Lindor homers in rehab start for Columbus, Tyler Freeman stays scorching hot in Lake County win

Columbus Clippers 4, Louisville Bats 3

Box Score · Clippers fall to 7-5

Perhaps sparked by Francisco Lindor, the Columbus Clippers offense was rolling on Tuesday. Unfortunately, the pitching was not.

Lindor went 2-4 with an RBI single and this absolute bomb:

Five other Clippers reached base safely at least twice. Bobby Bradley had a tremendous game, going 3-5 with three doubles. Veteran Ryan Flaherty continues to be an on-base machine, going 2-3 with two walks. Trayce Thompson and Jordan Luplow both went 2-5 with a double while Eric Haase went 1-4 with a home run and a walk. Haase has homered in four games and leads all Indians organization members (including the big club) with four home runs.

Starting pitcher Shao-Ching Chiang was absolutely destroyed, allowing eight runs (all earned) on nine hits in 4+ innings. Five runs scored before he could get an out in the fifth inning and was pulled.

The bullpen held the fort down, allowing just one run the rest of the way, but the damage had been done and the offense wasn’t quite able to claw back.

Akron RubberDucks 6, Trenton Thunder 7 (F/11)

Box Score · RubberDucks fall to 3-9

Andrew Monasterio continued his torrid start to the season, going 3-5 from the leadoff position. Ka’ai Tom went 2-5 with a triple and four runs batted in while Daniel Johnson went 2-5 with a double to keep his OPS above 1.000 on the season. It’s only a matter of time until Johnson is promoted at this rate. His wRC+ was a staggering 202 heading into Tuesday and it probably improved.

Alexis Pantoja also went 1-3 with a walk and a stolen base. He’s quietly played well to begin the 2019 campaign.

Sam Hentges had his best outing of the season, but still wasn’t effective. The southpaw allowed three earned runs on five hits in 5.0 innings while striking out five and walking three.

Top relief prospect James Karinchak finally allowed a player to put the ball in play this season, striking out three batters in 1.1 innings and forcing to players to ground out. (One of Karinchak’s strikeouts was a dropped third strike for those of you confused by the math).

With the score tied in extra innings, Akron took a 6-5 lead in the top of the 11th, but two unearned runs were scored in the bottom of the frame after Connor Marabell dropped a routine pop fly in shallow left with one out and a runner on third base, likely distracted by preparing for a potential play at the plate.

Lynchburg Hillcats 9, Potomac Nationals 3

Box Score · Hillcats improve to 8-5

Oscar Gonzalez continued his scorching start to the 2019 season, going 2-5 with a three-run home run and a double.

Mike Rivera went 3-4 with a double, Dillon Persinger went 2-5 with a double, Tyler Friis went 2-4, Steven Kwan and Trenton Brooks both went 1-3 with a double and two walks and Austen Wade went 1-4 with a double and a walk.

Starting pitcher Jean Carlos Mejia was finally hittable. He was sequenced for three runs in the fourth inning, finishing the game with three runs on five hits in 5.0 innings while striking out six and walking two.

Jared Robinson and Robert Broom slammed the door with four shutout innings of relief while striking out six combined.

Lake County Captains 4, Bowling Green Hot Rods 2

Box Score · Captains improve to 8-4

Tyler Freeman continues to murder baseballs, going 3-4 with a pair of doubles, a hit by pitch, two runs scored and a run batted in to pace the Captains offense.

Ruben Cardenas went 2-5 with a two-run home run while Quentin Holmes went 1-3 with a triple and a walk.

Starting pitcher Raymon Burgos was effective, allowing two runs on five hits in 4.1 innings while striking out five and walking three.

The bullpen was sensational, tossing 4.2 scoreless innings. Aaron Pinto in particular was terrific, striking out three in 1.2 perfect innings to earn the win. Pinto has yet to give up a run through four appearances and 8.1 innings pitched this season.