking one and striking out one.

Left-handed pitcher Drew Smyly recorded the win for Erie tossing seven scoreless innings, scattering four hits and striking out eight while walking two.

The game was scoreless until the top of the fifth inning. Deik Scram and Bryan Holaday opened the frame with back-to-back singles. Jamie Johnson followed with an RBI single scoring Scram and giving the SeaWolves a 1-0 lead. Following a double play, Ben Guez singled home Holaday to make it 2-0.

Erie (50-57) grabbed three more runs in the top of the fifth inning and went on to the win.

The Aeros (55-53) will look to split this four-game series with the SeaWolves on Sunday. Akron will give the ball to left-handed pitcher T.J. McFarland, who is 7-5 with a 3.97 ERA in 2011. The SeaWolves have yet to name a starter for tomorrow's contest. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. The game can be heard on Fox Sports 1350 AM or online at sportsradio1350.com. Coverage begins at 12:50 p.m.

Sunday is Family FUNday featuring fun for the entire family throughout the game. The first 2,000 youngsters 12 and under will receive an Orbit Bobblehead, courtesy of FirstMerit.

The Clippers continue their four game set with Norfolk Sunday at 5:05. Justin Germano (1-2, 3.65) - in his first start since his perfect game Tuesday - will go for the Clippers and will be opposed by Brian Matusz (0-3, 4.83).

Blue Rocks Get The Better of Kinston 4-1

The K-Tribe again fell victim to great starting pitching in a 4-1 Saturday night loss in Wilmington. The loss sent Kinston's current skid to six games.

The Indians appeared to have put recent offensive woes in the rearview mirror with a first inning run. Jordan Casas managed a one out triple for his first Carolina League hit and came home one batter later thanks to a throwing error on Wilmington's starting pitcher Michael Mariot.

The Blue Rocks were held off the scoreboard until the sixth inning. Leadoff man Whit Merrifield drew a one out walk, was pushed to second on a sacrifice bunt and took advantage of a fielding miscue to score. A third strike pitch got away from catcher Adam Abraham, who threw to first to complete the strikeout. First baseman Jesus Aguilar threw wild across the diamond, trying to double off Merrifield advancing from second base. The throwing error, charged to Aguilar, allowed Merrifield to score the tying run.

Back-to-Back leadoff singles bolstered the Blue Rocks in the seventh as both base runners scored to put Wilmington on top for good. Wilmington did the damage in the eighth with two outs to space its lead. Reliever Kyle Landis allowed a two out single to John Whittleman. Whittleman moved to second when batter Ryan Stovall was hit with a pitch and scored on a bloop single off the bat of Tim Ferguson.

Clayton Cook received the tough luck loss after departing with the score tied in the seventh. Cook threw 6 1/3 innings, yielding only three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. The first run given up was not earned. Cook departed with the bases loaded in the seventh. Gerard Hall singled in both runs as the first batter Kyle Landis faced. Landis worked 1 2/3 innings, giving up one run on three hits.

The K-Tribe faces Wilmington for the final time in the regular season Sunday afternoon at 1:35 pm. Brett Brach will look to salvage one game out of the current road trip for Kinston. The Indians return home to Historic Grainger Stadium Tuesday, August 2nd.

Late Rally Lifts Scrappers Over IronBirds

The Scrappers scored four runs off the IronBirds bullpen and came from behind to defeat Aberdeen, 4-1, in the series opener at Ripken Stadium.

Mahoning Valley trailed 1-0 heading into the eighth inning after Aberdeen starter Jake Cowan and one reliever pitched seven innings of shutout ball. Cowan allowed just two hits and two walks and struck out eight batters over six innings.

Will Roberts started for the Scrappers and matched Cowan through five innings, striking out five and allowing three hits and one walk.

In the eighth, the Scrappers scored four times. The first run came home on a throwing error by IronBirds reliever Devin Jones, who attempted to throw out the lead runner at third on a bunt by Tony Wolters but threw the ball away down the left field line. Jake Lowery, Jerrud Sabourin and John Barr had run-scoring singles.

Drew Rucinski picked up the win with three innings of one-run ball. He improved to 1-0. Jones picked up the loss to fall to 0-1. Enosil Tejeda pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his sixth save of the season.

The Scrappers and IronBirds will continue their three-game series on Sunday afternoon at 2:35 pm.

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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Game Recaps 7/23: Scrappers ride Jordan Smith's bat to 7-4 victory

Jordan Smith (photo: St. Cloud State)

Scrappers Erase Early Deficit in Win Over Renegades

Jordan Smith and Todd Hankins hit two-run doubles in the seventh inning and the Scrappers scored seven straight runs in a 7-4 victory over the Hudson Valley Renegades.

Mahoning Valley trailed 2-0 after three innings as the Renegades scored one in the first and one in the third off starter Joseph Colon. But Colon settled in and the Scrappers bats backed him, scoring the next seven runs.

Alex Lavisky doubled in a run in the fourth to make it 2-1, and Jake Lowery and Smith drove in runs in the fifth to give the Scrappers a 3-2 lead. Mahoning Valley scored four in the seventh to increase the lead.

The Renegades scored one in the seventh and one in the eighth off the Scrappers bullpen, but Enosil Tejeda pitched a scoreless ninth to end the game.

Colon picked up the win to improve to 3-2. Renegades starter Andrew Bellatti picked up the loss to fall to 0-4. Tejeda earned his fourth save of the year.

The Scrappers and Renegades will continue their three-game series on Sunday night at 5:05 pm.


Lehigh Valley beats Clippers in extra innings

Saturday's game went to extras and the Clippers could not pull out the win as they dropped a 4-3 decision in 10 innings to the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.

Zach McAlister got the start for Columbus on the hill. He did not get off to the swiftest of starts. In the bottom half of the first, Rich Thompson, the first batter that faced McAlister, took Zach Mac deep to right field to give Lehigh Valley an early 1-0 lead. Pete Orr then walked. After Orr stole second, Delwyn Young doubled to right field, knocking in Orr and increasing the IronPigs advantage to 2-0. All of this happened with nobody out, but McAlister was able to get out of the inning without allowing any more IronPigs to cross home plate by retiring three of the next four batters he faced.

The bottom of the fourth was an interesting inning for McAlister. Erik Kratz doubled to begin the inning. That was followed by a Cody Overbeck single that put runners on 1st and third with nobody out. After a Brian Bocock pop out, Rich Thompson lined a hit to right field. Chad Huffman was not able to make the catch but was able to get a force out at second for the second out of the inning. It allowed Kratz to score and make it 3-0 in favor of the IronPigs. Again, McAlister was able to get out of trouble as he got Pete Orr to fly out to end the inning.

In the top of the fifth, the Clippers would finally get on the board via a Chad Huffman solo shot to right center field. Huffman's 11th long ball of the season drew Columbus closer 3-1.

The Clippers continued to rally in the sixth. Jason Donald led the inning off with a walk. Cord Phelps followed that up with a single. After a Shelley Duncan fly out, Luis Valbuena walked to load the bases with one out. After a pitching change was made by Lehigh Valley, Jerad Head rudely greeted Aaron Heilman and helped his team tie the score with a clutch two-run single to tie it at 3-3. Nick Johnson struck out swinging for the second out of the frame, but Chad Huffman walked to load the bases for the second straight time in the inning. Michel Hernandez was presented with the opportunity of giving his team the lead, but was called out on strikes to end the inning.

Nobody scored after that in regulation innings so the contest went to extra innings. The tenth inning proved to be a painful inning for Clippers reliever Carlton Smith. Delwyn Young singled to right field to start the inning. Smith then hit Brandon Moss, allowing Young to get into scoring position. Kevin Frandsen then bunted to get the runners over. Smith came off the mound and tried to field the ball, but bobbled it twice before he could get off a throw. It allowed Frandsen to reach first and load the bases with nobody out. Josh Barfield, a former Clipper, then came to bat and hit a grounder to Cord Phelps. Phelps made the throw to home to cut down Young for the first out of the inning. Erick Kratz than came to the plate. He hit a grounder to the shortstop Luis Valbuena that could have been a groundball double play, but Valbuena bobbled the ball and threw it into right field as the IronPigs walked off with the victory, 4-3 in 10 innings.

The Clippers will finish up their three game set with the IronPigs tomorrow on a late Sunday afternoon affair. Joe Martinez (6-3) will start on the bump for Columbus and will face Iron Pigs starter Brian Bass (4-8). First pitch is scheduled for 5:35 pm.

Aeros score early, often in win over Seawolves

The Akron Aeros scored all seven of their runs in the second, third and fourth innings and won game three of a four-game series against the Erie SeaWolves 7-1 Saturday at Jerry Uht Park.

Right-handed pitcher Austin Adams was the beneficiary of the Aeros early offense as he recorded the win tossing six innings, allowing one earned run on five hits, walking four and striking out two.

Left-handed pitcher Casey Crosby suffered the loss for Erie lasting 3.2 innings, giving up seven runs (four earned) on nine hits, walking three and striking out five.

The SeaWolves (46-54) got on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Gustavo Nunez led off with a single and stole second. Justin Henry doubled him home to give Erie a 1-0 lead.

The lead was short lived as the Aeros (54-47) answered in the top of the second inning. Ben Copeland led off the frame with a ground-rule double. He scored on an error that allowed Kyle Bellows to get to second. Following a strikeout, John Drennen was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Karexon Sanchez moved the runners to second and third with a ground out. Jordan Henry gave the Aeros a 2-1 lead with an RBI single that scored Bellows and moved Drennen to third. Akron took a 3-1 lead when Matt McBride walked with the bases loaded allowing Drennen to cross the plate.

Chun Chen hit a solo home run to center field in the top of the third inning to give the Aeros a 4-1 lead.

Akron scored three more runs in the top of the fourth inning and went on to the win.

The Aeros will go for the sweep of the SeaWolves on Sunday. Akron will give the ball to left-handed pitcher Matt Packer, who is 4-9 with a 5.04 ERA in 2011. He will face fellow southpaw Jay Voss, who is 5-5 with a 4.21 ERA this season. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. The game can be heard on Fox Sports 1350 AM or online at sportsradio1350.com. Coverage begins at 12:50 p.m.

Miraculous Comeback Gives Kinston Series Win

Kinston scored six, two-out runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, to come back and beat Wilmington 11-8 Saturday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. The first place K-Tribe (17-10, 55-41) secures a series win, taking the first two games of the series from the Blue Rocks. Kinston now leads the second half race in the Southern Division by three games over Myrtle Beach.

Kinston trailed 8-5 going into the bottom of the eighth inning. Things didn't look any brighter when the Indians first two batters were retired. Abner Abreu started the two-out rally with a single. Chase Burnette followed with a double. Tyler Cannon then cut the Blue Rock lead to one, driving both Burnette and Abreu home with a single. Justin Toole kept the rally going with a single, moving Cannon to third base. Tyler Holt then dropped down a squeeze bunt, scoring Cannon and tying the game at eight. A wild pitch by Blue Rocks pitcher Bryan Paukovits advanced Toole to third base and Holt to second. Casey Frawley walked to load the bases. Kinston took the lead when a sharply hit ground ball by Anthony Gallas was booted by Wilmington shortstop Kurt Mertins. The error gave Kinston a 10-8 lead. The Indians got an insurance run when Jeremie Tice singled to plate Frawley. It was the second straight night Kinston scored six runs in a single inning against Wilmington.

Toru Murata pitched a perfect ninth inning to get his second save of the season for Kinston. Trey Haley (1-0) got the win in relief. Bryan Paukovits (1-2) was stuck with the loss.

Blue Rock batters came out hot for a second straight night, as Wilmington's first four batters reached on hits. Kinston starting pitcher T.J. House used a double play to limit the damage, leaving the top of the first down 2-0. Kinston would answer in similar fashion in the bottom of the first inning, when the first three K-Tribe batters reached on hits. Holt started with a single and advanced to third on a single from Casey Frawley. Gallas would drive Holt home with a double off of the left-field wall. Frawley would then score on a ground-out from Tice. The Indians took a 3-2 lead when Abner Abreu drove in Gallas with an RBI single. House went four innings, giving up three earned runs on seven hits. Francisco Jimenez gave up three runs on five hits over two innings for Kinston.

Wilmington got the lead back with runs in the second and third innings. Kinston would tie the score at four when Gallas drove home Frawley with a second RBI double. Wilmington would take a 7-4 lead with three runs in the middle innings, before Abreu broke the scoring draught with his 12th home run of the season. Abreu went 3-for-4 with two RBI and now has seven hits in the first two games of the series. Holt, Frawley, Galas and Burnette each had two hits for Kinston.

Kinston ends the series and homestand with a Christmas in July Celebration Sunday afternoon at Historic Grainger Stadium. Santa will be on hand for the 1:30 pm start. Knuckleballer Steve Wright will be on the hill for Kinston.

Captains Fall to Kernels in Rain Shortened Game 6-0

Brian Diemer allowed only one hit and the Cedar Rapids Kernels scored all of their runs in one inning on their way to a 6-0 rain shortened shutout of the Lake County Captains on Saturday. The game was called in the middle of the sixth inning due to rain.

The Kernels took the lead in the top of the fourth inning when with one out and a runner on first base seven straight batters reached base. Four of the batters drove in a single run and Jeremy Cruz capped off the inning with a two RBI single and Cedar Rapids led 6-0. Jordan Casas collected the Captains only hit.

Captains starter Mike Goodnight (5-9) took the loss working 3.1 innings allowing six runs on six hits, walking two and striking out four.

Kernels Starter Brian Diemer (8-7) got the win working five scoreless innings allowing one hit while striking out three.

The Captains and Kernels play game two of the three game series on Sunday at 1:00 PM with the Captains sending RHP Felix Strerling who will make his Captains debut and he will oppose LHP Max Russell (5-9, 3.54). The game can be heard on ESPN 970 WFUN and on the internet at captainsbaseball.com.

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Game Recaps 7/22: Abreu 2-run blast carries Kinston

Abner Abreu (photo: Tony Lastoria)

Wild one tilts in favor of K-Tribe, 11-10!

Abner Abreu’s two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning was the decider in a 11-10 Kinston win over Wilmington, Friday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. Each team had 15 hits in the game. The run riot was an unconventional way for the first place K-Tribe (16-10, 54-41) to grab their 25th one-run win of the season.

Reigning Carolina League Player of the Week Marty Popham was greeted rudely in the first inning when the first seven Blue Rock batter's reached safely. Six hits and one walk from the seven plated four runs. Run scoring hits were put into play from Nick Van Stratten, John Whittleman and Kurt Mertins. Wilmington would rack up two more runs in the third inning, putting up six earned on Popham. Popham went 2 2/3 innings, giving up nine hits. Kinston's only offense in the first third of the game was a solo home run from Jeremie Tice. The second inning smash was his sixth of the season.

Kinston hit the comeback trail in the bottom of the fourth inning, when Anthony Gallas led off with a double. Tice followed with a walk. After the first out of the inning, Abner Abreu and Tyler Cannon hit back-to-back, run scoring doubles. The hits cut the Blue Rock’s lead to three.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Blue Rock starting pitcher Tyler Sample ran out of gas and no one pulled over to help him. Kinston took the lead, scoring six runs or six hits, sending ten men to the plate. The bottom of the frame started with a Tice double. Adam Abraham was hit by a pitch. Abreu hit a triple to drive in both runs, cutting Wilmington's lead to one. Tyler Cannon tied the game with a run scoring single. Doug Pickens followed with a base hit. Justin Toole gave Kinston a 7-6 lead with a run scoring single. After a sacrifice bunt by Tyler Holt advanced runners to second and third base, Kinston would score two more runs thanks to RBIs from Casey Frawley and Gallas.

Trailing 9-6, Wilmington came right back with four runs of their own in the very next inning. The Blue Rocks scored four runs on four hits at the expense of K-Tribe reliever Chris Jones. Julio Rodriguez hit a two-out single to tie the score at nine. Davy Batista then smoked a double to give Wilmington the improbable 10-9 lead.

Kinston responded in the bottom of the seventh with an Abraham double. Abreu then capped off his career night with a two-run home run. The shot to left field was his 11th home run of the season. Abreu went 4-for-4, adding a triple and two singles. The five RBIs were a career high. Frawley, Tice, Cannon and Toole also had two hits for Kinston as everyone in the K-Tribe lineup reached base safely.

Kyle Landis (4-0) picked up the well deserved win, getting Kinston out of trouble in the seventh inning, then putting the Blue Rocks down in order in the eighth inning. He did not give up a hit in 1 1/3 innings of work. His ERA dropped to 1.03. Preston Guilmet picked up his 25th save in 26 attempts with a 1-2-3 ninth inning. He struck out one.

The K-Tribe will take on Wilmington Saturday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. Game time 6:30 pm, T.J. House on the mound for Kinston.

Aeros edge Seawolves, 6-5

The Akron Aeros won game two of a four-game series against the Erie SeaWolves 6-5 Friday at Jerry Uht Park

Right-handed pitcher Joe Gardner recorded the win for the Aeros lasting 5.2 innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits, walking two and striking out three. Right-hander Cory Burns pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth inning to log his league-best 27th save of 2011.

Righty Brooks Brown was saddled with the loss for Erie pitching six innings, giving up five earned runs on 11 hits and striking out four while walking none.

The SeaWolves (46-53) got on the board in the bottom of the second inning when Francisco Martinez scored on a Michael Bertram sacrifice fly to make it 1-0.

The Aeros (53-47) tied the game 1-1 in the top of the third inning on a Juan Diaz RBI single.

In the top of the fourth inning, Akron took the lead. With one out, Kyle Bellows and Raul Padron rapped back-to-back singles. John Drennen followed with an RBI double scoring Bellows and giving the Aeros a 2-1 lead. With two outs, Jordan Henry singled home Padron and Drennen to increase the lead to 4-1.

Bertram hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut the Akron lead to 4-2.

The Aeros got the run back in the top of the sixth inning when Padron scored on a fielder’s choice.

Erie added two runs in the bottom of the frame on a Rawley Bishop two-run home run to make it 5-4.

Akron tacked on a run in the top of the seventh inning and, despite allowing a run in the bottom of the frame, went on to the win.

The Aeros will look to make it three straight over the SeaWolves on Saturday. Akron will give the ball to right-handed pitcher Austin Adams, who is 5-8 with a 4.12 ERA in 2011. He will face left-handed pitcher Casey Crosby, who is 6-3 with a 3.83 ERA this season. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on Fox Sports 1350 AM or online at sportsradio1350.com. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m.

River Bandits Win Finale 3-1 Over Captains

Cody Stanley finished the night 4-for-4, but his solo homerun in the first inning gave Quad Cities a lead they would not relinquish en route to a 3-1 win at Classic Park on Friday night.

The River Bandits added a few insurance runs in the eighth inning that got started on a Stanley single. A throwing error by JD Reichenbach put runners on first and second. Michael Swinson drove in a pair with a single up the middle giving Quad Cities a 3-0 lead.

Nick Bartolone reached third on an error in the top of the ninth inning, scoring on a wild pitch to make it 3-1.

Rosenthal (4-7) picked up the win tossing 8.1 innings, allowing just one unearned run on one hit, one walks and eight strike outs. Dean Kiekhefer picked up the save getting the final two outs for hit second save of the season. Mike Rayl (5-5) took the loss allowing a run on six hits over six innings, walking one and striking out four strike outs.

Lake County welcomes in Cedar Rapids for a three game set at Classic Park on Saturday night at 7:00PM. The Captains will start RHP Mike Goodnight (5-8) against RHP Brian Diemer (7-7) for the Kernals. Catch all the action on AM1330 WELW or online on captainsbaseball.com.



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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Game Recaps 7/20: Monsalve walk-off gives Lake County a 16-15 win

Alex Monsalve (photo: Lianna Holub)

Captains Prevail 16-15, In Heat of the Moment

In the bottom of the ninth with the temperature pushing 97 degrees and climbing, Alex Monsalve lifted Lake County past Quad Cities, with an RBI single to leftfield, scoring Carlos Moncrief for a bone chilling 16-15 walk-off win at Classic Park on Thursday afternoon.

The game between the Captains and the River Bandits took four hours and six minutes, seeing eight lead changes and one tie setting with an array of records. Lake County set season records for runs scored (16), total hits (19) and walks drawn (10).

The Bandits starting the rollercoaster ride scoring a run in the first inning on an RBI double by Victor Sanchez, making it 1-0.

Jesus Aguilar in the same inning put the Captains ahead with his 19th homerun of the season, a three run shot to right field.

In the second inning, Luis Mateo drove in his first two runs of the season for Quad Cities, with a single tying the game at three. Moments later, Oscar Taveras began his career afternoon with a two run double to right, lifting the Bandits ahead 5-3.

Carlos Moncrief lead off the second inning with his 11th homerun of the season to pull the Captains within a run. Giovanny Urshela got in the scorebook with an RBI double down the left field line to score Monsalve and tie the game at five.

Moncrief came through again in the third inning, this time with an RBI single giving Lake County a 6-5 lead. Monsalve drove in his first run of the game scoring Moncrief with a single to left and a 7-5 cushion.

Quad Cities put up another four spot in the fourth inning, sending nine hitters to the plate. The first scored on Kirk Wetmore wild pitch with bases loaded. Right after, Taveras drove in two more runs with a single right field giving the Bandits a 8-7 edge. In the inning, Taveras scored the fourth run for a 9-7 lead on a passed ball.

The Captains came right back in the bottom of the fourth inning with a true moment of magic from Moncrief. Carlos sent a ball to deep right centerfield, off the scoreboard, a two-run shot giving the Captains a 10-9 lead. His 12th homerun, came minutes after Aaron Fields put the team with in a run, with an RBI double. Aguilar capped off a four run fourth for Lake County, with his fourth RBI on the day, and a 11-9 lead.

Unfortantally, the River Bandits came right back in the fifth, batting around for the second straight inning. Taveras started it all with his fifth RBI of the game, with single to left. Sanchez drove in his second run with a base hit to center. Colin Walsh walked with the bases loaded putting Quad Cities in front, 12-11. Michael Swinson delivered a two run single and the Bandits had the largest lead of the afternoon, at 14-11.

In the bottom of the fifth inning and with two outs, the Captains loaded the bases. Jordan Casas drove in his first run, with a walk. Lake County drew with a run closer when Nick Bartolone scored a wild pitch, and it was 14-13 Bandits after six.

Quad Cities scored an unearned run in the eighth inning to go up 15-13. Swinson scored from second on a fielding on Captains right fielder Moncrief.

In the ninth, Brian Heere walked for the second time to lead things off. With one out, Nick Bartolone came through with his first hit, putting runners on first and second. Carlos Moncrief walked to load the bases, reaching safely for the sixth time. With Casas at the plate, a wild pitch scord Heere to make it 15-14. Moments later, Casas hit a sacrifice fly to center scoring Bartolone to tie the game at fifteen.

When the dust settled, Lake County's Kyle Petter (2-2) picked up the win pitching just one inning, allowing a hit and striking out two. Aden Lucas (1-3) took the loss for Quad Cities allowing three runs on two hits, walking two and striking out one.

Lake County and Quad Cities finish up their three game series on Friday night at Classic Park at 7:00PM. The Captains will start LHP Mike Rayl (5-4) against RHP Trevor Rosenthal (3-7) for the River Bandits. Catch all the action AM1330 WELW or online at captainsbaseball.com.

Clippers rally falls short in 6-5 loss

The Clippers furious rally fell short in a 6-5 loss to the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees.

Clippers starter Justin Germano allowed three runs in the 2nd inning and Columbus never recovered. Gustavo Molina drove home Jordan Parraz and Kevin Russo provided a two-run double to cap the inning.

Columbus rallied with a single tally in the 3rd as Matt McBride doubled and later scored on a Jason Donald base hit. The Yankees added single runs in the 6th and 7th to build a 5-1 lead, but Columbus would mount a charge.

Chad Huffman singled, Michel Hernandez doubled, and Jason Kipnis picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly. Donald and Cord Phelps would each drive in a run to cap a three-run frame. Scranton Wilkes-Barre would get an insurance run off reliever Chen Lee in the 8th inning, a run that would prove to be the game-winner.

Nick Johnson blasted a pinch-hit homer off Yankees righty Buddy Carlyle in the bottom of the 9th to pull Columbus within one run again, but that's all they could muster.

The Clippers now set sail on a two city, eight game road trip beginning at Lehigh Valley on Friday night. Jeanmar Gomez (9-3, 2.40) will face IronPigs right-hander Tyson Brummett at 7:05pm from Coca -Cola Park.

Aeros bats back McFarland in win over Seawolves

The Akron Aeros gave lefty starter T.J. McFarland six early runs of support as they went on to win game one of a four-game series against the Erie SeaWolves 8-4 Thursday at Jerry Uht Park.

McFarland recorded the victory for the Aeros tossing a season-high eight innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and striking out seven while walking none. McFarland joined left-hander Matt Packer and right-hander Joe Gardner as the only Aeros starters to throw eight innings in a single outing this season.

Right-handed pitcher L.J. Gagnier suffered the loss for Erie lasting six innings, giving up six earned runs on nine hits and striking out six while walking one.

The Aeros (52-47) got on the board in the top of the first inning. With one out, Juan Diaz singled and advanced to second on a balk. Beau Mills walked to put runners on first and second. Chun Chen doubled Diaz and Mills home to give Akron a 2-0 lead. Ben Copeland followed with a two-run home run to increase the lead to 4-0.

Akron added to their lead in the top of the third inning. With one out, Chen singled and advanced to third on a Copeland double. Kyle Bellows singled Chen home to give the Aeros a 5-0 lead. John Drennen followed with an RBI single scoring Copeland and making it 6-0.

It remained 6-0 until the bottom of the seventh inning when Rawley Bishop singled home Gustavo Nunez to get the SeaWolves on the board.

Erie (46-52) added a run in the bottom of the eighth inning to make it 6-2.

Akron scored two runs of their own in the top of the ninth inning and, despite giving up two runs in the bottom of the frame, went on to the win.

The Aeros and SeaWolves will continue their four-game series Friday. Akron will give the ball to right-handed pitcher Joe Gardner, who is 6-7 with a 4.69 ERA in 2011. He will face fellow right-hander Brooks Brown, who is 2-4 with a 6.26 ERA this season. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on Fox Sports 1350 AM or online at sportsradio1350.com. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m.

Offense Explodes in Big Victory Over Spikes

The Scrappers set season highs for runs scored, hits and runs in a single inning in a 17-4 win over the State College Spikes.

Mahoning Valley scored in the top of the first inning and led the entire night, scoring in five of the first six innings. The Scrappers broke the game open with a five-run third inning and scored seven runs in the top of the fifth.

Eight of the nine starters had multiple hit nights. Jake Lowery went 3-for-4 with a season-high six runs batted in. Jordan Smith and Jerrud Sabourin added three hits each. The Scrappers had three extra-base hits and 17 singles.

Rob Nixon started and went six innings, allowing two runs to pick up the victory. Both runs came in the bottom of the third inning and cut the lead to 6-2 before the Scrappers added to their lead. Nixon bounced back from his last start in Jamestown and improved to 2-3.

Spikes starter Matt Benedict picked up the loss, allowing eight runs in 3.2 innings pitched. His record is 1-2.

The Scrappers and Spikes conclude their two-game series on Friday night at 7:05 pm.

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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Game Recaps 7/20: Abraham sends Kinston to late-inning victory

Adam Abraham (photo: Tony Lastoria)

Kinston Wins Late, Takes Series From Dash

Kinston erased a late three-run Winston-Salem lead to beat the Dash 5-4 in an 11 am game, Wednesday at Historic Grainger Stadium. With the win, the Indians (15-10, 53-41) take three of four games to win the series.

Winston-Salem led 4-2 going into the bottom of the seventh inning. Adam Abraham started the comeback with a single. After advancing to third base thanks to a passed ball and a wild pitch, Chase Burnette drove him home with a ground-out. With two outs in the inning, Tyler Cannon singled. Doug Pickens followed with a walk. Delvi Cid would keep the inning going when his slow chopper to the shortstop was mishandled. The play was ruled an error and loaded the bases for Tyler Holt. Holt tied the game, dropping down a perfect bunt up the third base line. The squeeze got Cannon home and tied the game at four.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Anthony Gallas was hit by a pitch. With Justin Toole inserted as a pinch runner, J.R. Ballinger delivered a wild pitch allowing Toole to get to second base. Abraham then delivered a line drive double to center field to send home the winning run. Ballinger (4-2) was stuck with the loss. Kinston's Preston Guilmet (1-1) picked up his first win of the season, giving up just one hit while striking out four in two innings of work. Toru Murata was also solid with an inning of hitless relief in his first action in over two months.

Tyler Saladino's bat was awake early as he hit a lead-off home run to give Winston-Salem a 1-0 first inning lead. Kinston starting pitcher Brett Brach would run into trouble again in the second inning when Juan Silverio doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Kevin Dubler. Dubler would hurt Brach and the K-Tribe again when the Dash catcher would hit a solo home run in the fifth inning. Brach went five innings, giving up three runs on four hits. He walked two and struck out two.

Kinston's offense would get going in the fourth inning when Holt started the bottom of the frame with a single. After a Casey Frawley grounder was booted by the Dash third baseman, Holt advanced to third base. Holt would score on a double play later in the inning. Kinston cut the Winston-Salem to one when Abner Abreu doubled to start the fifth and Tyler Cannon drove him home with a single. Winston-Salem would expand the lead again in the sixth inning thanks to a sacrifice fly RBI from John Spatola off of Kinston's Kyle Landis.

The K-Tribe has a scheduled off day on Thursday then continues the homestand with a contest against Wilmington on Friday night. Friday is Alex White Bobblehead night, game time 6:30 pm. Gates open at 5:30 pm.

Yankees silence Clippers bats in 6-1 win

The Clippers' bats were silenced by Scranton / Wilkes-Barre starter D.J. Mitchell and the rest of the Yankee staff, as Columbus falls, 6-1.

Mitchell (7-7) went seven innings to pick up the win. He struck out nine and allowed one run off of four hits.

The lone run came on a single to left by Tim Fedroff. Jason Donald was the only Clipper to record more than one hit. He went 2-4 and scored on Fedroff's single.

After scoring one in the first, the Yankees hit Corey Kluber hard in the third, scoring four runs off him in that inning. Overall, Kluber (4-6) gave up four earned runs over six innings.

Yankees third baseman Kevin Russo went 3-4 and scored one run. Scranton / Wilkes-Barre had nine hits total.

After losing the first two, the Yankees hope to salvage a split in the series as it wraps up Thursday at 12:05 PM.

Pomeranz Sharp but Aeros Shutout by Curve

Left-handed pitcher Drew Pomeranz allowed just one earned run over five innings of work, but the Akron Aeros mustered only three hits as they were shutout by the Altoona Curve 4-0 in the finale of a three-game series Wednesday at Canal Park.

Pomeranz was saddled with the loss allowing three hits and striking out six while walking two.

Right-handed pitcher Kyle McPherson earned the win for Altoona tossing six scoreless innings, scattering two hits and striking out six while walking one. Right-hander Michael Dubee pitched two scoreless innings of relief to record the save.

The Curve (40-56) got on the board in the top of the third inning when Brad Chalk scored on a Starling Marte sacrifice fly to make it 1-0.

Altoona scored two more runs on back-to-back RBI doubles from Brock Holt and Andrew Lambo in the top of the eighth inning to make it 3-0.

The Curve added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning and went on to the win.

The Aeros (51-47) will head to Erie to begin a four-game series with the SeaWolves Thursday. Akron will give the ball to left-handed pitcher T.J. McFarland, who is 6-4 with a 4.26 ERA in 2011. Erie has yet to announce a starter for Thursday's game. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on Fox Sports 1350 AM or online at sportsradio1350.com. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m.

Captains Lose HR Derby to Bandits 15-3

Quad Cities out slugged Lake County on Wednesday night hitting five homeruns to the Captains two long balls. The River Bandits went on to the victory 15-3.

Five different hitters from Quad Cities went deep resulting in 6-1 lead. Oscar Taveres hit a two run homerun in the first. Micheal Swinson and Chris Edmendson hit solo homeruns in the second. Victor Sanchez hit a solo homerun on the third. And Cody Stanley connected on a solo homerun in the fifth.

Jesus Aguilar drove in his 63rd RBI of the season in the bottom of the first for Lake County putting the Captains within a run at 2-1.

Carlos Moncrief hit a solo homerun for Lake County in the fifth inning, his tenth of the season making it 6-2.

The Bandits loaded the bases on Luis Encarnacion in the sixth inning and increased the lead to 7-2 scoring a run on Lake County's 109th wild pitch of the season.

Quad Cities scored five more times in the seventh inning on four hits with the help of two Captains' errors, as they sent eleven hitters to the plate and pumped the lead to 12-2.

Brian Heere continues to swing a hot bat in the second half of the season hitting his second homerun of the season to make it 12-3. Heere finished the night 3-for-4 and has nine hits in his last three games.

In the ninth inning, the River Bandits added three more runs on four hits increasing the lead to 15-3. Taveres, Stanley and Kolten Wong all had an RBI.

Ryan Copeland (2-1) picked up the win for the Bandits working five innings, allowing two runs on seven hits, no walks and seven strike outs. Cole Cook (4-10) took a tough loss allowing five runs on seven hits, no walks and striking out five, Cook matched a franchise record of four homeruns allowed in a single game.

Lake County and Quad Cities have a quick turn around on Thursday morning at 11:00AM at Classic Park. The Captains will start LHP Kirk Wetmore (1-0) against the River Bandits RHP Seth Blair (5-3). Catch all the action on AM1330 WELW or online at captainsbaseball.com.

Late Rally Not Enough in Scrappers Loss to Spikes

The Scrappers rallied from a 4-2 deficit entering the ninth inning but fell in ten, 5-4, to the State College Spikes.
Mahoning Valley trailed nearly the entire night, allowing a run in the top of the first inning and two in the fourth to fall behind 3-0. Alex Lavisky homered to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning to make it 3-1, but the Spikes scored in the top of the sixth to take a 4-1 lead.

Todd Hankins led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to make it 4-2, where the score remained until the ninth.

Tony Wolters doubled in a run to cut the deficit to 4-3 and Jake Lowery hit a long sacrifice fly to tie the game at 4-4.

In the top of the 10th inning, Carlos Mesa homered with one out to put State College ahead. The Scrappers got a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the inning but could not bring him home.

Will Krasne picked up the loss for the Scrappers, falling to 1-1. Mitch Fienemann picked up the win for the Spikes, improving to 1-2. Vince Payne recorded his first save of the season.

The Scrappers and Spikes will open up a two-game series in State College, Pennsylvania, on Thursday night at 7:05 pm.

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Game Recaps 7/19: The Pack-Attack is Back

Packer, Aeros down Curve

Left-handed pitcher Matt Packer tossed eight shutout innings Tuesday to lead the Akron Aeros to a 6-0 win over the Altoona Curve in game two of a three-game series at Canal Park.

Packer recorded his fourth win of 2011 scattering two hits and striking out seven while walking just one. Packer's eight-inning performance is tied for the longest outing by an Aeros starter in 2011. Right-handed pitcher Joe Gardner has tossed two eight-inning outings this season (May 29 vs. Reading and June 15 vs. New Hampshire).

Right-hander Mike Colla was saddled with the loss for Altoona lasting 4.2 innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits, walking four and striking out three.

The Aeros (51-46) got on the board in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs, Kyle Bellows doubled. Following a walk, John Drennen singled him home to give Akron a 1-0 lead.

It remained 1-0 until the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, Drennen doubled and advanced to third on a Karexon Sanchez double. Ben Copeland walked to load the bases. Drennen came across to score on a force out to make it 2-0. Beau Mills followed with a three-run home run down the right field line to increase the Aeros lead to 5-0.

Akron tacked on a run in the bottom of the sixth inning and went on to the win.

The Aeros will go for the sweep of the Curve (39-56) Wednesday. Left-handed pitcher Drew Pomeranz will make his Canal Park debut for Akron. Pomeranz is 0-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 2011. He will face right-handed pitcher Kyle McPherson, who is 3-3 with a 3.26 ERA this season. First pitch is set for 12:05 p.m. The game can be heard on Fox Sports 1350 AM or online at sportsradio1350.com. Coverage begins at 11:50 a.m.

Canal Park will be transformed into a giant water park on Wednesday afternoon! Wear your bathing suit to the game and prepare to get wet, with tons of ways to beat the heat on this summer day. The Akron Fire Department will lend some fire hoses to the event to make Canal Park the coolest place to be on Wednesday! Special "No Splash" Zones will be available for fans who want to stay dry.

Fresh arms lift Clippers past Yankees 6-1

Members of the Clippers pitching staff have logged a lot of innings lately, but that didn't stop them from holding the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Yankees to just one run in a 6-1 victory Tuesday.

Paolo Espino (1-1) went five innings and struck out four to pick up a win in a spot start.

Manager Mike Sarbaugh also had two fresh arms at his disposal. Mitch Talbot - in his first appearance during his rehab stint - went one inning, striking out two. Tyler Sturdevant - called up earlier in the day from Akron - picked up the save after his three innings of work.

Leading 2-0 through five, the home bats broke it open in the sixth. Michel Hernandez's double brought home Chad Huffman and Jared Goedert. Hernandez scored on a Cord Phelps single.

Jason Kipnis and Shelley Duncan added solo home runs and Tim Fedroff hit an RBI double in the fifth to complete the scoring.

Ivan Nova (1-2) started the game for the Yankees but left the game in the second after suffering an apparent leg injury.

After taking the first two games of the series, the Clippers will look to win the series Wednesday at 7:05 PM, as Corey Kluber (4-5, 6.09) toes the rubber against Yankee starter D.J. Mitchell (6-7, 3.24).

Kinston Falls 11-6 to Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem out slugged the K-Tribe 11-6 Tuesday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. With the loss Kinston's (14-10, 52-41) season best, six-game home win streak comes to an end. The two teams will play the final game of the series at 11 am on Wednesday morning.

Kinston pitcher Francisco Jimenez made his first start of the season for the Indians. Jimenez retired the first four batters he faced before Mike Blanke singled for the Dash. Nick Ciolli drove Blanke home with a run scoring double. With two outs in the inning, Juan Silverio hit a single to plate Ciolli. The hit gave the Dash a 2-0 lead. Jimenez ran into trouble again in the third inning, as Andy Wilkins delivered a two-out single. Carolina League home run leader Ian Gac then did it again, slapping a two-run shot over the left field wall. It was his 25th homer of the season. Jimenez (3-2) picked up the loss, giving up four runs on six hits. He struck out six and did not walk a batter.

Down 5-0 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Indians started a furious comeback against Winston-Salem starting pitcher Matt Wickswat. Wickswat had a one-hit shutout going against Kinston until Tyler Holt hit a single in the sixth. Anthony Gallas hit a one-out double to drive home Holt. Adam Abraham followed with his own run scoring double. Abner Abreu then cut the lead to one with a two-run home run. It was Abreu's 10th home run of the season, tied for the second most on the K-Tribe this year.

The Dash got some runs back in the top of the seventh inning with another Gac attack. Wilkins led off the frame with a double at the expense of Kinston reliever Jose Flores. Gac then hit another home run, his second two-run shot of the game. The blast to left field pushed the Winston-Salem led to 7-4. The Dash would add three more hits to plate two more runs in the inning. Flores was stuck with four earned runs on five hits in two innings. Kinston reliever Trey Haley pitched an inning and change before Flores, giving up a run on two hits, while walking two batters.

Kinston would tighten the game up in the seventh inning, with two runs highlighted by an Argenis Martinez double. Martinez and Abraham would each have two hits on the night for Kinston. The game would be put out of reach as Winston-Salem scored two more runs on two K-Tribe errors and a triple in the ninth inning. Steve Wright was the victim of rough defense, giving up two unearned runs on two hits in two innings of work from the bullpen. The three errors tied a season high for Kinston.

The K-Tribe tries a quick turnaround with an 11 am start Wednesday morning from Historic Grainger Stadium. Brett Brach gets the start for Kinston. The K-Tribe has a scheduled off day on Thursday then continues the homestand with a contest against Wilmington on Friday night. Friday is Alex White Bobblehead night.

Early Runs, Strong Pitching Lift Scrappers Over Spikes

Mahoning Valley scored five runs over the first four innings and shut out State College into the ninth inning in a 6-1 victory over the Spikes.

Four different Scrappers drove in runs, including two by Tony Wolters and two by John Barr. Wolters went 2-for-4, and Barr went 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly.

Will Roberts started and threw four scoreless innings. Roberts, making his second start of the season, allowed five hits and one walk and struck out two batters. Harold Guerrero came out of the bullpen and pitched four shutout innings. He picked up the win to improve to 2-1.

State College scored its only run of the game on a groundout in the top of the ninth inning.

Spikes starter Zack Dodson picked up the loss, falling to 0-1.

The Scrappers and Spikes will conclude their two-game series on Wednesday night at 7:05 pm.


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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Game Recaps 7/18: Jerad Head leads night of walk-offs

Head provides walk-off blast as Clippers win

The clock struck midnight and Jerad Head was the Clippers version of Cinderella, as his ninth inning blast to left-center put away the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Yankees, 7-6.

Thunderstorms delayed the game an hour and 55 minutes. That was only the beginning of a long night. After entering the ninth inning with a 6-2 lead, the Clippers surrendered four runs and committed two errors as the Yankees tied the game.

A long fly-out from Tim Fedroff nearly ended things in the ninth. Head's solo shot- his 15th homer of the year - followed Fedroff's at-bat.

The Yankees also had numerous lapses of their own, as their pitching staff totaled seven wild pitches, nine walks, and hit two Clippers batters.

Josh Judy (4-2) picks up the win after giving up an inherited run in the ninth. Zach McAllister - despite pitching the first two innings - returned after the rain delay and ended up going five innings, giving up two runs.

The two teams continue their four game set tomorrow as Paolo Espino (0-1, 30.37) squares off against Ivan Nova (1-1, 3.07).

AEROS walk-off on Diaz's RBI single

Juan Diaz flipped a bloop RBI single over Altoona short stop Brock Holt's head in the bottom of ninth inning breaking a 3-3 tie and giving the Akron Aeros a 4-3 walk-off win over the Curve in game one of a three-game series Monday at Canal Park.

Right-handed pitcher Anthony Clagget allowed the Diaz single and suffered the loss for Altoona.

Right-hander Matt Langwell recorded the win for the Aeros pitching one and two thirds innings, scattering three hits and striking out two while walking none. Righty Austin Adams got the start for Akron tossing 7.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and striking out six while walking one.

The Aeros (50-46) got on the board in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs, Beau Mills reached on a Holt throwing error. Chun Chen followed with an RBI triple scoring Mills and giving the Aeros a 1-0 lead.

Akron added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning. Jordan Henry and Diaz opened the frame with back-to-back walks. Mills singled softly to right field to load the bases. Chen followed with an RBI sacrifice fly scoring Henry and giving the Aeros a 2-0 lead. Diaz scored on a Jeff Locke wild pitch to make it 3-0.

Altoona (39-55) got a run off Adams on an RBI ground out in the top of the sixth inning to make it 3-1.

The Curve tied things in the top of the eighth inning. Starling Marte led off with a single and advanced to second on a Holt ground out. Andrew Lambo followed with an RBI single scoring Marte and cutting the Aeros lead to 3-2. Adams was lifted for right-handed pitcher Matt Langwell. Following the change, Tony Sanchez doubled home Lambo to tie the game 3-3.

The game remained tied until Diaz singled home John Drennen in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Akron the win.

The Aeros and Curve will continue their three-game series Tuesday. Akron will give the ball to left-handed pitcher Matt Packer, who is 3-9 with a 5.46 ERA in 2011. He will face right-hand pitcher Mike Colla, who is 4-6 with a 3.65 ERA this season. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on Fox Sports 1350 AM or online at sportsradio1350.com. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m.

Three Ninth Inning Runs Net Kinston Win

Anthony Gallas had a game-tying double and Doug Pickens drove in the winning run as Kinston walked-off with a 5-4 win Monday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. It was Kinston's (14-9, 52-40) fifth walk-off win of the season.

Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Tyler Holt led-off with a walk for Kinston. Justin Toole delivered a single. Anthony Gallas then hit a smash off the very top of the wall in left field, driving home Holt and Toole. Winston-Salem's reliever Taylor Thompson stayed in the game, striking out Jeremie Tice. With Delvi Cid pinch running for Gallas at second base, Adam Abraham was intentionally walked. Cid and Abraham were then successful on a double steal. Abner Abreu was intentionally walked after the double swipe, loading the bases. Tyler Cannon struck out for the second out of the inning. With a 1-2 count, Pickens sent a line drive to center field to give Kinston the walk-off victory. It was the second RBI of the game for Pickens who replaced an injured Roberto Perez in the third inning.

Kinston starting pitcher Clayton Cook got off to a rough start when he walked Winston-Salem's Tyler Saladino and Jared Mitchell to start the contest. Carolina League home run leader Ian Gac cashed in with a one-out, three-run home run. It was his 24th long ball of the season. The Dash added a run with a two-out, RBI single by Mike Blanke, scoring Saladino in the top of the third inning. The clutch single gave the Dash a 4-0 lead. Cook went five innings, giving up four runs on three hits. He walked five and struck out three.

The K-Tribe got a run back in the bottom of the fifth inning. With Dash starting pitcher Santos Rodriguez on the mound, Holt led off with a single. Toole then singled to advance Holt to third base. Gallas followed with a sacrifice fly to center, cutting the Dash lead to three. The lead would fall to two when Abreu led off the sixth inning with a double and scored on a Pickens RBI ground out. Holt, Toole and Abreu each had two hits for Kinston. Gallas went 3-for-4 with three rbi.

Kinston's bullpen was strong, as Kyle Landis pitched two scoreless innings, walking one and striking out two. Chris Jones (5-1) picked up the win in relief, giving up just two hits in two scoreless innings. Jones walked one and struck out four.

Kinston continues the home series Tuesday night against Winston-Salem at 6:30 pm. The series will end with a special 11 am game on Wednesday.

Captains Win in 12, 10-9

Brian Heere finished a career night with an RBI single in the top of the twelfth inning scoring Carlos Moncrief as Lake County defeated Burlington 10-9. Heere finished the night 5-for-7 with two RBI.

The Captains sent nine hitters to the plate in the first inning, scoring five time take an early 5-0 lead.

Ronny Rodriguez added a two run triple in the second inning to make it 7-0 Lake County. Rodriguez finished the night 3-for-5 with 3RBI. Aaron Fields drove in his second run of the game to put the Captains up 8-0 after two.

The Bees trailing 9-0, heading into the fourth inning, got on the board with a two-run homerun from Josh Whitaker to make it 9-2.

Burlington chipped away at Lake County’s lead scoring runs in the fifth, seventh and eighth eventually tying the game at nine.

JD Reichenbach (5-1) picked up the win working two scoreless innings in relief, allowing just one hit and striking out two. Daniel Tenholder (3-3) took the loss allowing the winning run in the 12th inning.

Lake County returns home to start a nine game home stand on Wednesday night against Quad Cities at Classic Park beginning at 7:00PM. The Captains will send RHP Cole Cook (4-9) to the mound against RHP Ryan Copeland (1-1) for the River Bandits.

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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Game Recaps 7/2: Valbuena's heroics lift Clippers

Luis Valbuena (photo: Tony Lastoria)

Clippers walk-off against Bats

Luis Valbuena's walk-off homer gave the Clippers a 6-5 victory in ten innings on a beautiful Saturday night in the Arena District.

The Bats wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. With two outs in the top of the 1st, Yonder Alonso unloaded on Clippers starter Corey Kluber for a solo shot, his 10th long ball of the season, to the Wendy's Hamburger balcony in right field, giving Louisville an early 1-0 lead.

The Clippers would then go to work offensively in the bottom of the 1st. Ezequiel Carrera led off the inning with a line drive base hit up the middle. Carrera would then steal second then advance to third on a Jason Kipnis single. The batter, Chad Huffman, hit a tapper near the right side of the mound that Bats starter Daryl Thompson picked up and threw home to try to get Carrera who was coming home. The ball deflected off the glove of Bats catcher Devin Mesoraco, allowing Carrera to score and Kipnis to advance all the way to third. Kipnis would then come in on a Luis Valbuena RBI sacrifice fly, making it all add up to a Clippers 2-1 lead after one inning.

The second inning was another example of offensive success for Columbus. Tim Fedroff led off the frame with a single to right field. The very next batter, Matt McBride, belted his 1st home run with the Clippers this season, driving in Fedroff and increasing the Columbus lead to 4-1.

The Clippers would knock out Thompson in the bottom of the fifth when Jason Kipnis came into score on a two out RBI single by Luis Valbuena, making 5-1 in favor of Columbus.The Bats threatened offensively in the top of the sixth. Dave Sappelt and Yonder Alonso walked to begin the inning. Devin Mesoraco would then hit an RBI double to left field that drove in Sappelt to make it 5-2. The game would then be tied 5-5 on a three-run home run by Jeremy Hermida off the Columbus Dispatch scoreboard. Thankfully, Joe Martinez came into relieve Kluber and kept the ball game tied as Columbus got out of the frame.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Clippers set out to get the lead back. Jason Kipnis led the inning off with a walk. After Chad Huffman struck out swinging, Luis Valbuena walked to put runners on first and second with one out. That brought Jered Goedert to the plate. Goedert struck out swinging, leaving it up to Tim Fedroff. Unfortunately, Fedroff couldn't deliver for Columbus as he grounded to shortstop to end the inning.

The game would move into extra innings. It would be Luis Valbuena hitting the game-winning home run in the bottom of the tenth to give the Clippers a 6-5 victory in ten innings.

The Bats and Clippers will be back at it again Sunday evening. Jeanmar Gomez (8-2) will start for Columbus and will oppose Bats right hander Scott Carroll (6-3) in game scheduled to start at 5:05 pm.

Hernandez's heroics lead Aeros over Seawolves

Michel Hernandez broke a 6-6 tie in the top of the ninth inning with an RBI single that proved to be the game-winning run as the Akron Aeros went on to win game three of a four-game series against the Erie SeaWolves 7-6 Saturday at Jerry Uht Park.

Hernandez went 3-for-5 Saturday with three RBI.

Right-handed pitcher Rob Waite allowed the Hernandez RBI single in the ninth and suffered the loss for the SeaWolves pitching two innings of relief and giving up three hits.

Right-hander Bryan Price record the win for the Aeros tossing 2.2 innings of relief, allowing one earned run on three hits and striking out two while walking none. Righty Cory Burns pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth inning to pick up his league-best 21st save of 2011. Left-handed pitcher Matt Packer got the start for Akron lasting 5.1 innings, allowing five earned runs on eight hits, walking two and striking out two.

The Aeros (41-41) scored first in the top of the second inning. Nick Weglarz led off with a walk and Kyle Bellows followed with a single. With one out, Hernandez singled to load the bases. Weglarz scored on Raul Padron's walk to give Akron a 1-0 lead.

The SeaWolves (41-40) answered in the bottom of the frame. Bryan Pounds led off the inning with a solo home run to left field to tie the game 1-1. With two outs, Michael Bertram singled and scored on a Bryan Holaday RBI double giving Erie a 2-1 lead.

Akron retook the lead in the top of the third inning. With two outs, Beau Mills singled and Weglarz and Bellows worked back-to-back walks to load the bases. Mills scored on Ben Copeland's walk to tie the game 2-2. Hernandez followed with a two-RBI single to give the Aeros a 4-2 lead.

Erie got a run back in the bottom of the fourth inning on a Packer wild pitch to make it 4-3.

The Aeros added a run in the top of the sixth inning. Padron led off with a single and scored on a Karexon Sanchez RBI triple to make it 5-3.

Deik Scram hit a two-run home run to right field in the bottom of the frame to tie the game 5-5.

The SeaWolves took a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning on a Pounds RBI sacrifice fly.

The lead was short lived as the Aeros tied the game 6-6 in the top of the eighth inning when Juan Diaz grounded into double play that allowed Padron to score.

Akron won on the Hernandez RBI single in the top of the ninth inning.

The Aeros will look to split this four-game series with the SeaWolves on Sunday. Akron will give the ball to right-handed pitcher Austin Adams, who is 5-7 with a 3.88 ERA in 2011. He will face left-handed pitcher Jay Voss, who is 3-3 with a 4.02 ERA this season. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m. The game can be heard on Fox Sports 1350 AM or online at sportsradio1350.com. Coverage begins at 6:20 p.m.

K-Tribe Held Scoreless in 3-0 Loss

The K-Tribe ran into a red hot pitcher, as Frederick blanked the Indians 3-0 Saturday night at Historic Grainger Stadium.

Frederick starter Oliver Drake was very good giving up just three hits in 8 1/3 innings of work. Drake (7-3) struck out four and walked two batters. Drake's last start was a complete game, nine-inning shutout. Drake's ERA dropped to 2.24 (third in the Carolina League) after the outing.

Frederick started the scoring in the top of the third inning, as Dale Mollenhauer and Brian Ward led off with a pair of walks. With two outs later in the inning, Mollenhauer was on third and Steve Bumbry at first. Bumbry was suddenly caught in a run down between the bases, but by the time Kinston tagged him out, Mollenhauer had scored from third base.

A walk led to another run in the fourth inning, when Tyler Townsend reached on the free pass with one out. On a hit and run, Townsend advanced to third base thanks to a Miguel Abreu single. Abreu would score when Kipp Shutz followed with an RBI ground out. Back-to-back singles to start the top of the sixth inning by Manny Machado and Townsend set the table for another score in the sixth inning. Machado would score on an Abreu sacrifice fly later in the frame, giving Frederick a 3-0 lead. Kinston starting pitcher T.J. House (5-7) picked up the loss, giving up five hits and three earned runs. He walked three in the loss.

Kinston's bullpen was strong again, as Rob Bryson went two innings, giving up one hit. He struck out four. Bryson has not giving up a run in 10 1/3 innings of work for Kinston this season. Kyle Landis gave up one hit in his one inning of work. He struck out one and lowered his ERA to 1.02. Sean Gleason picked up his Carolina League leading 22nd save for Frederick. Tyler Holt has two of Kinston's three hits, as the outfielder went 2-for-4 with a triple.

Kinston will take on Frederick in a Sunday matinee at 1:30 pm from Historic Grainger Stadium. Clayton Cook will make the start for Kinston. The K-Tribe continues the homestand with a special July 4th game Monday at 6:30 pm. The contest will feature a fireworks show after the game.


Hawks Crush Captains 15-2

Lake County lost the game series to South Bend losing Saturday night 15-2. The Captains lost four of six on the home stand.

Captains pitching combined for nine walks, and seven wild pitches and the defense committed three errors in a night where nothing went well for the club.

Gersen Montilla hit his first homerun of the season in the first inning for South Bend to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead. Ray Willy Gomez added a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 edge.

In the third inning, the Silver Hawks scored four runs; Yazy Arbelo drove in a pair with a double. Gomez scored the fourth run on a wild pitch by Captains' pitcher Mike Goodnight to make it 6-0.

South Bend scored four times in the fourth to open up a 10-0 lead. Luis Encarnacion allowed all four runs, on four walks and two wild pitches. Matt Helm singled in a run and scored on a wild pitch. Gomez added his second RBI of the night. Roberto Ortiz picked up an RBI with a bases loaded walk.

In the fifth inning, Arbelo drove in his third run of the game on a ground out to second scoring Walters who tripled to reach.

Robeto Ortiz picked up his second RBI for South Bend with an RBI ground out in the sixth inning to make it 12-0.

In the seventh inning, Yazy Arbelo finished off a career night hitting his 20th homerun of the season, a three run shot for a total of six RBI on the night and a 15-0 lead for South Bend.

Lake County avoided the shut out putting up two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. An RBI double by Brian Heere and an RBI single by Nick Bartolone make it 15-2.

Tyler Grren (3-2) picked up the win tossing five innings, no runs on just one hits, no walks and three strike outs. Mike Goodnight (5-7) took the loss allowing six runs, five earned on four hits, walking four and striking out two.

Lake County begins a six game road trip on Sunday night in Lansing at Cooley Law School Stadium at 6:05PM. The Captains will toss RHP Cole Cook (3-8) against RHP Marcus Walden (3-2) for the Lugnuts. Catch all the action on ESPN 970AM or online at captainsbaseball.com.

Scrappers lose game one to Batavia, 8-3

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers tallied eight hits in their game Saturday night against Batavia, but timely hitting and patience at the plate proved a bit too much to overcome as the Muckdogs took the first in a two-game series 8-3.

Joseph Colon (0-2) got off to a rocky start for the Scrappers in the first inning, giving up three runs and getting to the end of the Batavia lineup before recording the third out. Batavia starter Todd McInnis (1-0) gave up a run in his first frame when a Jake Lowery double scored Bryson Myles from second base. Both pitchers settled in after that, but with 81 pitches and four runs surrendered, Colon left the game after just three and two-thirds innings.

Shortstop Tony Wolters hit his first home run of the year off Batavia reliever Eric Binder in the bottom of the sixth and Jake Lowery scored on an Alex Lavisky ground rule double, but those would be the last Scrapper runs of the game. Batavia would add another run in the seventh inning and three more in the ninth.

The second game of the two-game series is Sunday, July 3 at Eastwood Field. First Pitch is scheduled for 5:05pm.

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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Game Recaps 6/18: Kinston Cannon's Lynchburgh, 9-0

Tyler Cannon (Photo: Lianna Holub)

Kinston Blanks Lynchburg, 9-0

Kinston posted their league leading eighth shutout of the season, blanking Lynchburg 9-0 Saturday night in Virginia.

The Indians started the scoring in the top of the second inning off of Hillcat’s starter Blaine Sims. Justin Toole hit a one out double. Tyler Cannon drove him home with a run scoring single. Roberto Perez and Delvi Cid both walked to load the bases. A run scoring ground out from Tyler Holt put Kinston up 2-0. In the fifth inning, Anthony Gallas reached with two outs thanks to an error by the Hillcats third baseman. Gallas would score when a Jeremie Tice pop-up to left field was dropped by Kennan Wiley. The two errors put Kinston up 3-0. Sims (2-1) went 4 2/3 innings, giving up four hits and three runs (two earned). He walked and struck out three.

Kinston kept the hits coming against Lynchburg reliever David Hail. With two outs in the sixth inning, Casey Frawley and Gallas delivered back-to-back run scoring hits. Gallas delivered a double that scored two runs and gave Kinston a 6-0 lead. Doug Pickens delivered a solo home run to dead center field in the top of the seventh inning. It was Pickens second homer of the season. Kinston would add another run in the top of the eighth inning when Holt scored on a passed ball. The ninth would see another run for Kinston when Holt delivered an RBI single.

Kinston banged out 14 hits on the night. Cannon went 4-for-4, reaching base five times. Cannon is just the fourth player to get four hits in a game for Kinston this season. Pickens finished 3-for-5 for Kinston.

Kinston starter T.J. House put together his fourth straight solid start, shutting out the Hillcats through his six innings of work. House (5-6) gave up five hits, walked two and struck out four. It was his third straight win. Tyler Sturdevant was very good from the K-Tribe bullpen, pitching two scoreless innings. Jose Flores finished up the shutout with a perfect ninth inning.

The final game of the series and first half is Sunday at 2:05 pm. Clayton Cook will get the start for Kinston. Kinston next returns home to Historic Grainger Stadium for a short three game series Sunday, June 26th through Tuesday, June 28th.

Columbus win streak ends at ten thanks to Yankee one-hitter

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees pitcher Greg Smith made his first start for the team count, as he on-hit the first place Columbus Clippers in a 4-0 victory in front of over 8,000 fans.

The surging Clippers had won the first two games of the series to extend their second double-digit win streak in 2011, but the breaks were put on in a hurry. 27-year old Yankees pitcher Greg Smith, making his first start since signing with the team this past Monday, was clearly on his game on Saturday night. Smith pitched for Oakland in 2008, and Colorado in 2010. Smith went seven shutout innings, giving up only one hit to Jason Kipnis, and two walks, while striking out seven.

Jeanmar Gomez was on the losing end, but still managed to pitch well. Gomez matched Smith with seven innings and seven K's, and bettered him, not walking a batter. Still, Gomez gave up a homer and four earned runs, and with the Clippers offense sputter, it wasn't good enough.

Nick Hagadone closed out the game with two no-hit innings of his own, giving up only a walk, while striking out three.

The Clippers will look to take the series finale of a their four-game series at PNC Field tomorrow afternoon. Carlos Silva (2-0, 3.44) will get the start for the Yankees, while lefthander David Huff (5-2, 4.04) gets the nod for Columbus. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 pm.

Akron's Espino, Mills and Diaz too much for Portland

Paulo Espino pitched five innings of two-hit, shutout relief, while Beau Mills and Juan Diaz provided the seventh-inning firepower, as Akron came back from a 4-0 deficit to beat Portland 9-4.

T.J. McFarland got the start for Akron, but was lit up like a pinball machine in the second inning, giving up five straight hits, and four runs. Paulo Espino entered the game in the third and righted the ship, allowing the Akron bats to catch up.

Akron scored a run in the second on a Chun-Hsiu Chen triple, scoring Juan Diaz. The followed up in the third after Tim Fedroff tripled, then scored on a Jason Donald ground out. Diaz then scored in the fourth on a bases-loaded balk.

The game would remain 4-3 until the seventh inning, when the dam finally broke. Kyle Bellows hit a ground-rule, one-out double, then moved to third on a deep fly by Cristo Arnal. Fedroff then tied the game with a big two-out single. Donald followed with a single of his own, moving Fedroff to third. Mills then roped a double to left, scoring both Fedroff and Donald. After Matt McBride was intentionally walked, Juan Diaz launched his fourth homer, a three-run shot, to complete the scoring.

Adam Miller and Bryan Price would both complete a shutout inning to close out the game.

The Aeros wrap up the series tomorrow at home tomorrow afternoon.

Lake County loses tenth in a row, 6-5

Lake County couldn't sustain an early lead, losing their tenth game in a row, and for the 12th time in their last 13 games.

The Captains jumped to an early lead behind starter Mike Goodnight, who was perfect into the fourth inning. Back-to-back-to-back doubles in the first by Carlos Moncrief, Alex Monsalve and Jesus Aguilar gave the Captains a 2-0 lead.

Things would fall apart quickly in the fourth. Back-to-Back, one-out singles broke up the perfect game in the fourth. The game-breaker turned out to be a triple that barely left the infield. West Michigan's first baseman James Robbins hit a chopper up the middle, over the pitcher's mound, and was deflected by second baseman, Argenis Martinez, who was diving to make the play. LeVon Washington, charging to back-up the play, was left off balance by the baseball's redirection, watching the ball bound past him as well. By the time it was all said and done, two runs had scored, and Robbins was standing on third.

Goodnight was clearly rattled. A run scored on a single in the next at-bat, followed by another single. Goodnight then unleashed two wild pitches, scoring a runner, and moving another to third. Another single gave the Whitecaps a 5-2 lead.

Jesus Aguilar would hit a two-run homer in fifth inning, to make the score 5-4, but Robbins would have another RBI in the fifth, to up the score to 6-4. The Captains would challenge again in the ninth, when Nick Bartalone scored on an error. LeVon Washington moved to third on the same error, but Carlos Moncrief would strike out to end the game.

Lake County closes out the three-game series tomorrow afternoon with J.D. Reichenbach moving back down to get the start after a brilliant outing with Kinston last week.

Scrappers Even Record With 4-3 Win

Mahoning Valley withstood a big first inning from Jamestown and came from behind to beat the Jammers, 4-3 at Eastwood Field.

Jamestown scored three runs in the top of the first inning off starter Harold Guerrero to take a 3-0 lead. But the Scrappers answered with three runs in the bottom of the first, tying the score at 3-3. Mahoning Valley took the lead for good in the fourth on Casey Serna's run-scoring groundout.

Guerrero settled in and picked up the win, throwing 5.0 innings. He allowed just one hit after the first inning, a leadoff single in the third that was erased on the next pitch by a double play. Three relievers combined to shut out the Jammers the rest of the way. Kyle Petter pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his first save of the season.

Outfielder Cody Elliott went 2-for-3 on the night, driving in the tying run in the first inning and pushing the eventual winning run to third base in the fourth inning. The two hits were the first two of his professional career.

Mahoning Valley and Jamestown conclude their three-game series on Sunday at 5:05 pm at Eastwood Field.

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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Game Recaps 6/17: Clippers extend win streak to 10

Ezequiel Carrera (photo: Tony Lastoria)

Clippers hold on for 6-5 win over Yankees

The Clippers extended the win streak to ten, and stayed undefeated on their long road trip as they held on for a 6-5 victory over the Yankees in Scranton Wilkes-Barre.

After taking game 1 in an 8-1 victory cut short by rain last night, the Clippers were back at it with the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees for game two of a four game set in Scranton. Columbus got off to a fast start in the top of the first. Ezequiel Carrera started the game off with a double down the right field line. After Carrera advanced to third on a Jason Kipnis groundout, Clippers first baseman Shelley Duncan did his part to drive in Carrera for the first run of the ballgame with a bloop RBI single. Just like that, Columbus had a 1-0 lead.

There would be more offense for the Clippers in the top of the second. Jered Head led off the inning with a single to center field. That was followed with a Jared Goedert walk. After a Paul Phillips flyout to left, Ezequiel Carrera reached on an infield single to load the bases with one out. Kipnis took advantage of the situation, driving in another Clippers run. The RBI groundout by Kipnis doubled the Clippers advantage 2-0. But Columbus was not done offensively. The next batter, Shelley Duncan, who knocked in the first Columbus run in the first, added to his RBI total with a clutch two out hit. Duncan's two run single augmented the Clippers lead to 4-0.

The lead for Columbus would increase even more in the top of the 5th. Shelley Duncan and Nick Johnson both walked to begin the inning. Chad Huffman then singled to load the bases with nobody out. It set the stage for the next batter Luis Valbuena. He put a 2-2 pitch in play adding on to Clippers lead. So two runs came in on that play, making it 6-0 in favor of the boys from C-Bus.

The Yankees made a concerted effort to get back into the ball game in the bottom of the 6th. After singles by Austin Krum and Luis Nunez to begin the inning, Kevin Russo got Scranton Wilkes Barre on the board with an RBI single that made it 6-1. The next batter, Greg Golson, tripled to deep center field. Two runs came in and all of the sudden, the Yankees were only down by three. Fortunately, Corey Kluber retired the next batters he faced and got out of the inning with a 6-3 lead intact.

The run lead for Columbus would shrink in the bottom of the eighth. Like he did in the sixth inning, Greg Golson came through with an RBI triple that made it 6-4. With Golson sitting at third with one out, Jesus Montero was walked to set up a potential double play. The first pitch from Zach Putnam to the next batter, Jorge Vasquez, was a wild pitch that got by Clippers catcher Paul Phillips. It allowed Golson to score and now Columbus was clinging to a one run lead. Putnam was pulled from the game due to an undisclosed injury. Josh Judy came in to replace his injured teamate. Judy walked Vasquez, but he got Brandon Laird to fly out and struck out Jordan Parraz to get out the inning, preserving the slim Columbus lead in the process.

It was a much cleaner inning for Judy. He struck out the first two batters he saw in the bottom of the ninth and ended up securing the win and getting his 9th save of the year.

The Clippers and Yankees will resume action Saturday night when Columbus right-hander Jeanmar Gomez (6-1) faces off against Yankees starter Greg Smith (0-0) with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM.

Aeros fall late, 4-3

Righty Austin Adams gave up a game-winning RBI double to Jorge Padron in the top of the seventh inning as the Akron Aeros lost game one of a three-game series to the Portland Sea Dogs 4-3 Friday at Canal Park.

Adams suffered the loss for Akron tossing seven innings, giving up four earned runs on eight hits and striking out six while walking just one.

Seth Garrison came in from the bullpen for the Sea Dogs to record the win pitching 3.1 innings of relief, giving up one earned run on two hits, walking one and striking out one. Blake Maxwell pitched two scoreless innings of relief to earn the save.

The Sea Dogs (22-42) got on the board in the top of the first inning. With one out, Jon Hee doubled and Tony Thomas singled. Chih-Hsien Chiang followed with a single scoring Hee. Thomas came across to score when Chiang got in a run down to make it 2-0.

The Aeros (32-36) got a run back in the home half of the frame. With two outs and a runner on third, Chris Balcom-Miller uncorked a wild pitch to give the Aeros a run and make it 2-1.

Akron scored again in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs, Kyle Bellows walked and Juan Apodaca moved him to second on a single. Tim Fedroff followed with a double scoring Bellows and tying the game 2-2.

The Sea Dogs retook the lead in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Reynaldo Rodriguez doubled, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-2.

Akron tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning on a Jordan Henry RBI single.

The Sea Dogs answered again in the top of the sixth inning as Padron doubled home Chiang to give Portland the win.

The Aeros and Sea Dogs will continue their series Saturday. Akron will give the ball to left-handed pitcher T.J. McFarland, who is 2-4 with a 5.03 ERA in 2011. He will face right-hander Stolmy Pimentel, who is 0-8 with a 9.66 ERA this season. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on Fox Sports 1350 AM or online at sportsradio1350.com. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m.

Kinston Falls 8-0, Myrtle Beach Clinches First Half

Lynchburg ended Kinston's first half playoff hopes with a 8-0 victory over the Indians Friday night in Virginia. The K-Tribe loss combined with a Myrtle Beach 6-5 win over Frederick, puts Kinston 2 ½ games back with two games to go in the first half. Myrtle Beach clinches the Southern Division in the first half, Frederick (who clinched on Monday) gets the first half playoff berth from the Northern Division.

Lynchburg got to Kinston starter Brett Brach in the bottom of the third inning when Kennan Wiley tripled then scored on an errant throw to the bag. Lynchburg extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth when Joey Terdoslavich and Joe Leonard began the inning with back-to-back doubles. Kinston trailed 2-0 through four innings. Brach (4-5) would last four innings, giving up seven hits and two earned runs. He walked one and struck out four in the loss.

Kinston reliever Kyle Landis was greeted rudely in the bottom of the fifth inning, when Andrelton Simmons led off with a triple and later scored on a Phil Gosselin sacrifice fly. Adam Milligan then followed with a solo home run to put the Hillcats up 4-0. It was the first runs Landis had given up in ten innings as a K-Triber so far this season. Lynchburg continued their hot hitting in the bottom of the sixth inning. With K-Tribe reliever Francisco Jimenez on the hill, Gosselin delivered a three-run home run to put the game away. Reliever Rob Bryson finished strong for Kinston, retiring all four batters he faces. Bryson struck out three.

Lynchburg starter Zeke Spruill was great for the Hillcats, carrying a no hitter into the fifth inning. Spruill (5-7) went eight innings, giving up just three hits. He walked one and struck out eight. Chase Burnette had two of the three Kinston hits on the night.

The final series of the first half continues this weekend in Lynchburg. Game three of the four takes place on Saturday night at 6:05 pm. T.J. House will get the start for Kinston. Kinston next returns home to Historic Grainger Stadium for a short three game series Sunday, June 26th through Tuesday, June 28th.

WhiteCaps Shutout Captains 2-0

Hernan Perez drove in the winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning to give West Michigan a 1-0 lead. The WhiteCaps went on to win 2-0, sending the Captains to their ninth straight loss.

the eighth inning, Perez was at it again, hitting a solo homerun to leftfield to give West Michigan a 2-0 lead.

WhiteCaps' starter Keven Eichhorn (5-3) picked up the win tossing 6.2 scoreless innings allowing just five hits, walking three and striking out five. Cole Cook (2-8) suffered the loss for the Captains tossing one his best games of the year. Cook threw seven strong innings allowing a run on five hits, walking one and striking out four. Bruce Rondon picked up his 11th save of the year pitching 1.2 innings going on to strike out four of five hitters faced.

Lake County and West Michigan continue their three game series on Saturday night from Fifth Third Ballpark at 7:00PM. The Captains will start All-Star RHP Mike Goodnight against LHP Kyle Ryan for the WhiteCaps. Catch all the action on AM1330 WELW or online at captainsbaseball.com.

Scrappers fall to Jammers on Opening Day

Jamestown starter Josh Hodges threw five innings of two-run ball and three relievers held Mahoning Valley's bats in check as the Scrappers lost to the Jammers, 9-3.

The Jammers scored two runs in the first inning and four runs in the third, giving Hodges all the support he needed. They tacked on a run in the fourth and two in the seventh on Brent Keys' home run down the right field line.

Mahoning Valley scored a run off Hodges in the third inning on Kevin Fontanez's sacrifice fly, scoring Aaron Siliga. The run was unearned. Jerrud Sabourin drove in Alex Lavisky with a two-out double in the fourth for the Scrappers' second run of the night.

Bryson Myles scored the third run of the game on an error by the Jammers' shortstop, Yefri Perez. Myles reached on a single, stole second base and moved into scoring position on a grounder by Jake Lowery.

Joseph Colon picks up the loss for Mahoning Valley, falling to 0-1 on the year.

The two teams will play game two of their three-game series at Eastwood Field on Saturday, June 18th at 7:05 pm.

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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