Minor Matters: Some Sharp Pitching

Buffalo's Sean Smith retired the first 12 men he faced and yielded one hit over six innings, but the Bisons lost, 2-1, Thursday at Richmond. Kinston's Jeanmar Gomez fanned nine over five innings in the K-Tribe's 6-5 win in 16. Lake County's Ryan Morris was sharp in the Captains' 5-0 home win over Delmarva. Akron lost its home opener, 7-4, despite the hot hitting of Michael Aubrey and Matt Whitney.

At Richmond, Smith (0-0, 2.00 ERA) was perfect until walking Joe Borchard to lead off the fifth. He then yielded a single to Reggie Taylor that sent Borchard to third.

Then Smith and his infield executed a pickoff play to perfection, resulting in a double play. Smith faked a throw to third, wheeled and caught Taylor off first. Smith threw to shortstop Danny Sandoval, who saw Borchard trying for home. Sandoval threw to catcher Yamid Haad, who ran Borchard back up the line, throwing to Smith who tagged him and then saw Taylor still off the bag and threw to first baseman Jordan Brown, who tossed it back to Sandoval for the tag.

Just your basic 1-6-2-1-3-6 double play.

Andy Gonzalez (.440) drew a bases-loaded walk in the top of the sixth to put the Bisons ahead, 1-0. They tried to add a run in the seventh when Sandoval (.250) doubled and tried to score one out later on a single by Josh Barfield (.344). But the throw home beat Sandoval.

Scott Elarton (0-1, 4.26 ERA) replaced Smith to start the bottom of the seventh and yielded a two-run single to Scott Thorman that put the Braves ahead, 2-1.

Gonzalez went 0-for-3, stopping his six-game hitting streak. Ben Francisco (.154) also went 0-for-3.

The Aeros (2-5) dropped their home opener in Akron, 7-4, to the Bowie BaySox.

First baseman Michael Aubrey (.300) extended his hitting streak to seven games by going 2-for-5 (double, triple) with two RBI and DH Matt Whitney (.345) continued his hot streak by going 2-for-4 (single, double) with a walk, two runs and two RBI.

Shortstop Josh Rodriguez (.115) finally got untracked, going 2-for-5 (single, double) with a run -- though he made two costly errors.

Outfielder Jose Constanza's slump continued. He went 0-for-5, dropping his average to .034.

Starter David Huff (0-1, 7.27 ERA) allowed four runs on six hits over 4 2-3 innings. He struck out five without issuing a walk.

Shawn Nottingham (6.23 ERA) yielded three runs (only one earned) over 3 1-3 innings and T.J. Burton (9.00 ERA) pitched a perfect ninth.

Here's the pitching matchups for the rest of the scheduled series at Canal Park:

Friday
AKR RH Frank Herrmann (1-0, 11.12 ERA) vs. BOW RH Jason Berken (0-1, 3.60)
Saturday
AKR LH Ryan Edell (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. BOW RH Chris Tillman (0-0, 9.00)
Sunday
AKR RH Kevin Dixon (0-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. BOW LH Chris Waters (1-0, 1.13)

At Kinston, Gomez (0-0, 1.80 ERA) was long gone by the time the K-Tribe (1-2) finally rallied to win, 6-5 in 16 innings over the Frederick Keys.

The right-hander allowed one run on six hits over five, fanning nine without a walk.

Heath Taylor was just as impressive in extra innings, fanning three and yielding only one hit over 4 2-3 innings.

Josh Tomlin (1-1, 6.23 ERA) yielded a run in the top of the 16th, but got the win when the K-Tribe scored twice in the bottom half.

Beau Mills (.429) and Jared Goedert (.313) each singled to open the inning and moved up on a wild pitch. Nick Weglarz (.200) was intentionally walked to load the bases and with Carlos Rivero (.471) batting, Mills scored on a wild pitch to tie it. Rivero then singled home Goedert for the win.

It was Kinston's second impressive rally by the middle of the order. After Frederick scored twice in the 10th to take a 4-2 lead, Mills and Goedert each singled and moved up on a groundout by Weglarz. Again with Rivero up, Mills scored on a wild pitch. And again Rivero singled home Goedert to tie it at 4.

Rivero went 3-for-7 with two RBI; Mills 2-for-7 with two runs; Goedert 2-for-6 with two runs.

Luis Perdomo (0.00 ERA) gave up only a walk over two innings, fanning two, but James Deters (2.25 ERA) yielded a hit and a run over 1 2-3 innings. Then Neil Wagner (5.40 ERA) blew the save in the ninth, yielding two runs (one earned).

At Lake County, Morris (1-0, 2.45 ERA) allowed only two hits over 5 1-3 innings, walking one and striking out four.

Michael Pontius gave up one hit and two walks over 2 2-3 innings, fanning three, and Dallas Cawiezell yielded a hit over one inning.

Offensively, leadoff hitter Lucas Montero (.421) got the Captains (5-2) going. He went 1-for-3 (double) with a walk, RBI, two runs and stolen base.

Karexon Sanchez (.300) was 1-for-3, a two-run double; Matt Brown (.348) 2-for-3 (single, solo homer) and Adam White 1-for-2 with a walk, two runs and stolen base.