Mike Napoli hits grand slam in Columbus Clippers opener

Columbus Clippers 11, Indianapolis Indians 4

Box Score · Clippers improve to 1-0

After being shut out for the first five innings by Nick Kingham, who also had 10 strikeouts, the Columbus Clippers offense erupted for nine runs in the sixth inning on the poor Indianapolis Indians bullpen. The offensive explosion was capped off by a grand slam from Mike Napoli.

There were several standout performances, but let’s start with Greg Allen, who went 0 for 1 in the game with two walks and a whopping THREE hit by pitches, 2 steals and a run scored. A little known fact about Allen is he could be the next Brandon Guyer. Allen has been hit by 78 pitches since being drafted in 2014, including 27 in 2016. His current slash is a hilarious .000/.833/.000.

The Clippers had 10 hits, 9 walks and 4 HBP in the game. Yandy Diaz went 2-5 with a double and a walk and Eric Haase went 3-5 with a triple and a walk.

Starting pitcher Shawn Morimando had a quality start, giving up two earned runs in six innings of work on seven hits while walking one and striking out one.

Akron RubberDucks 7, Altoona Curve 6

Box Score · RubberDucks improve to 1-1

Akron was outhit 11-5 and committed a whopping five errors to Altoona’s zero, but none of that mattered as the RubberDucks overcame a 6-0 deficit to beat Altoona and get revenge for its opening day loss.

Starting pitcher Aaron Civale gave up six runs (one earned) in 3.2 innings of work on six hits, two walks and struck out four.

The RubberDucks were no-hit by Altoon’s starting pitcher for six innings before pounding the first reliever they saw, walking four times and hitting a double without recording an out. An RBI groundout and RBI hit by pitch made the score 6-4 heading.

Veteran Joe Sever had an RBI single in the eighth inning to make the score 6-5, then Bobby Bradley did his thing in the top of the ninth:

Reliever Leandro Linares tossed two shutout innings to earn the win.

Lynchburg Hillcats 1, Down East Wood Ducks 8

Box Score · Hillcats fall to 1-1

Zach Plesac was torched in his High-A debut, giving up six runs (all earned) in 4.2 innings on 10 hits while walking one and striking out one.

There wasn’t much positive to say about this game. The Hillcats were outhit 15-4. The only Lynchburg player to do anything of significance was Luke Wakamatsu, who went 1-3 with a double and a walk.

The Single-A Lake County Captains game was suspended due to snow after three innings. The Captains were trailing 6-2 at the time after Juan Hillman was tagged for six runs (three earned) in three innings on eight hits while striking out one and walking one. Nolan Jones committed two more errors in the game, moving his season total to three through 1 ¹⁄₃ games.