Columbus Clippers 5, Indianapolis Indians 3
Clippers improve to 55-75
Travis Bazzana had his best game since being promoted to Triple-A on Wednesday, going 3-for-4 with his first Triple-A home run, a two-run shot that walked the game off for Columbus. He also walked.
Johnathan Rodriguez doubled while Khalil Watson went 1-for-2 with a walk and two stolen bases as well.
Starting pitcher Aaron Davenport was excellent, allowing two runs on six
hits with four strikeouts and three walks in 6.2 innings.
Tanner Burns pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Trevor Stephan was brought in to protect a one-run lead in the ninth, but he gave up a solo home run to the game. Thankfully, he was bailed out by Bazzana’s heroics, but Stephen has an ugly 11.77 ERA at Triple-A since returning from Tommy John surgery. Hopefully he can find what was lost in the upcoming offseason, because Cleveland’s bullpen could use some reinforcements.
Akron RubberDucks 6, Binghamton Rumble Ponies 3
RubberDucks improve to 72-56
This was the Alfonsin Rosario show. Rosario was perfect at the plate on Wednesday, going 4-for-4 with a home run and a double, just missing the cycle by a triple.
Wuilfredo Antunez also had an impressive game, going 2-for-3 with a walk while Guy Lipzcomb went 1-for-2 with two walks and two stolen bases and Jacob Cozart tripled.
Starting pitcher Rorik Maltrud was solid, allowing two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and no walks in 5.0 innings. Ross Carver added a scoreless inning of relief and Steven Perez finished off the victory to earn his second save.
Lake County Captains 4, Great Lakes Loons 3
Captains improve to 73-56
Lake County used the long and small ball to earn a victory on Wednesday. Bennett Thompson got things started with a two-run home run in the fourth inning.
The Captains were tied 2-2 until the top of the ninth inning when Great Lakes took the lead on a solo homer. Lake County responded with a solo home run from Jose Devers to tie the game. They then played small ball as Juan Benjamin followed with a single, he eventually was sacrificed to third on a bunt from Maick Collado and then scored on a sacrifice fly from Kyle Dernedde.
Devers had the only multi-hit game, going 2-for-4, but Jaison Chourio also impressed, going 1-for-2 with two walks and Ryan Cesarini stayed hot by going 1-for-3 with a walk.
Starting pitcher Michael Kennedy was excellent, allowing one run (zero earned) on two hits with five strikeouts and three walks in 3.2 innings. Sean Matson followed with a similar scorecard, allowing one run in 3.2 innings of long relief.
Xavier Martinez gave up the solo home run in his 1.2 innings of work, but earned the win when Lake County came back.
Lynchburg Hillcats 2, Demarva Shorebirds 1
Hillcats improve to 69-58
Another game, another ninth inning victory. This game was tied 1-1 until the top of the ninth, when Guardians 2025 competitive balance second round pick Aaron Walton singled, stole second, then scored on a single from 2025 11th round pick Tyler Howard. Howard had the lone multi-hit game for the Hillcats, going 2-for-4.
Starting pitcher Melkis Hernandez was sensational, allowing one run on one hit with eight strikeouts and two walks in 6.0 innings.
Keegan Zinn added 2.0 innings of scoreless relief and 2025 18th round pick Zane Petty earned his second save with a scoreless ninth inning to close out the victory.
