MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com -MINOR LEAGUE REPORT

PLAYOFF EDITION as of 9/12

COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (AAA)

West Division/International League                                    Streak: L1

’09 Overall: 57-85 (.401) – 4th, 27.0GB                       Final 10: 4-10

AKRON AEROS (AA)

Southern Division/Eastern League                                       Streak: --

’09 Overall: 89-53 (.627) –1st, 14.0GA                                Last 10: --

Game 1: Akron kicked off the playoffs with a 9-4 win over Reading at Canal Park on Wednesday…The Phillies took a 2-0 lead but the Aeros responded in the third when 2B JOSH RODRIGUEZ doubled to score CF JOSE CONSTANZA…Akron would take the lead for good in the fourth after loading the bases and LF JERAD HEAD would deliver a three-run double, giving Akron a 4-2 lead…RF JOHN DRENNEN would extend the lead to 6-2 with a two-run homer…Reading would plate two runs in the eighth but Akron would respond with three which would be the final score…RHP JOSH TOMLIN lasted seven innings and allowed just two runs (1ER) on three hits (1BB, 8K)…RHP JOSH JUDY got the save going 1.1 innings.
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Game 2: Akron took Game 2 with a 6-2 win over Reading…The score remained scoreless until CA CARLOS SANTANA blasted a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth…Akron would tack on two more before the inning came to a close for a 3-0 lead…The Aeros would push their lead to 6-0 when LF JERAD HEAD would rope a two-run double followed with a RBI double by CF JOSE CONSTANZA in the sixth…Reading would get on the board in the seventh with a sacrifice fly and later, a RBI single in the eighth would cap the scoring on the night…RHP JEANMAR GOMEZ got the win going seven innings and giving up just one run on six hits…3B LONNIE CHISENHALL finished the game 3-for-3 with a BB and R…Head was 2-for-4 with a 2B and 3RBI.

Tonight at Reading, 7:05 pm

LHP Eric Berger (3-1, 2.67) vs. RHP Mike Cisco (2-4, 4.58)

Game 3 Preview: Akron leads the best-of-five series 2-0…INF BEAU MILLS is hitting .367 (16-44) with 6 2B and 3RBI in 12 season games vs. the Phillies this year…INF LONNIE CHISENHALL is 5-for-6 with a 2B and 3R in the series…OF JERAD HEAD has 7RBI in the last two games (3-7, 3 2B)…LHP ERIC BERGER was 3-0 with a 1.23ERA in his final four games with Akron (22.0IP, 17H, 3ER, 26K).

Probable Rotation:  Sun. Game 4 @ REA (if necessary): LHP Scott Barnes, Mon. Game 5 vs. REA (if necessary): RHP Connor Graham

KINSTON INDIANS (High-A)

Southern Division/Carolina League                                    Streak: L1

2nd Half Overall: 33-37 (.471) – 3rd, 2.0GB                  Final 10: 5-5

1st Half Overall: 27-41 (.397) – 3rd, 11.0GB

’09 Overall: 60-78 (.435) – 3rd, 13.0GB

LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS (A)

Northern Division/South Atlantic League                          Streak: W2

2nd Half Overall: 40-30 (.571) – 3rd, 5.5GB                  Final 10: 7-3

1st Half Overall: 31-36 (.463) – 7th, 10.5GB                                       

’09 Overall: 71-66 (.518) – 3rd, 10.0GB

MAHONING VALLEY SCRAPPERS (Short-A)

Pickney Division/NY-Penn League                                       Streak: --

’09 Overall: 49-27 (.645) – 1st, 7.0GA                                 Last 10: --

Game 1: The Mahoning Valley Scrappers took a one game to none series lead over Brooklyn with a 3-1 win…RHP CLAYTON COOK lasted 5.2 scoreless innings and gave up just two hits while walking one and striking out six…RHP ANTWONIE HUBBARD pitched the next 2.1 innings and gave up a run while striking out four…RHP CORY BURNS pitched the ninth and gave up one hit and struck out one for the save…The Scrappers scored first in the third when DH RAFAEL VERA doubled and scored on a throwing error…They took a 2-0 lead in the fourth when LF JASON KIPNIS hit a home run…After scoring their third and final run in the seventh, the Cyclones would score their only run with a solo shot in the bottom half.

Game 2: Mahoning Valley advanced to the NYPL finals with another 3-1 over Brooklyn on Wednesday…LHP VIDAL NUNO went the first five innings of the contest without giving way to a run…He gave up just one hit and struck out five for the win…RHP GUIDO FONSECA pitched the ninth, retiring the side in order, for his first save of the playoffs…The Scrappers scored in the second when 1B BEN CARLSON singled and scored 2B CASEY FRAWLEY…In the third, LF JASON KIPNIS hit his second home run in as many days to push MV to a 3-0 lead…The Cyclones would plate a run in the seventh but that was it...Mahoning Valley is now 8-0 all-time in semi-final playoff games.

NYPL Finals Preview: Mahoning Valley Scrappers await the winner of the Staten Island/Lowell series which is tied up at one a piece…Game 1 of the Finals will be on Monday (9/14)…Staten Island won the season series over the Scrappers, 3-0…MV took the season series over Lowell, 2-1…OF JASON KIPNIS is 3-for-7 with 2HR and 3RBI in the playoffs.

Probable Rotation

Mon. Game 1: RHP Brett Brach, Tues. Game 2: RHP Marty Popham, Wed. Game 3 (if necessary): RHP Clayton Cook

AZL INDIANS (Rookie)

Arizona League                                                                       Streak: L2

’09 Overall: 24-32 (.429) – 5th, 9.5GB                            Final 10: 3-7

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

September 9

Niuman Romero had contract purchased by Cleveland

September 8

Chen Lee transferred to Akron from Kinston for Eastern League playoffs

September 7

Lou Marson had contract purchased by Cleveland; Moises Montero transferred to Columbus from Mahoning Valley

September 4

Mike Gosling had contract purchased by Cleveland; Matt Meyer transferred to Columbus from Akron

September 1

Bobby Livingston traded to the Pirates for cash consideration; Carlos Carrasco recalled by Cleveland; Michael Brantley had contract purchased by Cleveland; Jose Veras had contract purchased by Cleveland; RJ Swindle placed on temp. inactive list; Ryan Blair transferred to Columbus from Kinston; Donnie Webb transferred to Columbus from Lake County; Juan Salaz transferred to Columbus from AZL

August 31

Bobby Livingston transferred to Columbus from Akron; Matt Meyer reinstated from 7-day DL and active in Akron

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