Minor League Recap – Anthony Martinez Hits First High-a Homer

Columbus Clippers (46-38) – AAA

LOU 3 – COL 1

Box Score

The Columbus Clippers fell to the Louisville Bats in Friday night’s 97°F game time scorcher. Austin Peterson took the mound for Columbus, earning a quality start despite falling to 0-7 on the season with last night’s loss. Peterson threw six complete innings, allowing two run on four hits and striking out five. Jake Miller and Jack Leftwich both pitched scoreless innings with only one base runner allowed (Miller – BB). Trevor Stephan came out to close the game, giving up a run on a solo homer. Stephan gave up four hits in his inning of work.

The Clippers sole run cam in the bottom of the first. Petey Halpin and Angel Genao drew back-to-back walks to start the inning. Juan Brito slapped a double on a liner to right, scoring Petey. The Clippers had a few scoring chances through out the game, but did not capitalize on any of them. In the bottom of the second, Milan Tolentino converted a one-out walk into a triple with a stolen second base and taking third on a throwing error. In the bottom of the seventh CJ Kayfus hit a lead off double. In the bottom of the eighth Angel Genao hit a lead off single but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. Ralphy Velazquez hit a two out single, followed by Bo Naylor drawing a walk to move Ralphy into scoring position. All runners were left in scoring position.

Akron RubberDucks (36-42) – AA

ERI 6 – AKR 1

Box Score

The Akron RubberDucks and Erie Seawolves played a shortened game that was called with one out in the top of the 6th due to the severe storms that hit the area last night. Caden Favors fell to 2-6 on the season with the loss. He pitched 4.2 innings, allowing all six runs on nine hits and two walks. He gave up two solo home runs and struck out three batters. Adam Tulloch was only able to finish the fifth inning and start the sixth. He allowed a walk and struck out one before the game was called.

Akron scored one run in the bottom of the fifth. Nick Mitchell hit a one-out single before the Seawolves made a pitching change. With the new pitcher on the mound, Jaison Chourio drew a walk and Alfonsin Rosario hit a RBI single to left, scoring Mitchell.

Lake County Captains (43-33) – High A

LC 10 – WM 3

Box Score

The Captains had a successful night, outscoring the West Michigan Whitecaps by seven runs Friday night. Michael Kennedy improved to 8-3 on the season. Kennedy went 5.1 innings only allowing two runs on three hits and a walk. Kennedy struck out six batters. Donovan Zsak pitched 1.2 innings of one run ball, giving up a hit and striking out three. Izaak Martinez earned his fifth save of the season with two full innings of scoreless baseball. Martinez struck out three batters.

The Caps offense had ten runs on ten hits and six walks with one error. Recently promoted Anthony Martinez scored the first run for Lake County, a solo home run to right center to tie the game in the top of the fourth.

In the top of the sixth Tyler Howard reached on a walk and Tommy Hawke hit a single to center to put the runner in scoring position. Aaron Walton hit a massive three-run home run to give the Caps a three-run lead.

The Captains sealed their victory in the top of the ninth. Welbyn Francisca drew a lead off walk and scored when Esteban González hit a one-out double to left. González moved to third on the throw home.

Garrett Howe immediately followed up with a two-run home run, his first of the season.

Tyler Howard drew a walk, forcing the Whitecaps to make a pitching change. Tommy Hawke hit a single and Aaron Walton drew a walk to load the bases. Anthony Martinez singled on a liner to right, scoring Howard and the speedy Hawke. A wild pitch turned into a double steal, but Walton tried to steal third and home, but was thrown out at home. A balk put Martinez on third and Nolan Schubart drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Welbyn Francisca hit an RBI single to left to score the final run for Lake County.

Hill City Howlers (33-46) – Single A

FAY 3 – HC 0

Box Score

The Hill City Howlers and the Fayetteville Woodpeckers faced off in what started with impressive starting pitching. Ryan DeSanto pitched a gem of a start, going five innings of scoreless ball. DeSanto only allowed three base runners – two via hits and one via a walk. DeSanto struck out eight of the 18 batters he faced. Even Chrest came on in the sixth and immediately gave up three runs, falling to 0-1 on the season with the loss. Chrest pitched three innings, despite the shaky sixth. He gave up two hits, two walks, and three runs while striking out two. Javi Torres pitched the ninth, throwing a clean inning with all three batters faced hitting into outs.

The Howlers only real chance of scoring came in the bottom of the sixth. Jonathan Martinez drew a one-out walk then reached second on a stolen base. Gabriel Roriguez drew a walk of his own. Juneiker Caceres hit a single to right to load them up with only one out. The Howlers couldn’t capitalize on the bases loaded situation, stranding all of the runners. Hill City only had six baserunners, three via hit and three via walk and two errors.