Akron sweeps double-header, Tyler Freeman reaches base safely five times in Lake County win

Columbus Clippers 3, Durham Bulls 4

Box Score · Clippers fall to 5-4

Columbus got a tremendous start from Michael Peoples, who tossed 5.2 scoreless innings on three hits while striking out 5 and walking none.

Unfortunately, the bullpen and defense imploded in the seventh inning, giving up four runs to Durham, which were enough to win the game for the bad guys.

Veteran catcher Tim Federowicz led the way for the Clippers, going 2-3 with a double and a walk. Mark Mathias went 2-4 and vet Mike Freeman went 0-2 with three walks. In his final rehab game before joining the big league club, Jason Kipnis went 0-5 with two strikeouts and and error, leaving a whopping nine men on base.

Also of note, Oscar Mercado went 1-1 with a double and a hit by pitch. The pitch hit him on the hand and he left the game. More updates on his status will be made available as they come.

Akron RubberDucks 7, Altoona Curve 0 (F/7)
Akron RubberDucks 10, Altoona Curve 7 (F/12)

Game 1 Box Score · Game 2 Box Score · RubberDucks improve to 3-7

Akron got a huge monkey off its back, beating Altoona for the first time all season after losing the first five times they played them.

Connor Marabell had a strong first game, going 1-2 with a double, two walks, two runs batted in and a run scored. No one else for the RubberDucks reached base safely twice, although Andrew Calica and Wilson Garcia both had RBI doubles.

In game two, all hope seemed lost as the RubberDucks trailed 6-2 heading into the sixth inning, but Akron teed off for a whopping eight runs to take the lead for good. Tyler Krieger, Ka’ai Tom and Daniel Johnson all homered. Johnson went 2-4 with the homer and four runs batted in to lead the RubberDucks.

Alexandre Pantoja had a great game from the nine-hole, going 4-4 at the dish with two doubles, a stolen base and scoring two runs. Mitch Longo went 2-5 while Andrew Monasterio and Marabell both had a hit and a walk to reach base safely twice.

Starting pitcher David Speer performed well in a bullpen game, allowing 1 run in 3.0 innings, but Luke Eubank was blasted for five runs.

James Karinchak inherited a bases loaded, one out situation in the bottom of the seventh inning and proceeded to strike out both batters he faced to earn the save. Karinchak has faced 12 batters this season and struck out 11 of them.

Lynchburg Hillcats 1, Down East Wood Ducks 4

Box Score · Hillcats improve to 7-3

Juan Hillman didn’t allow an earned run for the second consecutive start, but he was a tough-luck loser after a defensive implosion in his fifth inning of work Saturday, as four unearned runs crossed the plate.

Hillman’s final line was 6.0 innings, four hits, four runs (0 earned) with six strikeouts and one walk. Lynchburg committed three errors. One of them was on a pick-off attempt from Hillman, but the other two were Nolan Jones.

Offensively, the Hillcats had four players reach base safely multiple times. Jodd Carter went 1-2 with a pair of walks, Jones walked twice, Austen Wade went 1-3 with a walk and Jonathan Laureano went 1-3 with a double and a walk.

Lake County Captains 6, Bowling Green Hot Rods 2

Box Score · Captains improve to 7-3

Tyler Freeman had his best game of the young season, reaching base safely all three times by going 3-3 with a double, two hit by pitches, two stolen bases, two runs batted in and a run scored. Ruben Cardenas was the only other Captain to reach base safely twice, going 1-4 with a double and a walk.

Marcos Gonzalez also blasted his first home run of the young season.

Starting pitcher Shane McCarthy was sensational, striking out nine batters in 5.0 innings while allowing two runs (none earned) on three hits and walking just one.

Dakody Clemmer and Skylar Arias closed the game out with four innings of shutout relief.