Columbus Clippers 3, Syracuse Chiefs 2 (F/10)
Box Score · Clippers improve to 26-28
In three victories so far, the Columbus Clippers have outscored the Syracuse Chiefs 19-10. The series will conclude tomorrow, giving the Clippers a chance to sweep and be within one game of .500.
Yesterday’s win required 10 innings and a home run from Chris Colabello in the extra frame, his fifth of the season. Columbus had just six hits on the day, with the only other extra-base hit being an Erik Kratz double.
As with most Clippers pitchers, Shawn Morimando is having kind of a rough season, though his high ERA is skewed by one awful game in early May. Following two-straight outings in which he allowed four runs, he twirled a seven-inning gem yesterday, striking out five and allowing one run off six hits.
Akron RubberDucks 1, Reading Fightin’ Phils 5
Box Score · RubberDucks fall to 24-27
Much like the Indians’ struggles to get four games above .500 this season, the Akron RubberDucks are having a lot of trouble getting to (and staying at) .500 this season. They fell a little further yesterday with their 5-1 loss to the Reading Fightin’ Phils.
Despite out-hitting the Phils by three, striking out three fewer times, and having runners in scoring positions eight more times, the ‘Ducks just couldn’t score more than the one run. Francisco Mejia knocked in that lone run, and he led the team with two hits and two walks.
Starting pitcher Matt Whitehouse was given his third loss on the season, but he struck out eight and walked none in five innings of work. His only real mistake was a home run. Whitehouse has started just three games this season (compared to nine relief appearances); the eight strikeouts were a season-high by a wide margin.
Lynchburg Hillcats 1, Potomac Nationals 3
Box Score · Hillcats fall to 30-23
Like he has so many times this season, Shao-Ching Chiang turned in a gem for the Lynchburg Hillcats yesterday. Unfortunately, it wasn’t good enough to overcome four hits and one run from his own teammates. Chiang allowed two runs over seven innings, striking out three and walking none. He and reliever Justin Garcia combined to allow three solo home runs, though, which was enough to overcome the weak Hillcats offensive.
Only four Hillcats batters had hits on the day, with Martin Cervenka notching the only extra-base hit, a double.
Lake County Captains 5, South Bend Cubs 3
Box Score · Captains improve to 19-35
The one beacon of light in an otherwise loss-filled day for the Indians was the Lake County Captains. And that was only because of a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 5-3 lead.
Twenty-year-old Junior Soto, who is the midst of his first season out of the Rookie League since being signed as international free agent in 2013, was 3-for-3 on the day. Three other Captains batters had hits on the day, none bigger than Li-Jen Chu’s grand salami in the eighth.
Brady Aiken still hasn’t found his strikeout stuff, but at least his walks are finally down. Ever since the bizarre outing where he walked seven and struck out one back on April 13, he has walked four or fewer batters every time out. Unfortunately, he’s struck out three or fewer batters six times in that span.