Minor League Recap - Clippers Split Double Header

Columbus Clippers (AAA)

Box Score - Game 1

COL 5 - LOU 4

The Columbus Clippers split a double header on Friday against the Louisville Bats (CIN). In Game 1 the team had to go into extra innings to secure the win 5-4.

Will Dion was the starting pitcher for Columbus going 4.1 innings, with 4 H, 4 R, 5 BB, and 3 Ks. Anthony Banda replaced Dion in the 5th inning, giving 1.2 innings of no-hit baseball. Banda struckout 2 with 1 walk in his relief work. Anthony Gose finished Game 1 with 2 innings of shutout baseball. Allowing no hits, no walks, with 1 strikeout.

Walks were the biggest issue for both starting pitchers. Right hander, Lyon Richardson also gave up 5 walks, 2 of which were in the first inning. The bases were loaded for Jhonkensy Noel who slapped a single to right field allowing Myles Straw and Kyle Manzardo to score.

The 2nd inning saw a walk from Daniel Schneemann that was brought in off of a Myles Straw double. In the top of the 4th Myles Straw continued to deliver extra base hits with a triple to right field. Designated hitter Jonathan Rodriguez singled to center field to bring in Myles. The offense was relatively quiet for the remainder of the game, until the 8th inning when a triple from Bryan Lavastida drove in ghost runner Daniel Schneemann in what would ultimately be the last run of the game.

Notable performances for game 1:

Anthony Gose has been looking great so far in his first season back after having Tommy John surgery late 2022. I am patiently awaiting his return to the major league bullpen.

Kyle Manzardo walked 4 times in Game 1. There were whispers of worry that Kyle was starting the year slow, but he is quickly returning to form and will continue to excite fans as a prospect.

Box Score - Game 2

COL 0 - LOU 2

Game 2 was relatively quiet for both teams until the end of the 6th inning Columbus reliever Tanner Burns gave up a single and a walk before Louisville catcher Michael Trautwein hit a single to right field, scoring Erik González. With a runner on 2nd and 3rd, Burn balked, advancing the runners then loading the bases with a walk. P.J. Higgins had a sac fly to right field, scoring Levi Jordan.

Kyle Manzardo (2-3) and Myles Straw (1-3) were the only Columbus players to record a hit in Game 2. Jonathan Rodriguez and Juan Brito both recorded a walk each rounding out Columbus’ night at the plate.

Akron Rubber Ducks (AA)

Box Score

AKR 2 - RIC 3

The Rubber Ducks faced the Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF) in what started as a high energy game that ultimately ended in a loss.

Akron started the game with a Chase DeLauter single and an Aaron Bracho walk. With two out Dayan Frias singled on a ground ball, scoring Chase DeLauter from 2nd base.

In the 2nd inning Kody Huff found his first home run on the season.

Starting pitcher Tommy Mace gave 5 strong, scoreless innings before putting two batters on base via a single and a walk to start the 6th. Right handed reliever Jack Leftwich replaced Mace and immediately gave up a home run to shortstop Will Wilson.

The rest of the game remained rather undramatic with Akron only recording 3 walks and 1 hit in the remaining innings.

Lake County Captains (High-A)

Box Score

LC 7 - FW 6

The Lake County Captains bested the Fort Wayne TinCaps (SD) Friday night starting the game with 4 walks, a single, and a double. Cooper Ingle’s 2 run single and Alex Mooney’s 2 run double put the Captains up 4-0 with only 1 out.

Lake County starting pitcher Steve Hajjar did not start the night much better, giving up 3 walks, a single, and a double in the 2nd inning - allowing 2 runs in the process.

The TinCaps continued to fight back, adding 2 more to the box score to tie the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the 3rd. The Captains would not be able to answer until the top of the 6th inning. First baseman Malick Collado singled, then reached 2nd on a wild pitch. Justin Boyd reached 2nd on a fielding error, advancing Collado to 3rd. Guy Lipscomb had a beautiful 2 run triple to center field.

Lipscomb was able to score on a balk before batter Jake Fox recorded the 3rd out in a pop out to the Fort Wayne shortstop.

Fort Wayne responded with an RBI single in both the bottom of the 6th and bottom of the 7th, but were unable to overtake the Captains.

Lynchburg Hillcats (Low-A)

Box Score

LYN 12 - FBG 7

The Lynchburg Hillcats had an exciting win off the Fredericksburg Nationals (WSH). Alex Clemmey struggled to lock in to start the game. Clemmey threw 26 pitches in the first inning, giving up 1 hit, 2 walks, and committing a throwing error, but was able to keep it scoreless for the Lynchburg offense. In the bottom of the 1st, aggressive base running and dominant batting led to the Hillcats taking the lead 5-0.

The Nationals were able to close the gap with a 2 run home run from their 3rd baseman Nathaniel Ochoa Leyva in the top of the 2nd, but the Hillcats were able to return in kind in the Bottom of the 3rd. Angel Genao started the 3rd with a single, advancing to 2nd on a balk. Jose Pastrano and Tommy Hawke both walked to load the bases. Roberto Lopez would be the final batter for the Nationals’ starting pitcher, who also took a walk, scoring Genao. Relief pitcher Jose Atencio came in and gave up a 2 run double to both Luis Durango and Juan Benjamin, putting Lynchburg up 10-2 going into the 4th.

The Hillcats were able to strike again in the bottom of the 4th when a force out from Wuilfredo Antunez scored Jaison Chourio. Through the 6th and 7th innings, Fredericksburg would continue to pick away at the Lynchburg league, scoring two runs from two separate passed balls by catcher Robert Lopez. Going into the bottom of the 7th the Hillcats would still have a 4 run lead that turned into a 5 run lead with a single by Tommy Hawke and Roberto Lopez. With runners on the corners, Juan Benjamin drove in the final run of the game on a forceout to 2nd.