Minor Matters: Aeros, Captains Win

The Kinston Indians finally got some decent weather and were able to open their Class A Carolina League season, but lost to the Frederick Keys on Tuesday night. Triple-A Buffalo also lost, to Richmond. Double-A Akron rallied to win at Binghamton, although outfielder Trevor Crowe missed his third game with back stiffness. Class A Lake County got a home win over the Delmarva Shorebirds.

Richmond 5, Buffalo 3
Brad Snyder (.313) and Andy Gonzalez (.500) continued their hot hitting, each getting their first home runs of the season, but Rich Rundles (1-1, 7.20 ERA) coughed up a 2-1 lead with shoddy relief work.

Buffalo starter Matt Ginter (1.80 ERA) gave up one run on three hits over five innings, striking out three. Then the lefty Rundles yielded four runs on six hits over the final three innings.

Bisons leadoff batter Josh Barfield (.333), and DH Ryan Mulhern (.250) got Buffalo's only other hits.

Akron 3, Binghamton 2
Wes Hodges (.381) and Chris Gimenez (.308) each hit seventh-inning homers to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead and Randy Newsom (9.00 ERA) pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his first save.

Aeros starter Kevin Dixon (1.80 ERA) allowed two runs (one earned) over five innings, giving up seven hits without a walk and striking out two.

J.D. Martin (1-1, 4.50 ERA) allowed one hit and struck out one over two scoreless innings and Bubbie Buzachero (2.70 ERA) worked a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and walk while striking out one.

Matt Whitney (.364), Hodges and Gimenez all went 2-for-4. Nate Panther (.375) got Akron's other hit.

Notable: Outfielder Trevor Crowe missed his third game because of back tightness according to Aeros manager Mike Sarbaugh. Crowe is considered day-to-day.

Catcher Armando Camacaro’s grand slam Sunday was the 55th in Aeros history (since 1989, when they were the Canton-Akron Indians). The Aeros have hit at least one grand slam every year with the exception of 1994 when manager Ted Kubiak’s squad was shut out in that department, despite a lineup that featured Tony Mitchell (25 homers), Clyde “Pork Chop” Pough (20 homers), and Marc Marini (17 homers).

Frederick 8, Kinston 7
After a week of rain and soggy fields, the K-Tribe finally opened their season, but made four errors in the loss.

First baseman Beau Mills went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and three RBI to lead Kinston's offense. Centerfielder John Drennen was 2-for-5 and scored three times; shortstop Carlos Rivero went 2-for-5 with two RBI.

Rivero also made two costly errors. Catcher Alex Castillo and starting pitcher Hector Rondon also made wild throws for errors.

Rondon (0-1, 4.91 ERA) was erratic over 3 2-3 innings, striking out six, but also walking four and allowing five runs (only two earned) and give hits.

Jim Deters gave up two unearned runs over 2 1-3 innings, fanning two, walking one, and giving up only one hit.

Neil Wagner struck out four over two innings, but also gave up a run on two walks and a hit. Heath Taylor worked a scoreless ninth, giving up a hit and a walk.

Lake County 5, Delmarva 3
Josh Judy (1-0, 0.00 ERA) struck out four over 2 2-3 hitless innings to get the win in relief. The big right-hander walked one after starter Santos Frias (4.15 ERA) gave up two runs on three hits and three walks over 4 1-3 innings, fanning three.

Jonathan Holt yielded one hit and one run over one inning before Vinnie Pestano yielded a walk, but struck out the side in the ninth for his second save.

Second baseman Karexon Sanchez (.286) went 2-for-4, hitting his first homer and scoring twice to lead the Captains' offense.