Minor League Recap - Lake County Wins the Game and Gains Bazzana

The Clippers and Captains secure wins, Akron has a bad night, and the Hillcats are rained out.

Columbus Clippers (43-49) - AAA

COL 6 - LOU 4

Box Score

The Columbus Clippers took on the Louisville Bats (CIN) Friday night. Doug Nikhazy took the mound and showed that he was, in fact, capable of giving up a run. It was a bit of a rough night for the 24-year-old LHP. Nikhazy needed 83 pitches to get through 4.0 innings. In that unplanned short start, he gave up 3 hits, 3 walks, and allowed 2 runs. He struck out 4. Despite what is not a great box score, Nikhazy still maintains a sub 1.00 ERA at 0.86 ERA. The Clippers turned to 26-year-old righty Nick Mikolajchak for the 5th inning. He also struggled slightly against the Bats, giving up 3 hits and allowing 1 earned run. Jose Tena committed a fielding error to start the bottom of the 5th, allowing the lead off hitter to reach base and ultimately score. LHP Erik Sabrowski locked it in for the Clippers and went 1.2 innings, throwing 29 pitches. He did not give up a hit or allow a run, but did walk 3 and did not strike out a batter. It would be enough of an effort, paired with a successful offense, to earn Sabrowski the win. His record improves to 3-1. The righty Peter Strzelecki recorded his 7th hold of the season, coming in to finish the 7th inning and pitch the 8th. He only walked 1 batter and struck out a batter in his 1.2 innings pitched. Right hander Andrew Walters recorded his 3rd save, pitching the 9th inning. Walters allowed 1 hit and struck out 1.

Columbus offense combined for 6 runs scored on 8 hits, bookending the box score. They scored 5 runs in the first two innings and would not score again until the final run in the 9th. Jose Tena and Johnathan Rodriguez recorded a hit while Juan Brito, Gabriel Arias, and George Valera all recorded 2-hits each.

The Clippers started the game with a bang - off the bat of Jose Tena who hit his 17th HR of the season. Gabriel Arias drove in Juan Brito with an RBI single. In the Top of the 2nd, Brito hit his 24th double, scoring Dom Nunez. Tena was ultimately brought home when Kyle Manzardo grounded out to 2nd base, advancing Brito to 3rd. Johnathan Rodriguez singled to left field, scoring Brito. Despite starting the game off with two crooked numbers the offense was otherwise quiet. A couple of players reached base via singles or walks, but nothing was substantial enough to threaten a run. Ultimately the final frame for Columbus put up one last run. Juan Brito walked to start the Clippers 9th and advanced to 2nd on an Arias single. In a pickoff attempt gone wrong, Brito scored from 2nd on a throwing error.

Akron RubberDucks (50-38) - AA

RIC 9 - AKR 1

Box Score

Both Akron pitching and hitting struggled last night against the Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF). The RubberDucks fell to the Flying Squirrels having only scored 1 run in 8 hits.

Starting pitching struggled to get rolling for the RubberDucks as RHP Austin Peterson took the mound. Peterson threw for 4.2 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and walking 1 batter. Peterson did strike out an impressive 7 Richmond batters. Ultimately the loss would fall to Peterson, his first of the season. Righty Davis Sharpe came on in relief to finish the 5th inning and pitch the 6th. Sharpe threw a runless outing, allowing only 1 hit and striking out 2. Unfortunately RHP Jack Leftwich and RHP Ross Carver were not able to carry the pitching momentum created by Sharpe. Leftwich pitched the 7th inning allowing 2 runs to score on 2 hits and walk. Carver pitched 1.2 innings allowing 5 earned runs on 3 hits and 3 walks, striking out 3. Alaska Abney pitched the final out of the game.

Akron offense was not a much better sight to see. The RubberDucks sole run was an RBI double off the bat of Aaron Bracho that scored Kody Huff.

Only 4 Akron batters recorded hits Friday night. C.J. Kayfus went 2-for-4 with 2 singles. Kody Huff went 1-for-4 with a double and a run. Aaron Bracho went 2-for-3 with an RBI double, a walk, and a single. Milan Tolentino went 3-4 with 3 singles.

Lake County Captains (52-35) - High A

LC 3 - FW 2

Box Score

The Lake County Captains (soon to be home to first round draft pick Travis Bazzana)

beat the Fort Wayne TinCaps (SD) in Friday’s matchup.

Right handed starter Rorik Maltrud secured his 3rd win of the season going 5.0 IP. Maltrud allowed 2 runs on 6 hits and 1 walk. Maltrud struck out 6 TinCap batters. Jay Driver pitched the 6th and into the 7th inning for Lake County. Driver gave up 1 hit and 1 walk and struck out 1 batter. Zane Morehouse (RHP) finished the 7th inning and completed the 8th inning allowing only 2 hits. Magnus Ellerts pitched the 9th inning. Ellerts allowed 1 hit and struck out 3. It was the righty’s 11th save of the season.

Captains offense capitalized on their hits, scoring 3 runs on 4 hits. Maick Collado hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the 1st to score Cooper Ingle.

In the top of the 2nd Cooper Ingle walked with bases loaded, Jonah Advincula scoring. In the top of the 5th with the game tied, Jorge Burgos hit his 10th HR of the year for the Captains final run on the night.

If you are still planning on making it out to Lake County for a game, next week is the perfect time. Learn all about the Guardians 1.1 pick here.

Lynchburg Hillcats (48-39) - Low A

Friday night’s game was postponed due to field conditions: