Columbus Clippers (15-16) – AAA
TOL 18 – COL 5
The Columbus Clippers were absolutely decimated by the Toledo Mud Hens. Pedro Avila started for Columbus, pitching 5.2 innings. He gave up 8H/6R/1BB and struck out 4 batters. All of his earned runs can in the fifth and sixth inning. In fact, the Mud Hens only had 2 hits through the first four innings. Steven Pérez came in to finish the sixth inning and gave up 2 runs on 2 hits and a walk. Tommy Mace didn’t make it far into the seventh, only recording one out but allowing 4 runs on 4 walks.
Tanner Burns allowed all of his inherited runners to score and allowed a run of his own before getting out of the seventh. Jack Leftwich got through a full inning of work, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits. Leftwich was the only Columbus pitcher to give up a home run the entire game. Juan Benjamin came in to close, giving up an additional 2 runs before the game was called due to rain.
Columbus’ offense started out lively. Kahlil Watson hit a lead off double, Juan Brito walked, and Nolan Jones hit a 1-out sac fly to score Watson from 3rd. In the bottom of the third, Kahlil Watson drew a 1-out walk and stole 2nd base. George Valera slapped a single to left that scored Watson, putting the Clippers up 2-0. NoJo hit a two run homer to expand the Clippers lead.
By the bottom of the sixth, the score swung the other way with the Mud Hens taking a four run lead over Columbus. In the bottom of the seventh, Maick Collado doubled to left and Juan Brito slapped a one out single to center to score Collado. The Clippers didn’t have an answer for the Mud Hens offense.
Akron RubberDucks (15-10) – AA
HBG 2 – AKR 3
The RubberDucks at least kept things competitive. The Harrisburg Senators and RubberDucks were in a 1-1 battle that went into extras.
Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson went 5.0 innings of scoreless work. He allowed only 3 hits, walked 2, and struck out 6 batters.
Jack Jasiak pitched the sixth and seventh, not allowing a single baserunner and striking out 3. Sean Matson gave up 1 run on 2 hits and 2 walks in his inning of work, sending the game into extra innings. Alaska Abney secured the win, though, pitching the ninth and tenth inning. He struck out two and gave up a hit. The Senators took the lead on a single to left that was deflected by Christian Knapczyk at second scored the ghost runner.
In this low scoring game, the RubberDucks took an early lead in the bottom of the second. With two outs and two on, Guy Lipscomb singled to center, scoring Cameron Barstad from second.
In the bottom of the tenth, Guy kicked things off again. He drew a lead off walk with Alex Mooney on second base as the ghost runner. Jose Devers laid down a sac bunt to advance both runners into scoring position. Jake Fox drew a one-out walk. Ralphy Velazquez hit a single to left scoring two on a throwing error.
Lake County Captains (13-12) – High A
BEL 2 – LC 7
The Lake County Captains had a great game, outscoring the Beloit Sky Carp and only using two pitchers!
Franklin Gómez got the start, and his first win, for the Caps. Gómez pitched 5.0 innings of scoreless work. He only allowed one baserunner via a hit and struck out 6 batters. Michael Kennedy earned his first save of the season, pitching the remaining 4 innings of the game. He allowed 2R/ER on 1H and 3BBs, striking out 3.
Jace LaViolette, after struggling in Thursday’s double header, had a solid night with a double and a homer. LaViolette’s double led off the bottom of the first. LaViolette stole third base, setting up Jaison Chourio for a RBI sac fly. In the bottom of the second, Jeffrey Mercedes hit a solo homer to extend the Captains lead.
In the bottom of the third, Dean Curley and Aaron Walton got in on the home run action, hitting back-to-back home runs.
The seventh inning was LaViolette’s inning. Jace robbed a home run to end the top half then came up to bat in the bottom half to hit a two-run shot to right field.
Ryan Cesarini slapped his own home run to right for the Caps’ final run of the game.
Hill City Howlers (15-10) – Single A
HC 6 – DEL 3
Jacob Zibin got the start for the Howlers, pitching 3 innings. He allowed 3R/2ER on 6 hits and 2 walks, striking out 3. The unearned run came in the bottom of the second with a shortstop fielding error allowing the runner to reach. Luke Fernandez went three innings of his own, allowing 1 hits and striking out 3. Keegan Zinn earned his first save of the season, pitching the remaining three innings, allowing only one base runner via a hit and striking out 5 batters.
Jose Pirela kicked off the Howlers scoring, hitting a two run home run to tie the game.
In the top of the third, Robert Arias homered to right to tie it, again, for Hill City.
The Howlers finally took the lead in the top of the fifth, starting with a lead off single from Tyler Howard. Howard put himself in scoring position with a stolen base. Dauri Fernandez hit a two-out single to right. Howard scored from second to give them the lead. The Howlers sealed the deal in the top of the ninth.
Riley Nelson drew a one-out walk and Luis De La Cruz reached via a hit by pitch. With two outs, Tyler Howard singled to right, scoring Nelson and De La Cruz to cap off the victory.
