Minor League Recap for Saturday, April 27th, 2024
Columbus Clippers – AAA
COL 7 – SYR 5
The Columbus Clippers beat the Syracuse Mets (NYM) on Friday night with a death by a thousand cuts offense, only putting up a crooked number in the 8th inning. RHP Hunter Stanley went 3.1 innings giving up 4 hits, 3 runs, and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts. LHP John Doxakis went 1.2 innings giving up only 1 walk on 3 strikeouts. LHP Sam Hentges made another rehab appearance with the Clippers getting a hold in 0.2 innings pitched giving up only 1 hit and 1 walk with 1 strikeout. RHP Mason Hickman went 1.1 innings giving up 3 hits and 2 home runs with 2 strikeouts, securing his first win of the season. RHP Franco Aleman and RHP Peter Strzelecki both would pitch 1 inning of shutout baseball with a strikeout each.
Columbus offense put up 7 runs on 9 hits. Jonathan Rodriguez (2) and Jose Tena (3) both had multi-hit nights. Rodriguez has been having a strong start to the season currently batting .298 with a .958 OPS. Kyle Manzardo went 0-for-3 with 1 walk and 2 RBIs bringing his batting average to .296 with an OPS of .934.
Akron RubberDucks – AA
AKR 6 – ALT 2
Akron continued the Friday night celebrations for Cleveland affiliates. RHP Aaron Davenport would throw 5 innings for the duckies giving up only 2 runs on 3 hits, 3 walks, but getting 3 strikeouts against the Altoona Curve (PIT). The Akron bullpen only needed 2 pitchers to finish out the game. LHP Erik Sabrowski went 2 innings, giving up 2 hits with 4 strikeouts maintaining his 0.00 ERA. RHP Tyler Thornton would also throw 2 innings of scoreless baseball, giving 1 hit with 3 strikeouts.
The Akron offense would continue to ride on the hot streak of Alexfri Planez who has 6 RBI on 6 hits over the last 3 games.
STAY HOT Alexfri Planez
6 hits, 6 RBI the last 3 days
TOP 3 | Akron 3 | Altoona 0 pic.twitter.com/1j3gFIGeBE
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 26, 2024
Christian Cairo hit a beautiful home run in the top of the 4th bringing his batting average to .389 with a 1.115 OPS in 36 at bats.
@chriatiancairo2 99 mph, 357 feet
Western Reserve Distillers HOME RUN
TOP 4 | Akron 4 | Altoona 0 pic.twitter.com/07n4oseBlJ
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 26, 2024
Aaron Bracho had his first triple of the season in 1 of his 2 hits on the night.
Aaron Bracho flies into 3rd for his first @CAKairport triple of the season! pic.twitter.com/WtNTK3rqUr
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) April 26, 2024
Lake County Captains – High A
LC 7 – WM 1
The Lake County Captains took down the West Michigan Whitecaps (DET) in a definitive win. RHP Carter Spivey threw a solid 6 innings, giving up 5 hits and only 1 run – a home run while getting 6 strikeouts. The Lake County bullpen also had a quiet night RHP Juan Zapata picked away at his 10.50 ERA pitching 1 inning with no hits, no runs, 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts. RHP Jay Driver (1.17 ERA) gave up 2 hits, no runs, and no walks in 2 innings with 2 strikeouts.
The Captains lead off hitter Nate Furman would continue his impressive start, extending his hitting streak to 10 games.
There are three things certain in life:
Death, taxes, and Nate Furman recording at least one hit.
He extends his hitting streak to games with a leadoff single! pic.twitter.com/aOVyILomJs
— Lake County Captains (@LCCaptains) April 27, 2024
Alex Mooney hit a 3 run homerun bringing his batting average to .302 with a .962 OPS.
TALKING TO THE MOOOON!
Alex Mooney, @MLBPipeline No. 20 CLE prospect, hits a three-run shot on the first pitch he sees!
Extends his LC lead with his 5th HR of the year! pic.twitter.com/iXmL5AScgv
— Lake County Captains (@LCCaptains) April 27, 2024
Jorge Burgos would cap off the scoring for the game with a 2-run home run in the top of the 9th.
BURGOS WITH A
Jorge Burgos’s 2nd home run of the year gives the Captains a 7-1 lead in the top of the ninth! pic.twitter.com/qlKEIxcJZH
— Lake County Captains (@LCCaptains) April 27, 2024
Lynchburg Hillcats – Low A
MB 2 – LYN 3
The Lynchburg Hillcats completed the affiliate sweep in a 3-2 victory over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (CHC). LHP Jackson Humphries pitched 3 innings, giving up 1 hit and no runs with 4 strikeouts. RHP Yorman Gomez secured the win, improving his record to 2-1. Gomez pitched a strong 5 innings, giving up only 2 runs on 3 hits, 1 walk, and recording 7 strikeouts. LHP Steven Perez finished the night with his first save. In 1 inning, Perez gave up only 1 hit and recorded 1 strikeout.
Ralphy Velazquez continues to make strong arguments for a High-A promotion in the very near future. He went 1-4 on the night with a double. Ralphy is currently battinga a .323 with a .970 OPS. Juan Benjamin (1) and Jose Pastrano (2) brought in the team’s runs on the night, both with 2-out RBIs. Esteban Gonzalez also recorded a hit, bringing the team’s total to 4 hits on the night.