Indians minor league recap: Yandy Diaz homers for first time in a month

Third baseman Yandy Diaz is a legitimate power game short of looking major-league ready. He has the plate approach and the defense, but he just does not hit for much power. If yesterday's home run was the start of a turnaround, maybe we could be seeing something exciting from him soon on the Cleveland Indians.

In other exciting news, Brady Aiken made his professional debut with the Arizona League. This was his first time pitching outside of extended spring training since being drafted by the Indians last June.

Columbus Clippers 2, Rochester Red Wings 8

Box Score · Clippers fall to 37-34

Starting pitcher Will Roberts had a bad day from the start, allowing five earned runs in the first inning and two more over the next five frames. The Columbus Clippers offense could not make up the deficit (or even 1/4th of it), and they are already on another losing streak.

The Clippers only had six hits on the day, but four of them went for extra bases, including solo home runs from Michael Choice and Yandy Diaz. Diaz's homer puts his current hit streak at eight games; it was first ball to leave the park since May 26.

Mahoning Valley Scrappers 1, Auburn Doubledays 7

Box Score · Scrappers fall to 1-3

Despite another solid effort from a starting pitcher, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers bullpen imploded in the middle innings, leading to their third loss of the season.

Three runs crossed the plate in starting pitcher Luis Jimenez's three innings, but only one was charged to him. The other runs were a result of what sounds like a circus based on the box score:

• Blake Perkins reaches on a fielding error by shortstop Luke Wakamatsu. Angelo La Bruna to 3rd.
• Andres Martinez reaches on a force attempt, fielding error by second baseman Erlin Cerda. Angelo La Bruna scores. Blake Perkins to 2nd.

The majority of the runs were charged to Randy Valladares, who allowed four earned runs off five hits in 1.2 innings of work. Argenis Angulo and Ping-Hsuseh Chen combined to keep the Auburn Doubledays scoreless over the final 3.1 innings.

The Mahoning Valley offense did not add much either, just four hits -- the one run coming from a fifth-inning solo shot off the bat off Jod Carter.

AZL Indians 4, AZL Reds 7

Box Score · Indians fall to 0-1

The AZL Indians lost in their debut, but the important part of this game is that Brady Aiken made his professional debut for the Indians organization. It has been a long and a strange road for the 19-year-old who was drafted first overall in 2014, didn't sign with the Houston Astros, had Tommy John surgery, then was drafted again by the Indians with the No. 17 pick in 2015.

Aiken was great in this debut, throwing for two hitless innings and striking out three in the process. Jose Vincente and Oscar Gonzalez added a pair of hits for the Indians offense, as well as a home run apiece.

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The Lynchburg Hillcats and Lake County Captains are on their mid-season breaks. The Akron RubberDucks had a shceduled day off.