Howe Steals Home and Barstad Continues Hit Streak

Minor League Recap for Friday, June 20th.

Columbus Clippers (32-38) – AAA

IND 2 – COL 4

Box Score

The Columbus Clippers started Friday night off with a W for Cleveland affiliates. Vince Velasquez got the start and the win, his fourth of the season. Velasquez pitched 6.0 innings, allowing only one run on seven hits. He walked two and struck out five. Trevor Stephan made another rehab appearance, pitching the seventh inning. Stephan allowed one run on one hit, walking one and striking out one. Zak Kent and Luis Frías both pitched scoreless innings with Frías earning his third save.

Brayan Rocchio went 2-for-3 with a walk, a run, a triple, and a great catch in the top of the fifth.

C.J. Kayfus went 2-for-4 with a RBI. Micah Pries went 1-for-2 with a walk, two RBI, and a home run.

Akron RubberDucks (43-23) – AA

AKR 2 – POR 8

Box Score

Tommy Mace got the start for the RubberDucks and was ineffective against the Portland SeaDogs. Mace went 5.0 innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits. He walked two and struck out only three of the 24 batters faced. Jack Leftwich pitched an inning of relief, allowing one run on two hits and a walk, Leftwich struck out one. Adam Tulloch finished the game out, pitching the seventh and eighth inning. Tulloch was the only Akron pitcher to not allow a run last night, only giving up one hit and a walk. Tulloch struck out two.

The RubberDucks only recorded four hits. Cameron Barstad put the first run on the board with a RBI single to right field.

Guy Lipscomb went 1-for-4 on the night with two runs and an RBI. Lipscomb hit a solo homer in the top of the fourth to add another run for Akron.

Lake County Captains (35-32) – High A

LC 4 – SB 5

Box Score

The Lake County Captains and South Bend Cubs battled back and forth all night with the Captains losing to a walk off RBI single in the bottom of the 10th.

Yorman Gómez got the start for the Captains with a strong 5.0 inning outing. Gómez allowed only one run on four hits and struck out nine batters. Robert Wegielnik came on in relief in the sixth inning, giving up the lead by allowing two runs on three hits and a walk. Dwayne Matos pitched an inning, allowing one run on two hits and two walks. Kyle Scott got his third loss of the season. After pitching a scoreless ninth inning, Scott stayed in to pitch the tenth. Scott struck out the first batter, but a stolen base from the ghost runner put the runner in the perfect position to score. Scott gave up a RBI single to end the game.

Christian Knapczyk went 2-for-3 with a run and a double. Wuilfredo Antunez went 1-for-4 with a run, a double, and a walk. Jonah Advincula went 1-for-5 with a RBI, run, and a game tying triple.

Maick Collado went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI single that put the Captain up in the top of the fourth.

Catcher Jacob Cozart went 1-for-4 and tied the game with a 2-out, 2-strike RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extras.

Lynchburg Hillcats (42-25) – Low A

LYN 4 – AUG 1

Box Score

The Hillcats continued their successful season with a 4-1 victory over the GreenJackets. Braylon Doughty went 3.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits and two walks. He struck out two. Donovan Zsak went 1.1 of scoreless, hitless baseball and struck out two. Sean Heppner earned his fourth win of the season with the Hillcats. Heppner went two complete innings only allowing a baserunner via a walk, striking out two. Conner Whittaker earned his third save, pitching the eighth and ninth. Whittaker allowed two hits and struck out three.

The Hillcats didn’t get on the board until the top of the seventh. A single, walk, and fielding error loaded the bases. Jose Pirela grounded into a forceout, driving in Logun Clark to tie the game. In the top of the eighth, back-to-back lead off singles set up Welbyn Francisca to score when Luis Merejo hit into a fielders choice. Garrett Howe hit a RBI single scoring Jeffrey Mercedes from third. Howe reached second on a throwing error and then stole third. With two outs, Garrett Howe stole home for the Hillcats’ final run of the game.