Cleveland Guardians minor league recap for Thursday, September 19, 2024
Columbus Clippers 3, Toledo Mud Hens 0
Box Score · Clippers improve to 78-66
Backed by some sensational pitching, Columbus got all the runs it needed in the second inning of the game as Raynel Delgado smoked a two-run double. Delgado finished the day 2-for-3 with a hit by pitch.
#Guardians 24yr old INF prospect Raynel Delgado reached base 3x today (2-3 2B 2RBI HBP) for Columbus in the teams win over Toledo including this huge 2-run opposite field double in the 2nd inning.
After a slow start (4-48) .083 AVG over his first 17 games of the season Delgado… pic.twitter.com/L6QsBdf1iY
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) September 18, 2024
Johnathan Rodriguez stayed scorching hot, smoking his org-leading 29th home run in the sixth inning. He was 1-for-4 with a walk.
Homer No. 29 on the season for @CleGuardians prospect Johnathan Rodriguez, who now has 4 dingers in his past 5 games!@CLBClippers | @GuardsInsider pic.twitter.com/knHQ2r61sH
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 18, 2024
Tyler Freeman and Micah Pries were the only other Clippers to reach base safely twice with Pries securing two walks and Freeman going 1-for-4 with a hit by pitch, although Gabriel Arias doubled and stole a base.
The pitching star of the game was Doug Nikhazy, who tossed six shutout innings on three hits. Nikhazy struck out three batters and walked two.
Doug delivers!#Guardians 25yr old LHP prospect Doug Nikhazy picked up the win today for Columbus tossing 6.0 scoreless innings striking out three Toledo batters.
Line – 6.0(IP) 3H 0R 0ER 2BB 3SO (87 Pitches 51 Strikes)
Nikhazy’s last two starts:
– 12.0(IP) 6H 1R 1ER 4BB 11SO… pic.twitter.com/FDBJ0uXv1I
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) September 18, 2024
The bullpen also impressed as Franco Aleman, James Karinchak and Nic Enright all pitched scorelss innings. Karinchak was particularly impressive, striking out all three batters he faced.
The victory also clinched a playoff spot for the Clippers in the International League. Columbus had by far the best record in the second half of any Triple-A squad.
Lake County Captains 9, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 4
Box Score · Captains win the Midwest championship series 2-1
Game three of the Midwest championship was on a razor’s edge until the bottom of the sixth inning.
Tied 1-1, Lake County teed off for five runs and never looked back.
Starting pitcher Dylan DeLucia was sensational, tossing 4 2⁄3 scoreless innings on three hits with five strikeouts and just one walk.
Dylan delivers!!!#Guardians 24yr old RHP prospect Dylan DeLucia punched out five Wisconsin batters tonight over 4.2 scoreless innings of work for Lake County in the Midwest League Championship Series finale!
Line – 4.2(IP) 3H 0R 0ER 1BB 5SO (84 Pitches 55 Strikes)#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/OyP4vXiV3l
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) September 18, 2024
Offensively, Angel Genao was perfect at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a double and three walks. He had a ridiculous 1.466 OPS in the three-game series.
#Guardians 20yr old switch-hitting (SS) prospect Angel Genao capped off his perfect night with an RBI base hit in the bottom of the 8th inning for Lake County in the teams win over Wisconsin.
Genao reached base all 5x (2-2 R 2B RBI 3BB) up to bat in the contest.
He finished… pic.twitter.com/yNYRnUMuR3
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) September 19, 2024
Jake Fox also had a monster game, going 3-for-4 with a double and a home run.
After his solo home run in Game 3 of the Midwest League Championship, Jake Fox is now batting .364 (8-22) in Postseason play #ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/XRot0uhN6A
— GuardsInsider (@GuardsInsider) September 19, 2024
Jonah Advincula also was terrific, going 2-for-3 with a home run and a walk.
Other offensive standouts included Travis Bazzana, who went 2-for-5 and Ralphy Velazquez, who blew the game wide open with a MONSTER home run that cleared one of the billboards in right field.
Ralphy Velazquez hits this one over EVERYTHING to expand the @LCCaptains‘ lead in the decisive Game 3 of the Midwest League Finals!
See what the @CleGuardians‘ No. 4 prospect and High-A talent do next FREE: https://t.co/Fn04T43Dv3 pic.twitter.com/m9CCqeqlhc
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 19, 2024
Steven Perez was left in the game a little long, struggling in his third inning of work out of the bullpen. Zach Jacobs and Sean Rapp closed out the victory with 1 2⁄3 scoreless innings of relief.