There is no Canal Cup (but there should be, with travel to games via Towpath and/or a barge).
Columbus Clippers 5, Toledo Mudhens 3
Box Score · Clippers improve to 52-38
Losing is stupid, so the Clippers decided to stop.
Twelve hits and a walk led to four RBIs and a bonus run. Oscar Mercado tripled and stole two bases, including one swipe of third while DHing. That sounds like a homework assignment.
Will Benson earned three hits, as did Tyler Freeman. David Fry continues to be a fairly quiet but cool contributor at third base as he chipped in with a walk and a sacrifice fly.
Tanner Tully spun four while allowing two; Nick Mikolajchak, Kevin Jelly, and Justin Garza pitched the final five while allowing a single solo dinger.
Akron RubberDucks 4, Erie Seawolves 2
Box Score · RubberDucks fall to 46-40
One on. One out. Bottom of the ninth. Daniel Schneemann approaches the plate with a runner on second base thanks to a crafty Chris Roller sac bunt.
WARNING: The Following Image is Highly Arousing to Ball Knowers
Keep throwing it over the plate and you eventually learn the hard way. Cheers to Schneeman for an excellent at-bat and an even cooler outcome.
The from @Schneemann55 for the win!! pic.twitter.com/hm60u8SmlE
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) July 23, 2022
DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP. Game. The first walk-off of the season for Akron.
Incidentally, Schneemann has slashed .286/.318/.571 (a wRC+ of 137 in the Double-A Eastern League) since I unceremoniously ejected him from the cozy confines of the corner cupboard.
Lynchburg Hillcats 9, Salem Red Sox 6
Box Score · Hillcats improve to 44-44
Unfortunately, these Red Sox did not see fit to allow 28 runs.
It didn’t really matter; Lynchburg notched nine hits, drew eight walks, and recorded a nifty 5-12 average with runners in scoring position. Make that second number as high as possible as often as possible and good things follow.
Jorge Burgos drew three walks, and I am using this sentence to highlight his consistent ability to get on base. In his minor league career (three years, two levels, one pandemic) he owns a .387 OBP.
Jake Fox, Junior Sanquintin, and Yordys Valdez all earned multiple hits. On the mound, Reid Johnston, Teury Gervacio, and Miguel Vinicio tossed a 4-3-2. Johnston handled most of the business on the frontend, allowing six hits and four runs with three strikeouts and a walk. Gervacio allowed a pair but struck out five, and Vinicio’s two-inning close featured two walks and a hit but no runs.
Lake County Captains 18, Lansing Lugnuts 6
Box Score · Captains improve to 47-39
Make ‘em lug those nuts.
Meanwhile, Brian and I met per usual to discuss the Cleveland Guardians Minor League System at the All-Star Break. Interestingly enough, there did not seem to be any Minor League All-Star Festivities this season.
An additional bonus episode to come next week, devoted to the MLB Draft.
I still think the tire tracks are a neat nod to the RubberDucks logo.
From the linked Paul Caputo article on the history of the Double-A team’s moniker, here is a quote from Jim Pfander: “[W]hen you see this logo, it’s a 180. You’re like wow, that’s a tough-looking duck.”
I’ve still got a badass Akron Aeros throw blanket and you can try to pry it from me.