On Friday evening in Richmond, Virginia, the Akron Aeros finally achieved what has seemed inevitable since the early weeks of the 2012 season. They have won the Eastern League's Western Division title.
The Akron Aeros were poised for a division-clinching celebration Thursday night. All they needed was either a win over the Altoona Curve or a Bowie loss to Erie. Unfortunately, at quitting time, neither scenario materialized.
Jordan Cooper finished his 2012 season a high note as he tossed seven dominant innings in a 3-1 win for the Carolina Mudcats over the Potomac Nationals on Thursday night at Five County Stadium. Cooper (9-7) won his third straight start by holding the Nationals to one unearned run while scattering four hits. He struck out seven and walked one batter.
The Columbus Clippers aren't conceding anything when it comes to the playoffs. The Clippers remained alive in the IL wild-card race with a 4-2 victory Wednesday over the Bats at Louisville Slugger Field, using a pair of unlikely sources to spur the offense and a pitcher-by-committee approach to winning effect.
Akron’s Brett Brach pitches seven shutout innings against Altoona and the Aeros scored two runs in the top of the ninth to take a 3-1 victory Tuesday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The Aeros (79-57) defeated the Curve (66-70) to lower the magic number for clinching the EL West crown to three with six games left to play.
olumbus saved the best for the last, plating two runs in the top of the ninth as they beat the Bats 2-0 in a tight pitcher's duel at Louisville Slugger Field. Early on, it was a pitcher's duel between Columbus' Eric Berger and Louisville's Todd Redmond.
kron’s Danny Salazar pitched six solid innings in game one of a doubleheader at Altoona Monday night, as the Aeros claimed a 4-1 victory. The Curve stormed back in game two, however, winning 7-1, to gain the split. The Aeros (78-57) lowered the magic number for clinching the EL West crown to four with seven games to play.
The Lake County Captains (35-28, 66-66) defeated the Great Lakes Loons (26-37, 62-71) by a final of 4-3. In the top of the ninth inning, Jose Ramirez lined a two out three-ball two- strike pitch down the left field line and motored into second base. His double scored Luigi Rodriguez to tie the game and Zach MacPhee scored from first to give the Captains the one run lead. Lake County held on for the 4-3 win.
Indianapolis parlayed a fourteen hit attack into triumph as they beat Columbus 8-4 at Victory Field. The Indians staked themselves to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an Alex Pressley RBI double off of the center field ball. The Clippers would then tie it at 1-1 in the bottom of the third when Juan Diaz scored on a Tim Fedroff RBI groundout to second.
First baseman Russ Canzler fell just a triple short of the cycle going 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI, while starter T.J. McFarland held the Tribe scoreless over the first five frames and went on to scatter eight hits over 6.2 solid innings to help the Columbus Clippers hold off the Indianapolis Indians 5-3 on Sunday afternoon at Victory Field.
Eastlake, OH - The Lake County Captains (34-26, 65-64) used a walk-off two run homerun from the Milk Man Jordan Smith to defeat the South Bend Silver Hawks (30-30, 65-64) by a final of 7-5 in 10 innings. In the tenth, Francisco Lindor walked with one out to bring up Jordan Smith, and Smith won the ballgame, with his eighth homerun of the season, to right field.
Three Trenton pitchers combined on a five-hit shutout Thursday night, as the Thunder blanked the Akron Aeros, 3-0, at Canal Park. In a match-up of the current division leaders in the Eastern League, and thus a potential championship preview, the Thunder claimed the first game of the four-game weekend series.
Once again, the Mud Hens put a beating on Columbus pitching, winning decisively 10-3 over the Clippers at Huntington Park. The Mud Hens got off to a fast start as Ryan Rayburn hit a deep two run bomb to left center. Danny Worth added to the Hens advantage with an RBI single to center and just like that Toledo led 3-0 after a half an inning of play.
The Carolina Mudcats stormed out to a 7-3 lead, but could not make it hold as the Potomac Nationals rallied for a 9-8 win in 10 innings on Wednesday night at Pfitzner Stadium. The Nationals (26-32, 57-71) scored five unanswered runs over the last three innings for the win. Carolina drops to 28-31 in the second half, and 60-69, after enduring another tough loss.
The 2013 Cleveland Indians Baseball Insider book featuring the Indians' Top 100 Prospects and more is now available. Also, previous editions from 2008-2012 are also available at a discounted rate. Just click on the book image for more information. Thanks again for all the support!
