Columbus Clippers (47-60) – AAA

The Columbus Clippers fell to 47-60 after last night’s loss to the Gwinnett Stripers. Parker Messick fell to 5-5 on the year, having thrown 87 pitches in 6.2 innings of work. Messick allowed 4H, 3R/ER, and struck out 9. Matt Krook finished off the seventh inning and Franco Aleman pitched the eighth. Tim Herrin closed out the game. Both Aleman and Herrin gave up a hit and all three relievers struck out one batter.

The Clippers bookended the game with a run in the first and a run in the final frame. In the bottom of the first Petey Halpin hit a lead off double to right field. With two outs, Jhonkensy Noel singled to short, allowing Halpin to score from third. In the bottom of the ninth Johnathan Rodríguez his a two-out double to left. Jhonk hit a double of his own to put the Clippers within one run. Columbus couldn’t close that gap and fell 3-2.

Akron RubberDucks (61-44) – AA

Rodney Boone got the start for the RubberDucks Friday night. Boone pitched 2.0 innings, only allowing one base runner via walk and striking out two. Tommy Mace earned his 10th win of the year, pitched 5.2 innings of one run ball. Mace gave up two hits, three walks and struck out five. Alaska Abney finished the eighth inning, striking out the batter for the final out. Ross Carver earned his second save, closing the game. Despite the save, Carver gave up two runs on three hits and a walk. Carver struck out one batter.

The RubberDucks kicked off scoring early on. In the bottom of the first, Travis Bazzana drew a lead off walk. Alfonsin Rosario came up to bat with one on and one out. Rosario hit his first AA home run, a two-run affair to left center.

In the bottom of the third, Bazz hit a one-out single to right field while Cooper Ingle and Rosario drew back-to-back walks. Joe Lampe hit a sac fly to bring Bazzana home again. In the bottom of the sixth, Lampe doubled to left field then advanced to third on a groundout. With two out, Cameron Barstad singled to right to give the RubberDucks the cushion they needed to maintain the lead for the win.

Lake County Captains (59-47) – High A

The Lake County Captains took a definitive W over the Dayton Dragons behind a strong start by starting pitcher Caden Favors. Favors earned his fifth W of the season in his five innings of scoreless work. Favors gave up three hits and two walks, notching six Ks on the night. Josh Harlow got two innings of work. A throwing error by the shortstop Jose Devers, allowed a run to score in the bottom of the sixth accounting for Harlow’s one, unearned run. Harlow finished his outing with 2H, 1R/0ER, 1BB, and 3K. Xavier Martinez came on in the eighth inning, giving up two hits and a walk. He struck out three to maintain his High A ERA of 0.00 in five innings of work with the Captains. Jack Jasiak gave up a hit and a walk in the ninth inning, but struck out two to book it for the Caps.

Lake County batters kept things slow and steady putting up a run in the second and fourth innings. In the top of the second, Ryan Cesarini hit a two-out double to left field. A fielding error allowed Juan Benjamin to reach and put Cesarini on second. Kevin Rivas hit a ground ball single to center to score Cesarini and put the Captains on the board.

Cesarini kept his momentum going with a lead off triple in the top of the fourth. Rivas hit a sac fly to score Cesarini and put LC up by two.

Everything kicked off in the top of the sixth. With one out, Juan Benjamin doubled to right, Kevin Rivas drew a walk, and Christian Knapczyk singled to left to load them. Jaison Chourio singled to center to score two.

Ralphy Velazquez hit a double of his own to score two more for the final Captains runs of the game.

Lynchburg Hillcats (55-47) – Single A

Jacob Zibin took the mound Friday night for the Hillcats. In his 3.0 innings of work, Zibin gave up two hits and two walks. He struck out six, but in the bottom of the third a passed ball and a throwing error gave the Mudcats two unearned runs. Cam Walty pitched to the seventh, giving up 4H, 1R/ER, and striking out seven. Angel Perez pitched the eighth, keeping it a scoreless inning after giving up two hits and striking out one.

The Hillcats offense couldn’t put anything together. The sole run for the Hillcats was a solo homer from Jose Pirela. Lynchburg only recorded five hits and four walks.