Jaison Chourio hits first homer of season in Lynchburg win, Akron bullpen refuses to allow a hit

Columbus Clippers 7, Louisville Bats 5

Box Score · Clippers improve to 6-7

The Columbus Clippers offense showed up in a big way, turning a close 1-2 deficit into a 7-2 laugher with six runs in the seventh and eighth innings before surviving a dicey bottom of the ninth.

Johnkensy Noel and Daniel Schneemann both blasted off, with Noel also getting hit a pitch and Schneemann also walking. Both home runs were two-run bombs, with Schneemann’s putting the Clippers in front for good.

Kyle Manzardo had his best day at the plate this season, going 3-for-5 with two doubles. Johnathan Rodriguez also doubled while Lorenzo Cedrola came off the bench to go 2-for-3 with a triple and a walk.

Starting pitcher Adam Oller was respectable, allowing two runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts in five innings. Nic Enright earned the win with a scoreless sixth inning of relief and Erik Sabrowski picked up a hold with a scoreless seventh inning.

Jaime Barria was fine in the eighth inning, but he came back out for the ninth and things got interesting. With the bases loaded, he gave up a double, then a wild pitch to score all three before getting the final out.

Akron RubberDucks 6, Richmond Flying Squirrels 4

Box Score · RubberDucks improve to 5-3

Akron outhit Richmond 10-3, but the RubberDucks had to pull off some late heroics because Richmond managed to bunch its hits together early with a 3-run home run in the third inning to take a 4-3 lead.

The RubberDucks initially took the lead in the first inning on a two-run bomb from Aaron Bracho, his second of the season. Dayan Frias hit a solo shot in the sixth inning to tie the game 4-4.

The big blow in the game was a two-run triple from Petey Halpin in the top of the ninth inning, which put Akron on top for good.

Chase DeLauter doubled and walked while Joe Lampe went 1-for-3 with a walk and both Kody Huff and Yordys Valdes both went 2-for-4.

Rodney Boone got the call with the start, allowing four runs on three hits with a walk and two strikeouts in four innings, also hitting two batters with pitches.

The bullpen was tremendous, not allowing a single hit in five innings of scoreless work. Jaime Arias struck out one in a perfect inning, Trey Benton struck out three in two scoreless innings, and then the elite law firm of Walters and Torres shut Richmond down. Andrew Walters struck out the side in the eighth and Torres earned his third save with a walk and a strikeout in the ninth, facing the minimum by having a double play turned to end it.

Lake County Captains 3, Fort Wayne TinCaps 4 G1 (F/7)
Lake County Captains 0, Fort Wayne TinCaps 3 G2 (F/7)

Game 1 Box Score · Game 2 Box Score · Captains fall to 4-3

Lake County appeared to have game one of Saturday’s doubleheader well in hand, but a late bullpen blowup blew a 3-1 lead and turned it into a 4-3 loss in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Before the blowup, the Captains were in control thanks to a solo home run from Alex Mooney in the second inning and then a two-run blast by CJ Kayfus in the sixth inning.

Cooper Ingle walked twice while Jorge Burgos went 1-for-2 with a walk.

Starting pitcher Parker Messick was solid, allowing one run on four hits with seventh strikeouts and two walks in 4 ²⁄₃ innings.

Juan Zapata closed out the fifth inning fine, then pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning, but he failed to get an out after being brought out for his third inning of work in the bottom of the seventh, allowing a double, triple, walk and then a pair of singles to give up the goat.

Game two of the doubleheader was over in the first inning as Fort Wayne got all the runs it needed. Lake County was shut out, with Nate Furman going 2-for-4 with a double and Maick Collado and Justin Boyd both walking twice as the lone Captains to reach base safely two times.

Starting pitcher Austin Peterson was fine, allowing two runs on six hits with eight strikeouts and no walks in five innings, but he didn’t get any help from his offense.

Lynchburg Hillcats 4, Fredericksburg Nationals 2 G1 (F/7)
Lynchburg Hillcats 1, Fredericksburg Nationals 4 G2 (F/7)

Game 1 Box Score · Game 2 Box Score · Hillcats move to 2-5

Lynchburg got another big day from its two youngest star position players in game one as Jaison Chourio launched his first home run at the full-season level.

Ralphy Velasquez continues his hot-hitting, going 2-for-3 with two runs batted in. Jose Pastrano had a pair of walks and Tommy Hawke went 1-for-2 with a walk to both reach base safely twice.

Starting pitcher Matt Wilkinson was dominant, striking out eight batters in four scoreless innings on one hit and one walk. He’s been a bright spot for the Lynchburg rotation thus far.

Josh Harlow pitched a perfect ninth inning with a strikeout to record his first career save.

Lynchburg’s offense was much less refined in the second game, managing just two hits. The good news is both hits were for extra bases as Christian Knapczyk opened the game with a leadoff triple and Velasquez followed with an RBI double. That was it for Lynchburg’s scoring (and hits) for the rest of the game, however. Juan Benjamin did walk twice and stole two bases.

Starting pitcher Yorman Gomez allowed three earned runs on six hits with six strikeouts and a walk in 4 ²⁄₃ innings. Reliever Abel Brito followed with 2 ¹⁄₃ solid innings, allowing one unearned run on no hits with four strikeouts and a pair of walks.