Indians minor league recap: Triston McKenzie strikes out eight in rain-shortened loss

Yesterday was a whirlwind for the Cleveland Indians, with several prospects likely thinking they were destined to be traded, and a handful being shipped out to the New York Yankees for reliever Andrew Miller. The dust has settled (for now), and the Indians still hold onto their top catching prospect, Francisco Mejia, but their outfield depth at the top of the system got a little bit thinner.

A little lower in the farm system, Triston McKenzie continues to look like a future star, striking out eight batters in a rain-shortened loss.

Columbus Clippers 2, Charlotte Knights 3

Box Score · Clippers fall to 60-49

In their first game in the post-Clint Frazier era, the Columbus Clippers offense failed to do much of anything and a bullpen without Ben Heller blew a late lead. Welp.

The top third of the Clippers lineup was excellent last night, combining to go 6-for-12 with a double and a run batted in. Bradley Zimmer, batting second, had his second-straight multi-hit game for the Clippers and he is now 7-for-22 in six games at Triple-A. With Frazier now in New York, Zimmer figures to once again be the Indians' consensus top prospect.

Jesus Aguilar's prospect sheen has worn off quite a bit, and he is not having a great year, but his 3-for-4 day yesterday was his third multi-hit game in his last 10.

Starting pitcher Adam Plutko turned in six solid innings with four strikeouts and one earned run off of five hits. After a couple of July meltdowns, Plutko rounded out the month with two good outings. Between last night and his July 26 start against the Norfolk Tides he has pitched 13.1 innings with 11 strikeouts and just one walk.

Akron RubberDucks 0, Bowie Baysox 1

Box Score · RubberDucks fall to 55-54

Last year's big trade deadline acquisition, pitching prospect Rob Kaminsky, threw a gem yesterday, but the Akron RubberDucks offense mustered just six hits in a shutout loss at the hands of former Tribe farmhand Jayson Aquino.

Mike Papi's two hits led the 'Ducks yesterday, and his double was the only multi-base hit. Despite the good performance, Papi's batting average still sits below .200 (as it has since July 22) and his on-base percentage is hanging on at .330.

Kaminsky's six-inning, six-strikeout start gave the RubberDucks ample opportunities to win, but Craig Stammen allowed the game's only run and wound up with the loss, his first of the season.

Lynchburg Hillcats 5, Winston-Salem Dash 3

Box Score · Hillcats improve to 68-38

You can always count on the Lynchburg Hillcats to make things better. The Indians' High-A affiliates have the best record in the organization, and they improved upon it yesterday with a four-run fourth inning.

Outfielder Taylor Murphy led off the big inning with a double and was followed by a hit by pitch, a single by Connor Marabell, a wild pitch, another single, and finally the first out of the inning after a Winston-Salem pitching change.

Lynchburg batters had nine hits on the day with Murphy and catcher Alex Monsalve adding two a piece. Bobby Bradley was 0-for-3, but he drew two walks and struck out just once.

Matt Whitehouse, making just his second start in High-A (15 relief appearances), held the fort over four innings, allowing one earned run off of four hits. Justin Garcia and Jordan Milbrath combined to close out the game, striking out three batters and walking three over the remaining five innings.