Columbus Clippers 1, Charlotte Knights 3
Box Score · Clippers fall to 9-14
The Columbus Clippers are going to win again. They have to, right? Maybe, but it certainly didn’t happen last night. Columbus batters combined for just four hits — two coming from Chris Colabello — and nine strikeouts. It was also Yandy Diaz’s first Triple-A game this season without a hit. In 10 games with the Clippers, the man of a million biceps is 10-for-29 with seven walks and just one strikeout.
Adam Plutko had a solid outing wasted by the offensive collapse. Plutko’s 7.2 innings yesterday was his most of the season, though he only struck out three.
Akron RubberDucks 11, Bowie Baysox 2
Box Score · RubberDucks improve to 10-12
The Akron RubberDucks will be happy to put an awful April behind them, but at least they get to leave on a high note with their 11-2 victory over the Bowie Baysox Sunday.
Tyler Krieger, Mike Papi, and Eric Haase all had two-hits on the day, while Dorssys Paulino, Bobby Bradley, Yu-Cheng Chang, Papi, and Haase all homered. Even more impressive, four of those home runs were two seperate back-to-back home runs — in the same inning.
Epic 7th inning for Ducks. 8 runs on 5 hits and 4 HR's. Rare feat of back-to-back homers TWICE in an inning. Paulino/Bradley & Papi/Haase.
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 30, 2017
Krieger has cooled off considerably from his hot start and World Baseball Classic heroism (hey, the WBC, remember that silly thing?), but he’s 3-for-10 in his last two games.
Julian Merryweather got the start for the ‘Ducks, and he finished six strong innings with five strikeouts and one walk. Outside of his rough, two-inning, five-run debut, Merryweather has brilliant all season long. Since that first start, he’s pitched 24.2 innings, allowed four runs, and struck out 26 batters with three walks.
Lynchburg Hillcats 8, Myrtle Beach Pelicans 10
Box Score · Hillcats fall to 10-11
Despite outting the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (13 to 12), and striking out fewer times (5 to 7), the Lynchburg Hillcats ended April with a loss.
Conner Marabell is slowly working his way out of a horrific start to the season, including his first home run of the year yesterday. He also drew a season-high three walks and didn’t strikeout once.
On the mound for the Hillcats, Matt Esparza lasted six shutout innings striking out five and walking none. Unfortunately his replacement, Billy Strode, immediately gave up four runs without getting an out before he was yanked for Dominic DeMasi in the seventh.
Lake County Captains 1, West Michigan Whitecaps 5
Box Score · Captains fall to 9-14
Beiber fever reached the green grass of Classic Field, but it wasn’t enough to help the Lake County Captains beat the West Michigan Whitecaps. The loss was no fault of starting pitcher Shane Beiber, though — in seven innings he struck out three and walked none. Instead, it was a limp offense that mustered just five hits and still managed to strand 10 runners on base.