Columbus Clippers 13, Omaha Storm Chasers 11 (F/10)
Clippers improve to 44-36
With so many of the team’s top hitters having been promoted recently, it was time for some fresh faces to step up for Columbus on Saturday.
Insert C.J. Kayfus, who went 2-for-4 with a home run, a hit by pitch and a walk. Angel Genao also blasted off for a home run, going 2-for-5 with a double, a walk and a stolen base.
Ralphy Velazquez hit his second home run in Columbus, going 2-for-5 with a walk and Milan Tolentino went 3-for-5 with a home run and a double.
Juan Brito singled
and walked twice.
The Clippers overcame a horrific start from Pedro Avila, who allowed seven runs on four hits and four walks in just 1.2 innings.
Tommy Mace pitched 2.1 scoreless innings with Hunter Stanley chipping in 2.0 more. Steven Perez and Jack Leftwich also added a scoreless frame. Jake Miller got tagged for four runs (three earned) in 1.1 innings and Cody Heuer earned the save by finishing off the game’s last two outs.
Akron RubberDucks 6, Richmond Flying Squirrels 7
RubberDucks fall to 36-38
Akron is free-falling, having lost eight of its last 10 games. It was not the offense’s fault on Sunday as four different players had multi-hit games.
Jacob Cozart led the way, going 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk. Wuilfredo Antunez also homered, going 2-for-3 with a walk while Maick Collado went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and Jose Devers went 2-for-5 with a double.
Jaison Chourio walked twice.
Starting pitcher Dylan DeLucia allowed four runs on four hits in 2.1 innings. Jay Driver followed by allowing two more in 1.2 frames.
Sean Matson and Alaska Abney put out the fire with a combined 3.0 scoreless innings, but Reid Johnston took the loss by allowing the go-ahead run to score in the eighth inning.
Lake County Captains 6, Fort Wayne TinCaps 0
Captains improve to 41-31
Welbyn Francisca has been scorching hot since returning from the injured list. The tiny dynamo went 2-for-3 with a home run and a walk on Sunday.
Also impressing was Dean Curley, who was perfect at the plate. Curley was 1-for-1 with a home run and three walks while Bennett Thompson homered and walked.
Other standouts included Aaron Walton, who went 2-for-4 with a walk and Anthony Martinez, who went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk.
Starting pitcher Jackson Humphries tossed 3.0 scoreless, one-hit innings with four strikeouts, although he walked five batters.
Cam Walty followed with 3.0 more scoreless innings, striking out five, walking none and allowing just one hit.
The bullpen finished off the final 3.0 frames with three different pitchers allowing at least one hit each but avoiding further damage.
Hill City Howlers 9, Hickory Crawdads 4
Howlers improve to 32-42
Juneiker Caceres continues to swing a hot bat. He went 3-for-4 Sunday with a home run and a double, just missing a cycle by a triple.
Top infield prospect Gabriel Rodriguez had a breakout game as well, going 2-for-5 with two home runs and Luis De La Cruz went 2-for-4 with a home run.
Dauri Fernandez tripled while Yelferth Castillo went 2-for-4 with a walk and Yaikel Mijares went 2-for-4.
Starting pitcher Miguel Flores allowed four runs on five hits in 5.0 innings. He struck out four and walked two.
Chase Mobley followed with a scoreless, hitless inning where he struck out the side and walked just one batter. It was a great inning for him and hopefully something he can build upon.
Zane Petty followed by closing out the game’s final 3.0 innings, allowing three hits without allowing a run to cross the plate.
