Matt Esparza continues to dominate Double-A with six shutout innings in Akron victory

Columbus Clippers 1, Charlotte Knights 4

Box Score · Clippers fall to 41-37

Three unearned runs decided this game where both teams had eight hits in total. The unearned runs were all from starting pitcher Nick Pasquale, who committed a pair of errors on throws, which kept his outing brief at 3.1 innings total.

The lone bright spots offensively, were Ronny Rodriguez, who went 3-4 at the dish, and Tyler Naquin, who slugged a solo home run, which accounted for all of the Clippers offense on the day.

Akron RubberDucks 7, Erie SeaWolves 6

Box Score · RubberDucks improve to 39-35

This game looked like it would be an easy blowout, but some ugly bullpen outings made things interesting.

Starting pitcher Matt Esparza continued his run of dominance in Double-A, throwing six shutout innings while striking out eight and walking two.

Eric Haase had himself a game, going 2-3 with a walk and a double while scoring three runs for Akron. Tyler Krieger also had a multi-hit game and homered.

With the team leading 7-0, relievers David Speer and Mitch Brown both gave up three runs to give the RubberDucks a scare, but Perci Garner shut things down to preserve the victory.

Lynchburg Hillcats 5, Salem Red Sox 6 (F/14)

Box Score · Hillcats fall to to 46-31

This game was insane.

Triston McKenzie got things off to a great start, giving up two runs in 5.1 innings while striking out five, but the game was tied in the seventh 3-3 and neither team proceeded to score until the 14th inning.

In the top of the 14th, Salem put three runs on the board and Lynchburg fired right back with two in the bottom of the inning, but they left the tying run in scoring position to lose a heartbreaker.

Jodd Carter had a monster game, going 3-4 with a double and two walks in the loss.

Lake County Captains 4, Great Lakes Loons 10

Box Score · Captains fall to 32-45

This game got off to a late start and the team played like it.

Starting pitcher Luis Jimenez gave up three runs in four innings of work and his piggyback partner Justin Garza proceeded to give up four more runs in his four innings.

Gavin Collins and Mitch Longo both had multi-hit efforts for the Captains while Conner Capel and Emmanuel Tapia blasted off with solo home runs in the loss.

Mahoning Valley Scrappers 6, West Virginia Black Bears 3

Box Score · Scrappers improve to 6-4

Mahoning Valley outhit their opposition 12-4 thanks in part to big offensive days from Oscar Gonzalez, who went 3-4 and 2017 10th round pick Jesse Berardi, who had a multi-hit game with a double. 2017 fourth round pick Ernie Clement picked up the first hit of his career while Nolan Jones and Simeon Lucas hit home runs. Jones’ solo shot was the first time he’s ever gone deep since the Indians drafted him.

Lost in the offense was a tremendous pitching performance from Zach Plesac, who struck out six batters in just three innings of work as he continues to return from Tommy John surgery. Indians 2017 seventh round pick Kirk McCarty relieved Plesac with two shutout innings of work in his organizational debut to pick up the win.

AZL Indians 2, AZL White Sox 6

Box Score · Indians fall to 1-4

The AZL Indians couldn’t get much going other than a Ronny Dominguez home run, which provided all of their offense.

Both pitchers for the Indians walked three batters and gave up a combined six runs in eight innings of work in the loss.

DSL Indians 5, DSL Rangers1 4

Box Score · Indians improve to 9-14

Jonathan Lopez, Gaspar Palacio and Christopher De Jesus all had multi-hit games as the DSL Indians did just enough offensively to earn a victory. The team recorded zero extra base hits but they were able to string enough of their nine hits and three walks together combined with three errors from the Rangers1 to eek out a victory.

Starting pitcher Luis Garcia gave up zero earned runs in 4.2 innings while striking out four.