Rain goes 3-1 against Indians minor league affiliates

Last Friday, only two of the Indians’ minor league affiliates played. This time, I have but one game to report upon; The RubberDucks, Captains, and Hillcats were all rained out yesterday.

To help make up for that, you can always listen to the latest episode of Indians on Deck, where Brian and I discuss Indians prospects.

Columbus Clippers 11, Toledo Mud Hens 10 (F/10)

Box Score · Clippers improve to 10-5

Well this one got weird.

The Clippers put four on the board in the first inning thanks to a Ryan Flaherty single and a three-run double by Mark Mathias.

They held this lead until the fifth inning, when everything exploded. Jefry Rodriguez walked three batters and threw a wild pitch to cough up the first run. He managed to strike out Willi Castro before yielding to Nick Goody with two outs. Goody proceeded to intentionally walk a guy, walk in a run, give up a single, and then allow a home run with three men on base. Isn’t that... don’t we call that something?

Welp. Goody stayed in and stuck out the last batter... and then put the side to rest in the sixth with little difficulty. BASEBALL!

The teams traded runs in the eighth, keeping the Clippers down by three. To start the ninth, the Clippers drew three consecutive walks on just 14 pitches off of Zac Houston, who faced only those three batters. Jose Cisneros did better, but the double he allowed Mark Mathias—his second three-run double of the game—tied it up and ten and forced the game into extras after the Mud Hens went scoreless in their half of the ninth.

Due to minor league rules, Mike Papi started the inning on second base. Cameron Maybin came to the plate and I’m assuming that he bunted: MiLB gameday says “soft ground ball single to first” and given the circumstances that’s the only thing that makes sense. With runners on the corners, Eduardo Paredes of the Mud Hens threw a wild pitch, advancing Maybin to second.... but Papi stayed at third. I don’t know, you guys.

Eric Stamets walked to load them up, but Jordan Luplow struck out and Ryan Flaherty hit a shallow fly-out to set the stage for Eric Haase. Bases loaded. Two outs. Tie game. Homer streak on the line.

He walked on a full count to win the game.

BASEBALL.

Mark Mathias’s six RBI make him the obvious hero of the game tonight, though everybody reached base at least once. The Clippers recorded eleven hits and ten walks. On the mount Rodriguez and Goody struggled, but Henry Martinez and Josh Smith combined to allow just one run in the final four innings to help lead the Clippers to a win.