Columbus Clippers 11, Syracuse Chiefs 5
Box Score · Clippers improve to 25-28
Yandy Diaz and Chris Colabello led the way offensively for Columbus with multi-hit games. Diaz in particular reached base safely four times if you include a walk and getting hit by a pitch. Richie Shaffer only had one hit, but it was a big one as he belted a grand slam to put the Clippers on top for good.
Adam Plutko pitched respectably with a big lead, giving up four runs spread over six innings while striking out seven and walking three. Louis Head and Shawn Armstrong contributed three innings of shutout relief.
Akron RubberDucks 4, Reading Fightin Phils 3
Box Score · RubberDucks improve to 24-26
Akron was outhit 8-6 but they took advantage of three errors, five walks and a balk to score one run each in four of the first five innings.
Unheralded prospects Eric Haase and Joe Sever led the way offensively, both collecting multi-hit games and launching solo home runs as well as collecting a walk.
Starting pitcher Luis Lugo lasted five innings, giving up three runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out just two. Perci Garner and Cameron Hill were very good in relief, each pitching two innings of shutout baseball and combining to give up just one hit and zero walks to preserve the victory.
Lynchburg Hillcats 0, Potomac Nationals 3
Box Score · Hillcats fall to 30-22
Triston McKenzie was brilliant, but he had absolutely zero help from his offense as Lynchburg was shutout on just four hits without picking up a single walk.
Willie Castro at least picked up a hit and a stolen base, but no one even had an extra base hit for the Hillcats.
McKenzie, on the other hand, tossed seven spectacular innings, giving up one run on four hits and one walk while striking out five to take the hard-luck loss. Jared Robinson gave up two runs to make the comeback even less likely in his one inning of relief.
Lake County Captains 2, South Bend Cubs 5
Box Score · Captains fall to 18-35
Lake County continues to lose, dropping their 12th game out of their last 14 despite receiving a quality start from Micah Miniard.
Miniard tossed six innings, giving up three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out seven.
There wasn’t much to speak off offensively, but Conner Capel again had a multi-hit game while also hitting a double. He shot himself in the foot, however, by getting picked off from first base. Jorma Rodriguez also slugged a solo home run.