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Columbus Clippers 3, Toledo Mud Hens 2 (F/14)
Box Score · Clippers improve to 38-33
It’s not often a team can score in the bottom of the 13th inning and still require another inning to win, but that’s what the Columbus Clippers did when they held off defeat and eventually won in the bottom of the 14th inning.
The Clippers utilized 12 batters in the extended game, but only Eric Stamets and Erik Kratz managed more than one hit. They each had solo home runs, as well, with Stamets’ being the game-winner.
Nellie Rodriguez struggles in Triple-A just aren’t getting better. He was 1-for-5 yesterday, but he is 2-for-29 and struck out 19 times in his last 10 games. It’s getting ugly for the 23-year-old slugger whose season slash currently sits at .135/.232/.300.
Starting pitcher Ryan Merritt was phenomenal for Columbus. He struck out 10 over eight innings of work and allowed one run off three hits. Five relievers finished out the game, with Jeff Johnson eventually getting the win.
Akron RubberDucks 3, Richmond Flying Squirrels 2
Box Score · RubberDucks improve to 36-33
Matt Esparza hasn’t missed a beat since his promotion to the Double-A Akron RubberDucks. In five starts with the ‘Ducks, he has allowed eight earned runs over 33.2 innings, with 28 strikeouts and seven walks.
Jordan Smith and Dorssys Paulino led the way offensively with two hits apiece. The go-ahead run came in the fourth inning when Paulino doubled home Bobby Bradley and Joe Sever home. Both bullpens held kept the offensive output to null in the last five innings.
Bradley also doubled in the second inning, which helped start to the scoring for Akron.
Lynchburg Hillcats 5, Frederick Keys 2
Box Score · Hillcats improve to 43-29
Triston Mckenzie’s High-A earned run average is a very respectable 3.14, but it still doesn’t accurate reflect how good he’s been this season as it’s inflated by one bad outing in his last start. He recovered nicely yesterday, striking out eight Frederick Keys batters and walking none over six innings.
Offensively, Martin Cervenka was 0-for-1 on the day, but he drew four walks. The Hillcats, as a team, walked nine times while the Keys did not take a single free base.
Lake County Captains 6, Dayton Dragons 2
Box Score · Captains improve to 29-43
Everyone in the Lake County Captains offense got on base at least once yesterday, with everyone but Gavin Collins recording a hit. Luke Wakamatsu led with three hits and one of two Lake County home runs on the day. Todd Isaacs, a speedster who is showing a uprising amount of power in his third season, had the other long ball of the day and already passed his previous high in home runs for a season with eight.
Mahoning Valley Scrappers 9, State College Spikes 2
Box Score · Scrappers improve to 4-2
Two big innings helped the Mahoning Valley Scarppers record their fourth win of the young Low-A season. The top third of the lineup was outstanding for Mahoning Valley — Samad Taylor, Oscar Gonzalez, and Uslysses Cantu combined to go 7-for-15 with three doubles and just one strikeout.
Cantu is off to a hot start in 2017. The 19-year-old sixth-round pick has a hit in every game so far and he’s 11-for-25 overall.
Francisco Perez struck out four batters in his six innings of work and allowed two runs off three hits.
AZL Indians 8, AZL Reds 7
Box Score · Indians improve to 1-0
The AZL Indians season kicked off with a barn burner against the AZL Reds. Felix Fernandez, Henry Pujols, and Ronny Dominguez all had two hits on the day. Both of Pujols’ hits were doubles.
DSL Indians 3, DSL Pirates 8
Box Score · Indians fall to 8-11
The DSL Indians were doomed early by a poor start from Ignacio Feliz, who allowed six runs and three walks over three innings. Jean Montero had two doubles from the leadoff spot and Pablo Jiminez went 3-for-4 on the day.