Francisco Mejia is streaking again

Combined between all professional levels yesterday, the Cleveland Indians organization scored 38 runs; mostly anchored by outstanding performances from the Lake County Captains and the Indians themselves. The Captains did something kind of amazing in their win, finding seven different ways to get on base en route to a 10-run inning.

As you celebrate this Easter holiday, take a moment to thank Jonathan Lucroy for vetoing last year’s trade and marvel at the hitting specimen that is Francisco Mejia.

Columbus Clippers 2, Louisville Bats 4

Box Score · Clippers fall to 5-5

The Columbus Clippers may have lost yesterday and dropped to .500 on the season, but there is some good news to be found. Namely, the return of Jason Kipnis after taking a pitch off the hand last Wednesday. This was the second baseman’s first game since the injury, and he was 0-for-3 before Jordan Smith took over for him in the later innings.

Tyler Naquin, who was recently optioned to Triple-A to make room for Lonnie Chisenhall, was 1-for-4 in his second game back with the Clippers.

Designated hitter Chris Colabello had the team’s only multi-hit day, finishing just a triple shy of the cycle. Colabello is off to a slow start on the season — 9-for-38, seven strikeouts, one home run — but there’s still time for the 33-year-old to contribute to the Clippers’ championship aspirations.

Chris Narveson took the mound for the Clippers, winning his second game in as many starts. Combined, between his first two starts of the year, the 35-year-old journeyman has thrown 13.2 innings and allowed just two earned runs off of 10 hits. Joseph Colon capped the loss with a hitless 1.1 innings of work.

Akron RubberDucks 1, Altoona Curve 2

Box Score · RubberDucks fall to 2-8

The Akron RubberDucks did a decent enough job getting on base with eight hits and two walks, but a lack of power and mid-inning rallies kept them from scoring more than a lone run in their loss to the Altoona Curve.

Offensive struggles are nothing new to the ‘Ducks — they rank near the bottom of just about everything in the Double-A Eastern League. Akron batters are currently tied for the second worst batting average in the EL (.232), they have the third worst on-base plus slugging (.676), the second fewest home runs (5), and the third fewest runs scored (37).

This is through no fault of the top three hitters of the lineup, however. Greg Allen, the primary leadoff man, has been superb at getting on base at a .389. Tyler Krieger, the No. 2 hitter, is 7-for-21 on the season with a .333/.391/.476 slash and two stolen bases. And of course, Francisco Mejia, the No. 3 hitter, has not stopped lighting up scoreboards since last season.

Mejia has a hit in every game this season, and he’s batting a ridiculous .414/.455/.655 in 29 at-bats. He has yet to homer, but he’s struck out just four times and walked twice. And it’s not like he’s lacking in power; he has an Eastern League-leading seven doubles on the young season.

One more interesting Mejia tidbit from Indians Prospective on Twitter:

That’s pretty good.

Lynchburg Hillcats 5, Myrtle Beach Pelicans 3

Box Score · Hillcats fall to 4-6

The Lynchburg Hillcats offense has been off to a slow start this season, but their bats came alive in yesterday’s 5-3 win over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Three Lynchburg Hillcats had multi-hit games, including second baseman Sam Haggerty, designated hitter Sicnarf Loopstok, center fielder Andrew Calica, and first baseman Anthony Miller.

This was Calica’s second multi-hit game of the season, but just his third game with any hits whatsoever. The rising 23-year-old prospect has had a rough start to 2017, going 5-for-32 at the plate with nine strikeouts and seven walks.

Willi Castro, who as at one point Lynchburg’s No. 2 hitter, was demoted to the ninth spot in the lineup and he had a Yan Gomes-ian day at the plate, going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts.

Shao-Ching Chiang got the start for Lynchburg and rewarded them with a scoreless seven innings of work, complete with four strikeouts and no walks.

Lake County Captains 17, Lansing Lugnuts 5

Box Score · Captains improve to 5-5

Not to be outdone by their big-league counterparts, the Lake County Captains surged with a big offensive outing themselves, had a mini pitching collapse, recovered, and scored some more on their way to a blowout win over the Lansing Lugnuts.

Jose Medina lead the way with four hits and a career-high three home runs. Medina, 22, entered the game without a single home run or run batted in on the season and now he leads the Captains in homers and is tied for third in runs batted in with five.

It wasn’t all just Medina, though. Emmanuel Tapia hit his first home run of the season, while Connor Capel, Li-Jen Chu, and Logan Ice all added extra-base hits as well.

In the Captains’ 10-run fourth inning, they managed to reach base seven different ways:

• Fielding error: Conner Capel
• Hit-by-pitch: Li-Jen Chu
• Walk: Logan Ice
• Single: Emmanuel Tapia
• Double: Li-Jen Chu
• Triple: Erlin Cerda
• Home run: Emmanuel Tapia

And just for good measure, the final run of the inning was on a sacrifice fly by Luke Wakamatsu.

Former second-round draft pick Juan Hillman got the start for Lake County, and it wasn’t pretty. He gave up two runs in the first inning, then three more in the bottom of the fourth. Combined with a shaky debut last week, he’s allowed 10 earned runs over 8.2 innings of work, with 10 strikeouts and seven walks.