Clip Joint Loses Power

Zach McAllister

I will not go so far as to say the Zach McAllister was once again "robbed" of his 9th victory, he was simply out pitched.  Zach (8-3, 2.97) went the distance (8 IP) for his third complete game, surrendering 3 runs on 9 hits.  He walked one and struck out four.  After scratching out just 3 hits over the first five, the Mud Hens clustered four together in the 6th to put their first two runs on the board.  It would be more than enough.  Two Toledo pitchers allowed just five hits and a walk in shutting out the Clips until a Paul Phillips RBI single with two outs in the ninth.  The final was 3-1.

It could have been worse.  Ezequiel Carrera had two outfield assists, both on very strange plays.  With one out in the fourth Scott Thorman doubled to center.  Thorman got a bit greedy, took too big of a turn around second, and, after a brief run down, was tagged out by 1B Jared Goedert.  Then, in the 8th, Thorman singled in the Hens' third run.  As he tried to steal second base on first movement, McAllister stepped off.  Thorman sprinted for second and Zach coolly turned and fired the ball into center field.  The toss was so errant that Carrera had to chase it toward the warning track.  Meanwhile, Thorman just kept running.  After retrieving the ball, Zeke fired home and Thorman was tagged out.  Wow.  Weird, wild stuff.

The Clippers come back to Columbus today for a quick two with Louisville.  Corey Kluber takes the ball in game one, tomorrow at 7:05p.

Other Minor Points of Interest --

Drew Pomeranz was roughed up Friday night just about as much as Pom (2-2, 2.06) gets roughed up.  He threw 5.1 innings and put nine on base (6 H, 3BB), allowing three to score.  He served up a solo home run and fanned seven.  The waters remain murky as to when we might see the 2010 first round pick bumped up to Akron.  His numbers are outstanding and Kinston has gone to a six-man rotation, but there are lingering injury concerns and Drew is still averaging less than five innings per start.

Strongsville native Anthony Gallas (.220) broke free of an abysmal 3-for-24 slump with a pair of hits, including a dinger.  The long ball was Gallas' first at Kinston and gave the little Indians an 8th inning lead that they would not relinquish.

Joe Gardner continued his Jekyll and Hyde act for Akron.  Having thrown a gem (7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K) his last time out, Gardner (5-5, 3.92) went right ahead and lasted 2.2 innings on Friday night.  While five of the six runs that he allowed were unearned, he did get touched up for 3 hits and 3 walks.  Gardner did fan 3 as well, but any pitcher expecting to progress through the system cannot fail to get through 3 innings in 4 of 13 starts.

St Ed's grad Stetson Allie started against Mahoning Valley last night and turned in the best outing of his young career.  The Pirates 2010 2nd round pick tossed four innings, giving up a run on five hits and punching out five.  Included in the strike out tally was former high school battery mate Alex Lavisky (.195), who went down looking in the third.  Allie (6.00) had struggled in his first two starts, lasting a combined five innings while letting in five earned and walking seven, but did not issue any free passes versus the Scrappers.

Cheers.