Columbus Clippers (5-2) – AAA
IND 11 – COL 10
The Clippers had another exciting game, ultimately falling just short of a victory. The Clippers offense has hit the ground running to start the season, with multiple players contributing in big ways each game. Last night was no different. Petey Halpin lead the bottom of the 1st off with a single and immediately cross home on a George Valera home run. Valera, who is on rehab assignment in AAA, hit the ball 383 feet on a slider above the zone.
Travis Bazzana is finally hitting his stride offensively and continues to put up defensive gems in the meantime.
In the bottom of the 3rd Bazz hit a one-out single and scored after Juan Brito reached on a fielding error and Stuart Fairchild singled. The bottom of the 5th was another scoring parade. Bazz hit a triple on a one-out fly to right.
Brito scored Bazzana with a RBI single. Kahlil Watson’s walk and Fairchild’s single loaded the bases. Brito took advantage of a passed ball to score, putting the Clippers up 5-2. Kody Huff singled and Dom Nuñez hit a sac fly to tack on two more runs. Going into the top of the 7th, up 9-2, the Clippers had Hunter Gaddis on the mound. Gaddis, also on a rehab assignment, gave up a single, double, and two walks before being replaced by Colin Holderman. Holderman did not perform much better, allowing a sac fly, three singles, two doubles, a wild pitch, and with a throwing error on the catcher. Indianapolis mounted a 8 run comeback.
Akron RubberDucks (2-0) – AA
REA 3 – AKR 9
The RubberDucks game was slow to get rolling but Akron broke the dam in the bottom of the third. Christian Knapczyk lead the inning with a walk and scored on a triple from Alex Mooney.
Ralphy Velazquez hit an RBI single to right to score Mooney.
Alfonsin Rosario was down in the count 0-2 before launching a two-run home run to center field.
In the bottom of the 5th, the RubberDucks had two on base for Alfonsin Rosario to hit his second home run of the night.
Starting pitcher Josh Hartle had a great night as well. In his 4.2 innings of work, Hartle allowed 5 hits, 1 run, and 1 walk. Ralphy Velazquez went 2-for-3 with 2 runs, 1 RBI, and 1 walk. Alfonsin Rosario went 2-for-4 with 5 RBI, 2 hits, 2 HR, and 2 runs.
Lake County Captains (0-2) – High A
WM 6 – LC 4
The Lake County Captains bounced back from their Thursday night shutout, putting up 4 runs. Unfortunately the game ultimately ended in another loss, but at least the bats are seemingly warming up.
Jaison Chourio went 2-for-4 with 2 hits, 2 runs, and 1 walk. Shortstop Dean Curley went 2-for-4 with 1 RBI and 1 walk. Starter Jackson Humphries pitched 4.0 innings of shutout ball, allowing on 1 hit and 2 walks. He struck out 7 batters in his strong start. Right-handed reliever Jogly Garcia struggled in his relief outing, however. Pitching 2.2 innings and allowing 4 runs, 3 earned, on 2 hits with 2 walks and 4 strikeouts.
The Caps put up two runs in the 3rd inning. Back-to-back walks from Logun Clark and Jaison Chourio to lead off the inning followed by a Dean Curley single scored the first run. With Jaison Chourio on 3rd, Esteban González singled to score the second run. In the top of the 7th, Logun Clark took first base on a hit-by-pitch. Jaison Chourio doubled to right, scoring Clark on field error. Aaron Walton singled, scoring the final run for LC.
Hill City Howlers (2-0) – Single A
HC 8 – KAN 2
The Hill City Howlers followed the momentum of the amazing start by righty Jacob Zibin to a strong victory over the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. Zibin went 3.2 innings in his first start of the season. He only allowed 2 hits and 1 run, but walked 4 batters. Impressively, he struck out 8 batters in his short amount of work.
In the top of the second back-to-back, one-out walks from Tyler Howard and Luis De La Cruz set up Jose Pirela to open the scoring for the game. A balk during Pirela’s at bat moved both runners into scoring position. Pirela singled to right, scoring both Howard and De La Cruz.
In the top of the 6th, Cannon Peebles was hit by pitch to lead off the inning, but was caught stealing. Howard and De La Cruz, once again, drew back-to-back, one-out walks. Jose Pirela singled, again, to score Howard from second.
In the top of the 7th a fielding error allowed Dauri Fernandez to reach. He stole second base to put himself into scoring position. Yeiferth Castillo singled on a fly ball, scoring Fernandez. Cannon Peebles doubled to center, scoring Castillo. Tyler Howard reached on another fielding error. After a stolen base and a walk, the bases were loaded. Yerlin Luis singled to first, scoring Peebles. The Cannonballers weren’t able to overcome the 4-run deficit, giving the victory to the Howlers.
