Minor League Recap – Clippers Sweep Double Header

The Clippers, RubberDucks, and Captains bring home W’s.

The minor league affiliates are all officially underway! I hope you aren’t reading this via dial-up, there are a lot of highlight videos in this one.

Columbus Clippers (AAA) –

Game 1

Final Score: STP 2 – COL 3

In a make up of Thursday’s rainout, the Columbus Clippers took game one from the Twin’s Triple-A affiliate, the St. Paul Saints.

LHP Doug Nikhazy had his second start of the season. His first inning started rocky, allowing four straight singles, allowing two to score. Nikhazy settled down and finished the night without allowing another run. Nikhazy pitched 3.2 innings, allowed 5H, 1BB, and 2ER. He struck out four batters before turning things over to Andrew Walters. The righty kept Columbus in the game, finishing the fourth inning and pitching a scoreless fifth. Walters gave up 1H, 2BB, and struck out 2. RHP Bradley Hanner finished the game for Columbus, pitching the final two innings of Game 1. Hanner earned his second win of the season, allowing 1H and 1BB.

Columbus hitters recorded nine hits and four walks in their victory, but didn’t score until the final inning. In the bottom of the seventh, Will Brennan started things off with a one out walk. Brennan advanced to third on a Juan Brito double to right field. Both Brennan and Brito scored when Angel Martínez hit a sharp single to center, something this trio have started to do consistently.

With the game tied and only one out, Will Wilson hit a double to center to bring home Angel Martínez and secure the win.

A defense note: Angel Martínez got the start in center and had a fantastic jumping catch to rob a hit.

Game 2

Final Score: STP 1 – COL 11

Columbus completed the double header sweep with a towering victory over the Saints. LHP Kolby Allard had a strong outing, only allowing 1R on 3H in four innings of work. He walked one batter and struck out five. Righties Jack Leftwich and Tanner Burns held down the rest of the game with one inning of scoreless work each. Towards the end of the game, it was rather impressive the pitchers didn’t allow more runs. With rain pouring as midnight approached, the game was delayed and ultimately called having only played 5.5 innings.

5.5 innings was all the Clippers offense needed last night. In the bottom of the 1st, the scoring kicked off early. Will Brennan drew a lead off walk and advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Brito. Will Wilson drew a two-out walk. Kody Huff reached on a fielding error that scored Brennan for the first run. In the bottom of the 2nd with two outs Justin Boyd, Will Brennan, and Juan Brito all singled. Brito’s first pitch single to right was enough to score the speedy Justin Boyd and advance Brennan to third, but the inning ended before they could score.

Two more runs were knocked in during the third inning. With Kody Huff (single) and Petey Halpin (double) on base, Christian Cairo hit a two-run double to center. Will Wilson and Milan Tolentino put the nail in the coffin in the bottom of the fourth. Will Wilson hit a two run homer to right field scoring Angel. Tolentino hit a two out, two on, two run double to left to put the Clippers up 8-1.

In the last inning of hitting for Columbus, the offense took advantage of the pouring rain to tack on three more runs. Brito drew a walk, Will Wilson and Kody Huff both reached on fielding errors, Petey Halpin walked in a run, and finally Christian Cairo capped off his stellar night with another two run hit; a single to center.

Akron RubberDucks (AA) –

Final Score: AKR 7 – RIC 4

Akron continued the winning streak against the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.

RHP Tommy Mace earned an opening day win in 5.0 innings of work. Mace only allowed 1R while giving up 4H, 4BB, but striking out 4.

RHP Zach Jacobs pitched two runless, hitless innings. Striking out three batters in the process. LHP Shawn Rapp struggled a bit in the bottom of the eighth inning. Rapp hit the first batter, then gave up a one-out single. On a fielders choice and fielding error, the Flying Squirrels scored two. Another single scored two more runners before the side was retired. RHP Zane Morehouse closed the game, earning his first save. Morehouse walked one and struck out two to end the game.

The RubberDucks starting the scoring early. Cooper Ingle picked up where he left off last year and hit a one-out single, Joe Lampe walked, and both scored on a double from Dayan Frias.

In the top of the third, Travis Bazzana drew a walk and then stole second base, but was left on base with Joe Lampe (who drew his second walk of the game). In the top of the fourth with Guy Lipsomb (reached on a forceout) and Alex Mooney (walked) on base, Travis Bazzana recorded his first RBI in an Akron uniform with a single to center.

The RubberDucks kept the momentum going nearly every inning. In the top of the fifth, with two outs, Dayan Frias walked and then stole second. Frias didn’t need to steal second, Jorge Burgos had his own plan. Burgos hit the RubberDucks first homerun of the season.

The offense just kept the same approach for the rest of the game, mixing in walks and singles to continue to add runs to the score. The team had eight walks and seven hits to end the night. If this is any indication for what the season has in store for the RubberDucks, I think it will be a very fun season.

Lake County Captains (High A) –

Final Score: LC 8 – GL 1

Lake County wanted a high scoring opening day game of their own. The Captains beat the Dodgers High A affiliate, the Lake County Loons on both sides of the plate.

LHP Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson was given the opening day honors. He pitched three innings, striking out five batters. Tugboat walked three and allowed three hits. The sole run was scored on an throwing error by the catcher Jacob Cozart.

The defense helped out the starter with this stellar bases loaded double play to end the second inning.

RHP Kyle Scott earned his first win of the season, pitching 2.2 scoreless innings. Scott gave up 2H and 2BB while striking out 5. LHP Adam Tulloch earned the save in 3.1 innings of work. Tulloch gave up 1H and 1B, striking out 3.

The Captains first run came late in the game. In the top of the sixth, Wuilfredo Antunez hit a single to center to score Jose Devers from third.

The top of seventh the Captains went on a six run scoring frenzy. Ralphy Velazquez and Alfonsin Rosario led off the inning with walks. Jose Devers singled to load the bases. A wild pitch and a double from Esteban Gonzalez scored three. Antunez singled to score Gonzalez. Christian Knapczyk and Juan Benjamin hit a pair of singles. Antunez scored and Knapczyk moved to third on a force out hit by Jaison Chourio. With Chourio on first a wild pitch allowed Knapczyk to score. Ralphy came back up to the plate and drew his second walk of the inning, but that’s where the scoring would end for the rest of the game.

Also like the RubberDucks, the Captains had more walks than hits. 11 walks and 8 hits is pretty impressive and a great way to start the season for the defending champions.

Lynchburg Hillcats (Low A) –

Final Score: LYN 0 – FAY 7

Unfortunately the affiliate sweep potential ends here with the Hillcats. RHP Braylon Doughty gets the loss. Doughty pitched 3.0 innings, giving up 2R on 5H and striking out 6. LHP Luis Flores took the brunt of the damage, only pitching two-thirds of an inning. He allowed 2H, 3BB, and 4R.

The Hillcats also had an impressive eight walks, but with only two hits the offense couldn’t capitalize and score a run.