Minor League Recap – Watson, Ingle, and Fox: Sluggers at Law

High scoring games and timely home runs continue to be the identity for Cleveland affiliates.

Columbus Clippers (12-5) – AAA

Box Score

LOU 2 – COL 13

The Columbus Clippers had a high scoring victory against the Louisville Bats last night. LHP Ryan Webb secured his first win of the season. He pitched 5.1 innings, allowed the only Louisville runs on two hits and two walks. Webb struck out six.

The Clippers kicked things off early in the bottom of the second. Milan Tolentino hit a two run homer, his first AAA home run, to right center to put the Clippers on the board.

The first crooked number inning came in the bottom of the third. Will Brennan led things off with a single to right. Micah Pries hit a sac bunt to move the runner, but due to a throwing error, Brennan reached third and Pries safely reached second. Another error on the Bats defense allowed Will Wilson to reach first and Will Brennan to score the first run of the game, with no outs. Johnathan Rodríguez reached on a fielder’s choice that did not result in an out to load the bases. Kody Huff stepped up to the plate, took the first pitch for a called strike then squared up on the second pitch to hit his first home run of the season. A 402ft grand slam to left center that left his bat at 108.3 mph.

In the bottom of the fifth, Will Wilson put the Clippers up 7-0 with a lead off home run to left center. With two outs, Milan Tolentino singled to right, stole second base, then advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Kyle Datres drew a walk and Christian Cairo hit a RBI single to right to score Tolentino.

The Clippers bullpen kept things locked down after Webb allowed a double and walk that would score later in the inning. RHP Luis Frías went 1.2IP only allowing a hit and a walk. He struck out two batters. RHP Cody Bolton threw one inning of hitless baseball. RHP Nick Mikolajchak closed out the game walking one batter and striking out two.

The Clippers had a couple multi-run innings left in them. In the bottom of the sixth, Will Brennan hit another lead off single. Micah Pries followed up with a single of his own. The bases were loaded again when Will Wilson drew a no-out walk. Johnathan Rodríguez hit a single to the pitcher that allowed Brennan to score and kept the bases load with no one out. Kody Huff drew a RBI walk and a pitching change for the Bats. The new pitcher struck out the next two hitters, but Christian Cairo was hit by pitch to walk in Will Wilson, putting the Clippers up 11-2 before the side was retired.

In the bottom of the eighth Johnathan Rodríguez hit a lead off single then advanced to second on a balk. Kody Huff hit an RBI double scoring Rodríguez. Kyle Datres hit a one-out single to center to score the Clippers last run of the night.

The Clippers as a team recorded thirteen runs on thirteen hits and five walks.

Tonight’s game will be at Huntington Park with a first pitch time of 4:05 PM EDT. RHP Vince Velasquez will be taking the mound for the Clippers.

Akron RubberDucks (9-4) – AA

Box Score

AKR 9 – ERI 6

The RubberDucks faced the Detroit Tigers AA Affiliate, the Erie SeaWolves Friday night in Erie. The RubberDucks saw every batter contribute to the victory in some way.

Akron only used two pitchers to take down the SeaWolves. RHP Aaron Davenport started the game, pitching 5.0 innings and allowing four runs from two, two RBI homers. Davenport gave up four hits and walked a batter. He struck out four. RHP Trenton Denholm earned his third win of the season, pitching the remaining four innings. The SeaWolves score two runs on Denholm, but only one was earned. A catcher interference call in the bottom of the sixth allowed Roberto Campos to reach base and ultimately score for Denholm’s unearned run. The earned run was the result of a bottom of the ninth lead off home run. Demholm kept things locked in after that, only allowing two singles before getting out of the inning and securing the win for Akron.

The RubberDucks bats were electric from the get go. Travis Bazzana hit a lead off single and crossed home plate four pitches later when Cooper Ingle hit his second homer of the season, a two run homer to left center. Kahlil Watson then quickly put the RubberDucks up 3-0 with his own homer.

In the top of the third Jorge Burgos hit a solo shot to add another run to the board. It was his fifth home run of the season. Burgos has been launching everything he can.

In the top of the seventh, the RubberDucks were down by one run. Cameron Barstad drew a lead off walk. Jake Fox hit a single to left that was deflected by the pitcher and Barstad advanced to third. Travis Bazzana and Cooper Ingle drew back-to-back no-out walks to score Barstad, tie the game, and load the bases. Kahlil Watson hit a two-RBI single to center scoring Fox and Bazzana to put the RubberDucks back on top 7-5.

The Ducks weren’t done yet. In the top of the eighth, Alex Mooney hit a lead off single to right then stole second base. His third stolen base of the year. With one out, Jake Fox scored the RubberDucks final runs of the night and hit a two run home run to center field.

The RubberDucks continue their campaign against the SeaWolves tonight at UPMC Park in Erie, PA. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 PM EDT with RHP Rorik Maltrud taking the mound for the duckies.

Lake County Captains (7-6) – High A

Box Score

LC 8 – FW 11

LHP Jackson Humphries took the mound for the Captains against the Fort Wayne TinCaps. He threw three innings of work, allowing four hits and three walks. He struck out three but gave up four earned runs. An unearned run was added to the scoreboard in the bottom of the second. A pick off attempt by Humphries got by the third baseman and allowed the runner to score. RHP Alonzo Richardson went 2.0 innings of work, allowing four runs, all earned. He struck out only two while giving up four hits and walking four. RHP Kyle Scott worked 2.1 innings, giving up two runs, five hits, and walking two. Scott struck out two. RHP Jay Driver was the only Lake County pitcher to not allow a run. He threw 0.2 innings of scoreless, hitless work, striking out one.

The Captains tried to give their pitchers run support but ultimately could not come out on top. In the top of the second Maick Collado drew a lead off walk and scored on a Kyle Dernedde homer to left. It was Dernedde’s first career professional home run.

Kyle Dernedde continued to make an impact this game. In the top of the sixth Alfonsin Rosario hit a lead off double and advanced to third when Maick Collado flied out to center. Dernedde drew a one-out walk and stole second base. Johnny Tincher singled to short to score Rosario and advance Dernedde. Wuilfredo Antunez hit a homer to right to add three to the board with one swing.

The penultimate run for Lake County came in the top of the seventh when Jose Devers hit a lead off solo shot to left center.

In the top of the ninth the Captains batters tried to generate a rally. Jonah Advincula hit a lead off bunt single then stole second base to put himself in scoring position. Alfonsin Rosario hit a RBI single to score Advincula, but the rally stopped there with the Captains falling to the TinCaps 8-11.

The Captains will continue play in Fort Wayne at Parkview Field. First pitch is at 1:05 PM EDT with LHP Caden Favors getting the start.

Lynchburg Hillcats (7-6) – Low A

Box Score

LYN 5 – SAL 2

Lynchburg Hillcats added another game to the win column against the Salem Red Sox. LHP Rafe Schlesinger was the starting pitcher on Friday night. Schlesinger went 4.0IP with 5H, 2ER, 1BB, and 3Ks. RHP Austin Aledeano earned his first win of the season, pitching 2.0 innings with 1H, 1BB, and 2Ks. RHP Conner Whittaker got his first save of the season with 3.0 innings of work. He allowed three hits and struck out two.

The Hillcats put up their first crooked number in the top of the second. Bennett Thompson hit a lead off double to left. Thompson advanced to third on a single to second by Ryan Cesarini. A double steal by the runners put Cesarini on second and scored Thompson. With one out Jose Pirela singled to center to score Cesarini. With two outs Yank Jean-Baptiste walked then another double steal advanced the two runners up one base. Unfortunately the Hillcats did not capitalize on this.

In the top of the sixth Jose Pirela singled to right to lead off the inning. Alberto Mendez reached on a fielders choice. A throwing error by the Red Sox third baseman allowed Pirela to advance to third and avoid the out. With runners on the corner and one out, Tommy Hawke singled on a line drive to right to score Pirela. Tommy Hawke stole second then, on a wild pitch, advanced to third as Alberto Mendez scored. Welbyn Francisca and Luis Merejo drew back to back walks and forced a pitching change. Bennett Thompson hit into a forceout that scored Tommy Hawke. The Hillcats beat the Red Sox 5-2.

The Hillcats will play in Salem, VA tonight with a 6:35 PM EDT start time at Carilion Clinic Field. RHP Jervis Alfaro will be looking for his second win of the season as he starts for Lynchburg.