Minor League Recap - Messick Earns 3rd Win in Strong Outing

Minor League Recap for Saturday, May 25, 2024

Columbus Clippers (19-29) - AAA

COL 5 - OMA 6

Box Score

The Columbus Clippers fell to the Omaha Storm Chasers (KC) in Friday night’s close matchup.

The lefty Will Dion took the mound going 5.0IP, giving up 5H, 5R, all earned, 1BB, and 3Ks. Dion currently has a 7.36ERA with a 1.72WHIP. After a 1-2-3 inning, the Storm Chasers jumped on Dion in the bottom of the 2nd, scoring 5 before Dion was able to retire the side.

Columbus then turned to RHP Peter Strzelecki who threw 2 innings of scoreless, hitless baseball with 3 strikeouts. Strzelecki currently has a 2.53ERA with a 0.94WHIP. In the bottom of the 8th, LHP Erik Sabrowski took over for the Clippers. Sabrowski walked 2, gave up 1H with 1R - earned - with 1K. Sabrowski gets the loss, his first of the year.

Clippers offense was not able to answer the 5-run 2nd for Omaha until the top of the 4th inning. With one out, Bryan Lavastida reached base on a fielding error followed by a single from Micah Pries. Raynel Delgado hit a 2-out RBI triple to get Columbus on the board. The next scoring opportunity for the Clippers came in the top of the 6th with two outs when 4 straight were walked. In the top of the 8th, Dom Nuñez drew a walk and was brought home on a 2-out home run from José Tena. Tena is currently hitting a .276BA with a .725OPS.

Akron RubberDucks (27-16) - AA

AKR 10 - HBG 9

Box Score

In an exciting extra inning game against the Harrisburg Senators (WSH), the Akron RubberDucks brought home a victory Friday night.

LHP Rodney Boone started for Akron, going 3.2 innings. Boone only gave up 1R, 1BB, and 4H, but had 6 strikeouts. In his 31.1 innings pitched so far this season, he has a 2.59ERA with a 0.96WHIP.

RHP Andrew Walters came in to finish the 4th inning and stayed on to pitch the 5th. He went 1.1 innings of scoreless, hitless. Walters gave up 1 walk and had 3 strikeouts.

RHP Jordan Jones came on in the 6th inning, giving up 3 runs, all earned with no hits, 3 walks, and 1 strikeout. RHP Trey Benton came in for the 7th and 8th inning giving up his first blown save of the season. Bentron threw a complete 2.0 innings with 3 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned, with 1 walk and 1 strikeout. RHP Tyler Thornton pitched the 9th and 10th inning. Thornton gave up 3R, 2 earned, on 3 hits and 2 walks with 1 strikeout. RHP Lenny Torres Jr. got his first win of the season pitching the 11th and 12th inning. Torres Jr. gave up 0H, 0R, and 0BB with 2 strikeouts. Torres Jr. has pitched 16.1 innings so far this year and has a 0.00ERA with a 0.80WHIP.

Akron offense remained quite lively throughout the game, recording 10 runs on 14 hits starting in the top of the 4th. Alexfri Planez had an impressive night, starting the scoring with a sac fly to bring in Christian Cairo. In the top of the 5th Planez singled to bring home Christian Cairo again, marking the 4th RBI single in the 5th inning.

In the top of the 12th Micael Ramirez singled on a line drive scoring Alexfri Planez for the game winning run.

LF Christian Cairo had a great throw to 3rd preventing a go-ahead run for the Senators helping secure the win for Akron.

Lake County Captains (24-19) - High A

WM 1 - LC 5

Box Score

The Captains were victorious over the West Michigan Whitecaps (DET).

LHP Parker Messick recorded his 3rd win on the season, pitching 6 innings of scoreless ball. Messick only gave up 2 hits and 1 walk, but struck out a staggering 10 batters.

LHP Steve Hajjar pitched the 7th inning, managing to keep his earned runs to 1 this time around. RHP Jay Driver had a dominant, scoreless 8th inning of relief. He has a 0.66ERA with a 1.17WHIP on the season in 13.2 innings pitched. RHP Zach Jacobs closed out the night also with a scoreless inning. Jacobs is sporting a 1.57ERA with a 0.70WHIP.

C.J. Kayfus brought in his 34th RBI on the year - a team high for the season.

Nate Furman hit his 7th home run, continuing his impressive showing of power.

Saturday’s game in Lake County (weather permitting) will be exciting to watch. Tugboat Wilkinson will be making his High-A debut and Steven Kwan will begin his rehab assignment with the club.

Lynchburg Hillcats (22-21) - Low A

LYN 6 - FBG 2

Box Score

Hillcat pitching showed up tonight against the Fredericksburg Nationals (WSH). LHP Alex Clemmey threw 5.0 innings of scoreless, 1 hit baseball. Clemmey gave up 1 walk with 5 strikeouts. Impressively RHP Kyle Scott threw the remaining 4 innings of the game. Scott gave up 4 hits, 2 runs - both earned - 2 walks and had 3 strikeouts.

In the top of the 3rd Tommy Hawke singled on a ground ball to drive the first run of the night home. Jose Pastrano, Tommy Hawke, and Angel Genao would also cross home plate in the top of the 3rd.

Lynchburg, in the top of the 5th, would tack on two more runs. Christian Knapczyk walked with the bases loaded to bring the score to 5-0. Manuel Mejias hit a sac fly, scoring Esteban Gonzalez for the last Hillcat run on the night.