Alfonsin Rosario’s hitting streak reaches 10 games, Rodney Boone has lights out pitching for Akron

Cleveland Guardians minor league recap for Monday, April 21, 2025

Columbus Clippers 4, Louisville Bats 7

Box Score · Clippers fall to 12-7

Will Brennan is heating up. The former Cleveland corner outfielder slugged his second home run of the season yesterday, a solo shot to lead off the game.

Milan Tolentino also had a big day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a two-run shot, his second at the Triple-A level.

Dom Nunez also hit a solo shot. Other offensive standouts included Christian Cairo, who went 2-for-4, Kody Huff, who went 1-for-3 with a walk, and Kyle Datres, who walked twice.

Starting pitcher Koby Allard was excellent, allowing one run on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks in 4.1 innings.

Reliever Nick Mikolachjak was extremely unlucky, but also brought some of the pain on himself, allowing three runs (none earned) on one hit with three walks in 0.2 innings to take the loss.

Akron RubberDucks 1, Erie SeaWolves 5

Box Score · RubberDucks fall to 9-6

Akron’s offense just couldn’t get anything going on Sunday. The RubberDucks managed just five hits.

No one had a multi-hit game, although Khalil Watson led the way with a triple, a walk and a stolen base. C.J. Kayfus doubled and Tyresse Turner walked twice and also stole a base. Cooper Ingle only had one single, but it scored the team’s lone run of the day.

Starting pitcher Rodney Boone had the best appearance of his career at the Double-A level, tossing 5.0 shutout innings with just one hit allowed, one walk and three strikeouts.

Davis Sharpe took the loss, allowing three unearned runs in relief, and all three runs were inherited by Zach Jacobs, who had a rough outing to get the blown save.

Lake County Captains 4, Fort Wayne TinCaps 1

Box Score · Captains improve to 9-6

Based on the amount of hits the team had, Lake County probably should have scored more than four runs, but that was more than enough after a stellar pitching performance.

Offensively, Ralphy Velazquez went 3-for-5 with a double to lead the way. Jose Devers only had one hit on the day, but it was a big one, a two-run home run that put him on top of the league leaders for home runs in the Midwest League.

Alfonsin Rosario also continues to show his improved bat to ball skills, going 3-for-5, including an RBI single in the ninth inning to help Lake County cement the victory. Rosario is on a 10-game hitting streak.

Jacob Cozart and Christian Knapczyk both reached base safely three times. Cozart went 1-for-3 with a walk and a hit by pitch while Knapczyk went 2-for-3 with a hit by pitch. Johnny Tincher went 1-for-3 with a walk.

Starting pitcher Josh Hartle had his best outing since joining Cleveland’s organization. He tossed 4.0 shutout innings with five strikeouts and one walk while allowing three hits.

Piggyback partner Yorman Gomez followed with 4.0 strong innings of long relief, allowing just one run and Jay Driver picked up his first save of the season, striking out one and walking one in the ninth inning.

Lynchburg Hillcats 5, Salem Red Sox 2

Box Score · Hillcats improve to 9-6

Lynchburg is red hot, winnings its fourth game in a row behind a strong pitching perfomance.

Starting pitcher Jacob Zibin was effective, allowing two runs on three hits in 4.0 innings with one strikeout and one walk.

The real pitching star of the game was Zibin’s piggyback partner Melkis Hernandez, a 20-year-old Dominican southpaw pitcher who followed with 5.0 shutout innings of one-hit ball with six strikeouts and just one walk to earn the win.

Offensively, Ryan Cesarini went 2-for-4 with a walk and two stolen bases. Welbyn Francisca went 2-for-5 with a stolen base. Bennett Thompson went 2-for-5 and Alberto Mendez was a beast, going 3-for-5 with his first home run of the season.

Leadoff hitter Tommy Hawke also went 1-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base, as did Luis Merejo. Jose Pirela tripled and Yaikel Mijeres doubled.