Jean Carlos Mejia and Raymond Burgos continue strong starts in Lynchburg and Lake County victories

Columbus Clippers 12, Durham Bulls 4

Box Score · Clippers fall to 5-3

Columbus teed off for 18 hits, starting strong with three runs in the first inning, then pulling away with multiple crooked number innings.

Brandon Barnes was a beast, going 4-5 with a home run and a double while Yu Chang went 3-5 with a home run and Oscar Mercado also had three hits, going 3-6 with a double.

Bobby Bradley went 2-5 with a 3-run home run and Carlos Gonzalez also had a multi-hit game, going 2-5 with his first home run of the season.

Every player in the Clippers lineup had a hit, including a rehabbing Jason Kipnis, who went 1-5 with an RBI single, a walk and a run scored while playing a full nine innings for the first time.

Starting pitcher Sean Brady, who was promoted to Columbus from Akron to take Jefry Rodriguez’s spot in the Clippers rotation, was brilliant. Brady allowed two runs on five hits in 6.0 innings while striking out two and walking two. The bullpen was handed a 10-run lead and did not blow it.

Akron RubberDucks 2, Altoona Curve 3 (F/12)

Box Score · RubberDucks fall to 1-7

Akron was one out away from winning this fight and it dropped the ball...literally. Leading 2-1 in the bottom of the 11th inning, Rob Kaminsky got the first two batters out that he faced, then induced a grounder, but second baseman Tyler Krieger made a fielding error that allowed the tying run to score. Trenton would go on to win the game on a walk-off single in the bottom of the 12th inning. Akron is now 0-5 on the season against Altoona.

Speaking of defense, Ka’ai Tom had a tremendous catch in this game.

Krieger had a decent game offensively, going 2-5. Daniel Johnson was the only other player to reach base safely twice, drawing two walks in five plate appearances.

Starting pitcher Matt Solter made his Akron debut with 4.0 shutout innings of work on three hits while striking out four and walking two. James Karinchak and Ben Krauth also contributed three solid scoreless innings of relief in the loss.

Lynchburg Hillcats 5, Down East Wood Ducks 2

Box Score · Hillcats improve to 6-2

In his second start of the season, Jean Carlos Mejia wasn’t perfect this time, but he was still pretty darn good.

Mejia allowed one run on four hits in 6.0 innings while striking out seven and walking two. Thus far he’s struck out 15 batters in 11.0 innings and he holds a 0.82 ERA and a 0.55 WHIP on the 2019 season.

Offensively, lead-off hitter Jodd Carter had himself a perfect day, going 3-3 with two doubles and two walks. Gavin Collins also had a three-hit game, going 3-5 while Dillon Persinger went 1-3 with a two-run home run and a walk.

Jared Robinson closed things out with 1.1 innings of perfect relief to earn the save.

Lake County Captains 2, Bowling Green Hot Rods 1

Box Score · Captains improve to 6-2

Starting pitcher Raymond Burgos picked up where Luis Oviedo left off, allowing just one run in 5.1 innings on six hits while striking out four and walking one. He didn’t allow his first run until the sixth inning and his third time through the lineup.

Reliever Thomas Ponticelli was sensational, tossing 3.2 scoreless innings with five strikeouts.

Lake County didn’t have much to show offensively, but a few players were able to reach base safely multiple times. Jose Fermin went 2-4 with a double, a stolen base and he scored both of the Captains’ runs. Bo Naylor went 1-3 with a walk, Josh Rolette went 1-3 with a walk and Marcos Gonzalez went 1-1 with two walks and a stolen base.