Chris Leroux took the bump for the start and had a flawless first four innings with the help of a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, a big 2-run blow off the bat of Bisons second baseman Josh Satin against Leroux in the 5th inning blew the lead. Then, the Indians counteracted with Boggs' clutch game tying double in the bottom of the 5th. Logan Kensing took over on the mound for Leroux in the 7th and like a broken record, allowed a big solo home run in the 7th. Bryan Morris and Jose Diaz went scoreless in their short relief appearances in the 7th and 8th. Tim Wood threw a flawless ninth and tenth frames as he struck out four of the six batters he faced. Doug Slaten took the ball in the 11th and allowed the game winning crushing blow off the bat of Zach Lutz; his second of the game.
Jeff Clement and Brandon Boggs were the "sultans of swing" offensively for the Tribe as both added two hits each. Clement continued his outstanding power numbers this season as he launched 15th bomb of the year and added his 51st RBI. Boggs added his 20th and 21st doubles on the season coupled with three RBI. Jose Tabata and Yamaico Navarro added the other two hits for the Indians.
AA Altoona | Altoona 1 Trenton 2
Despite Gerrit Cole's best start as a member of the Curve, the offense could not round up even production at the plate to get the victory. Cole finished the night only allowing three hits and giving up no runs and striking out six hits. This is coming after his worst Double-A outing on the 25th against Reading where he allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits and walked two. He now sits with a 3.94 ERA on the season as a member of the Curve. Unfortunately he was given the no-decision with the only Curve run coming via the solo home run off the bat of Oscar Tejada; his seventh on the season. Evan Chambers, Brock Holt, Ramon Cabrera, Jarek Cunningham, and Quincy Latimore each added one hit apiece on the night. Hunter Strickland came in for relief of Cole in the 7th and allowed the Thunders' only two runs to give them them win.
A West Virginia | West Virginia 4 Hagerstown 2
The Power inflicted all their damage offensively in the first twoinnings and Robby Rowland and the pitching held on for the win. Thanksin part to four errors by Hagerstown and a 3-RBI double by GregoryPolanco, West Virginia built a 4-0 advantage after two innings, but itonly had two more hits the rest of the way after getting four in thefirst two frames. Polanco actually drove in all four West Virginiaruns, upping his total to 75 on the season. Polanco's average remainsa team-best .325 and the double was his 24th. Dan Gamache hit twosingles, while Alen Hanson went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and his28th stolen base of 2012. Jose Osuna singled in four at-bats, endinghis scorching July with a .340 average, 1031 OPS and nine home runs.Rowland's impressive start improved his record to 6-3 for the Power.Acquired from Arizona for Rule 5 pick Brett Lorin in the spring,Rowland's ERA is down to 3.39 after going 6.2 innings and allowingseven hits, two runs (both in the seventh inning), one walk andstriking out four. The now-famous Kilcrease not-brothers, Robbie andNathan, combined for 2.1 shutout innings to finish off the victory
A Bradenton | Bradenton 6 Lakeland 2
Casey Sadler bounced back from perhaps his worst performance as astarter for Bradenton to hurl seven solid innings and the offense putup four runs in the top of the eighth inning to support Sadler andearn him the victory. His record improved to 3-5 and his ERA stands at3.44 after giving up five hits, two walks and two runs in those seveninnings. Sadler did only fan two hitters. But Jason Townsend added twoshutout innings with two strikeouts to preserve a Marauder triumph.Mel Rojas and Dan Grovatt were the stars for the Bradenton offense.Rojas went a perfect 4-for-4 with a double and a walk to raise hisaverage to .258. Grovatt meanwhile supplied the power, doubling andtripling his way to a 3-RBI night. Light-hitting backup catcher KawikaEmsley-Pai also recorded two hits, both singles, and the only otherMarauder to collect a hit was Kirk Singer. Alex Dickerson finished0-for-4 with a walk, but despite that he still is OPSing 1141 in hislast 10 games.
A State College
The Spikes had an off day tonight as they get ready to start a six game home stand beginning against the Hudson Valley Renegades on Wednesday night. The 23-19 Spikes will have white hot Clay Holmes take the rubber with a 4-1 record and 0.80 ERA. Holmes is coming off a phenomenal outing July 25th in which he allowed no runs runs on three hits in five innings of work and struck out four. Even more impressive, Holmes has only allowed SIX HITS and NO RUNS in his last 20 innings of work.