Eric Haase bashes two homers in Columbus win, Akron qualifies for playoffs, AZL Indians 1&2 playoffs begin

Columbus Clippers 7, Louisville Bats 6

Box Score · Clippers improve to 71-63

After a rough start, the Columbus Clippers bounced back thanks to some power hitting from Eric Haase and an impressive eighth-inning rally.

Starting pitcher Stephen Fife was hammered for four runs in just 3.0 innings on four hits while walking one and striking out just one. Henry Martinez then promptly gave up two more runs in his two innings of relief to put the Clippers in a deep hole.

Haase hit home runs number 19 and 20 on the season in the second and fifth innings to account for the first three runs for the Clippers and begin the comeback.

After the bases had been loaded from three walks in the eighth inning, Bobby Bradley came through with a clutch two-run double, raising his batting average to .283 since being promoted to Triple-A. Joe Sever promptly came through with a two-run single to give the Clippers the lead. Sever went 3-4 in the game and also scored a run.

Evan Marshall then held down the fort by dancing around two base hits to record the save.

Akron RubberDucks 7, Bowie Baysox 3

Box Score · RubberDucks improve to 75-59

Li-Jen Chu had himself a game, going 3-4 at the plate with a double and his second home run at Double-A since being promoted recently. He also scored three times.

Nellie Rodriguez, who was demoted in the past month, also had a strong game, going 2-4 with a double, a home run and three runs batted in. It was Rodriguez’s fourth home run with Akron since being demoted and he’s batting .276 with the RubberDucks thus far.

Jodd Carter and Tyler Krieger also had multi-hit games while Andrew Calica reached base safely three times, going 1-3 with a walk and a hit by pitch,

Sean Brady had another strong start, allowing just one run over 6.0 innings of work to earn the win and Akron qualified for the Double-A playoffs with the victory.

Lynchburg Hillcats 10, Wilmington Blue Rocks 7

Box Score · Hillcats improve to 67-63

Eli Morgan may be getting tired. The talented right-hander allowed six runs (five earned) in 3.1 innings in one of his worst starts of the season, but he didn’t take the loss because his offense erupted for double digit runs on 15 hits behind him.

Every Hillcat had at least one hit and a ton of players reached base multiple times. Emmanuel Tapia went 2-4 with a home run, Trenton Brooks went 2-4 with a triple and a walk, Gavin Collins went 2-4 with a double, Austen Wade went 2-4 with a walk, both Anthony Miller and Dillon Persinger went 2-5 with a double, Nolan Jones went 1-3 with a double and two walks while Mitch Longo went 1-4 with a walk and a stolen base.

As rough a game as Morgan had, the bullpen stepped up and allowed just one more run over the final 5.2 innings of the game to hold down the fort and allow Lynchburg to easily win the contest and reduce its magic number.

Mahoning Valley Scrappers 0, Williamsport Crosscutters 8

Box Score · Scrappers fall to 38-31

There’s not much to say about this game as Mahoning Valley was held to just two hits overall in a shutout defeat. Jose Fermin went 1-3 with a double and a walk to lead the Scrappers offensively.

Yeffersson Yannuzzi had a tough outing, allowing three runs on four hits in 4.0 innings of work while striking out four and walking three. Every reliever allowed at least one run as well.

AZL PLAYOFFS (Quarterfinals)

AZL Indians1 4, AZL Rangers 7 (F/12)

Box Score · Indians1 eliminated from the playoffs

After a tremendous season, the AZL Indians1 couldn’t muster enough offense in the first 11 innings of its playoff debut, only managing to keep up with the AZL Rangers after they scored once in the second and 10th innings each time.

Then the AZL Rangers erupted for five runs in the top of the 12th inning.

Christopher Cespedes had the lone multi-hit game for the AZL Indians1 while Steven Kwan also walked twice and Miguel Jerez tied the game with an RBI single in the 10th inning and also was hit by a pitch.

Starting pitcher Raymond Burgos had his best outing of the season, showing no signs of rust from his recovery of Tommy John surgery by striking out a season high 10 batters in 5.2 innings pitched and allowing just one run.

Aaron Pinto also pitched well out of the bullpen, allowing one unearned run in 3.2 innings while striking out five. Jake Miednik pitched a scoreless 11th inning to give the Indians a chance to walk it off in the bottom of the frame, but they couldn’t capitalize and he was then torched for the five runs in the top of the 12th.

AZL Indians2 3, AZL Diamondbacks 1

Box Score · Indians2 continue to the semifinals

Indians first round competitive balance pick Lenny Torres had his longest start of the season, tossing 4.0 shutout innings of two-hit ball while striking out four and not walking a batter to set the Indians2 up for the victory.

No one for the Indians had a multi-hit game, although Raynel Delgado went 1-3 with a walk and a run batted in while Quentin Holmes went 1-4 with a triple and a run scored.

Billy Wilson only had one hit, but it was a big one, collecting two RBI with his base knock in the seventh inning to give the Indians the lead for good. Henderson De Oleo also went 1-3 with a walk.

Wilmer Mejia allowed one run in 3.1 innings of relief to earn the win and Jose Oca pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save.