Indians minor league recap: Abraham Almonte homers in first rehab start with Columbus

Well there's a name you probably thought you would never hear again. Abraham Almonte, who was assigned to Columbus yesterday to start his rehab assignment since being suspended for PED use, homered as part of the Columbus Clippers' 7-2 win over the Rochester Red Wings.

The rest of the Cleveland Indians affiliates were not so lucky yesterday, as they all dropped their games, including both games of a doubleheader for the DSL Indians. At least the Dominican team didn't drag their game out to 13 innings only to lose on a walk-off singles like the Mahoning Valley Scrappers did...

Columbus Clippers 7, Rochester Red Wings 2

Box Score · Clippers improve to 38-35

The Columbus Clippers dropped the first two games of this series, but with yesterday's win they have a chance to finish it with a tie tonight.

Columbus bats were mostly silent through the first four innings, not coming alive until a big four-run fifth inning. Giovanny Urshela and Adam Moore led off the inning with back-to-back singles, then a failed bunt attempt left Urshela out and Ronny Rodriguez at first base. Both Rodriguez and Moore were hit home by the next batter, Joey Butler. Two batters later, Abraham Almonte added on with a two-run home run.

This was Almonte's first game since being assigned to Columbus for his rehab assignment. He was suspended prior to the season 80-games for a failed PED test. He could potentially rejoin the Indians as soon as July 3.

Ross Detwiler, who has started 10 games for Columbus this season, turned in one of his longest outings yet, going seven innings and striking out three on the way to his first victory of the season. Fireballer Ben Heller struck out in the final inning of relief. After a rough start to his Triple-A career, Heller seems to have things figured out -- he has allowed just two runs (with nine strikeouts) in his last 10 appearances.

Akron RubberDucks 1, Reading Fightin' Phils 4

Box Score · RubberDucks fall to 42-30

A team with Bradley Zimmer, Clint Frazier, and Nellie Rodriguez could only manage two hits yesterday. One of them managed to score a run off the bat of Todd Hankins, but it was not nearly enough against the Reading Fightin' Phils.

Shawn Morimando was roughed up early, already giving up four innings by the time the third inning rolled around. However, he was able to hold the Phils to one hit over his last two innings, while Grant Sides and Casey Weathers shut them down the rest of the way.

One good takeaway from this game is a lack of strikeouts. Jeremy Lucas whiffed three times, but Zimmer and Frazier both walked once and did not strike out at all.

Mahoning Valley Scrappers 0, Williamsport Crosscutters 1

Box Score · Scrappers fall to 1-5

The young hitters on the Mahoning Valley Scrappers looked helpless against Williamsport Crosscutters pitching. Even with 13 innings to work with, only Gabriel Mejia, Emmanual Tapia, and Erlin Cerda were able to record hits on the day, while they struck out 10 times as a team.

Indians 2016 second-round pick Logan Ice had one of the team's three walks.

Mahoning Valley starting pitcher Micah Miniard lasted six innings, allowing just three hits and striking out four in his shutout performance. The only run of the game came the bottom of the 13th Ryan Perez. The switch-pitching, who has mostly focused on being a left-handed reliever, struck out one batter in the fateful inning, but he was sunk by a wild pitch and a timely single.

DSL Indians 8, DSL Rangers 10 (Game 1 F/7)

DSL Indians 5, DSL Rangers 6 (Game 2 F/7)

Game 1 Box Score · Game 2 Box Score · Indians fall to 8-7

The DSL Indians were on a bit of a hot streak coming into this game, winning six-straight games before Tuesday's rainout. That came to end yesterday, when they were swept in a doubleheader by a combined score of 13-16.

Game 1 featured a flurry of scoring from the Rangers, with a six-run explosion off of Indians starting pitcher Luis Oviedo. The Indians responded late with six runs in the final three innings, but it wasn't enough.

Ronny Dominiguez led the way for the Indians with three hits. Of the Indians' 14 hits, only three were for extra bases -- doubles from Wilbis Santiago, Miguel Jerez, and Julio Cabrera.

Game 2 was much the same story, but the Indians could not muster as many runs. The Rangers once again exploded in the second inning for five runs, this time off of starting pitcher Jose Oca. Oca would be pulled after just three innings -- he allowed three earned runs and struck out two batters in that time. A trio of Indians relievers kept the Rangers scoreless for the final four innings.

Henry Pujols, a late-inning substitution for Wilibis Santiago, hit a triple, one of two in the game for the Indians.