Ralphy Velaszquez stays hot, Angel Genao homers as Lynchburg picks up lone win for Guardians affiliates

Columbus Clippers 2, Louisville Bats 3 (F/10)

Box Score · Clippers fall to 6-8

It was a rough day at the plate for the Clippers offense as Myles Straw accounted for all of the team’s runs, going 1-for-4 with a walk, a triple, a run scored and a run batted in.

The only other offensive standouts were Daniel Shneemann going 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and a run batted in, Jhonkensy Noel walking and getting hit by a pitch and Juan Brito pinch hitting and getting a double in his lone at bat.

The Clippers had a bullpen game and got some strong performances from several members of the staff. Kent opened the game with a scoreless inning. Mason Hickman tossed two innings of relief, although he allowed an inherited runner to score. Franco Aleman pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning before Randy Labaut took the loss by allowing the ghost runner to score in the 10th inning in his third inning of work. Labaut also walked three, gave up a hit and had two wild pitches.

Akron RubberDucks 1, Richmond Flying Squirrels 5

Box Score · RubberDucks fall to 5-4

Akron had seven hits and six walks, but only one run to show for it because the RubberDucks went a whopping 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 runners on base.

Christian Cairo had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double. Yordys Valdes had a pair of walks as the two middle infielders continue to impress in the early part of the season, both holding an OPS near 1.050.

Petey Halpin continued his torrid start to the season, going 2-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base. Milen Tolentino also walked twice.

Akron’s lone run was the result of a solo homer from the bat of Alexfri Planez, his first of the season and also first ever at the Double-A level after missing most of last season with an injury. This ball was annihilated.

Outside getting timely hits, Akron’s defense was the primary issue in this one as all five runs scored in the game were unearned due to a pair of errors.

Starting pitcher Aaron Davenport was rock solid, giving up one unearned run on six hits while striking out two and walking three in 4 ²⁄₃ innings of work. Bradley Hanner got stuck with four unearned runs in 1 ¹⁄₃ innings of relief, getting strikeouts on three of his four outs.

Tyler Thornton and Jordan Jones closed the game out with a pair of scoreless innings.

Lake County Captains 7, Fort Wayne TinCaps 8

Box Score · Captains fall to 4-4

Lake County got into a slugfest on Sunday, and its bullpen wasn’t able to hold a five-run lead late in the game.

Cooper Ingle continued his strong start to the season, going 3-for-5 with two doubles. CJ Kayfus also has been hot in a small sample size, going 2-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base.

Jose Devers went 2-for-5 with a double while Tyresse Turner went 1-for-3 with two walks, a stolen base and a solo home run.

Guy Lipscomb went 1-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base as well.

Starting pitcher Carter Spivey was rock solid, allowing two runs on six hits with three strikeouts and no walks in five innings of work. The rest of the bullpen? Not so much.

Handed a 7-2 lead, Adam Tulloch gave up four runs in two innings, then the final two runs were the responsibility of Zane Morehouse, who lasted just ¹⁄₃ of an inning before being yanked to take the loss and get his first blown save of the season.

Lynchburg Hillcats 7, Fredericksburg Nationals 5

Box Score · Hillcats improve to 3-6

Lynchburg jumped all over Fredericksburg with five runs in the first inning, then held on to pick up the victory.

Ralphy Velasquez continues to be a revelation at the plate, going 2-for-3 with pair of walks to reach base safely four times in five plate appearances. This kid just gets on base.

Jaison Chourio also showed his ability to get on base with three walks, although he got caught stealing for the second time this season.

Catcher Robert Lopez reached base safely three times, going 1-for-2 with a pair of walks, while Manuel Mejias went 1-for-3 with a walk. Leadoff hitter Christian Knapczyk walked twice and stole a pair of bases.

The big blows came off the bats of Angel Genao, who went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run and a walk; and Wuilfredo Antunez, who went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run. Both were in the first inning.

Starting pitcher Alonzo Richardson had a strong bounce-back performance, allowing two runs on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts in five innings of work.

Reliever Jake Berry struggled, allowing three runs (two earned) in just ²⁄₃ of an inning, but he was picked up by Matt Jachec, who was rock solid out of the pen in long relief, tossing 3 ¹⁄₃ innings with three strikeouts, no walks, no runs and just one hit allowed, to earn a well-deserved save. The 2023 18th round draft pick also stranded two inherited runners in the sixth inning.