George Valera homers again in Clippers win, Travis Bazzana hits go-ahead homer in ninth inning for Captains

Cleveland Guardians minor league recap for Monday, August 26, 2024

Columbus Clippers 5, Indianapolis Indians 2

Box Score · Clippers improve to 64-59

George Valera is officially molten lava hot. The former No. 1 prospect in the organization homered for the fifth time in his past six games, raising his season OPS over .800 in the process. Since Aug. 2, he is slashing .313/.362/.641 with a 1.003 OPS. He’s already on the 40-man roster so I sincerely hope he gets a call-up when rosters expand to 28.

Juan Brito also had a monster game, going 3-for-4 with a double and his 17th home run of the season.

No one else reached base safely twice, but Chase DeLauter and Angel Martinez both doubled.

The Clippers strangely used Zak Kent as an opener and he gave up two runs (one earned) in 2 ²⁄₃ innings. Doug Nikhazy then came in as a piggy-back partner and dominated, tossing 4 ²⁄₃ scoreless frames on four hits while striking out three and walking one.

Franco Aleman, who recently returned from injury, closed out the victory with ²⁄₃ of a scoreless inning and a strikeout.

Akron RubberDucks 2, Harrisburg Senators 3 (F/10)

Box Score · RubberDucks improve to 70-50

Lenny Torres may have taken the loss, but it was really the Akron offense that let the team down. Akron scored two runs in the third inning and that was it for the rest of the game, including extra innings.

Kody Huff led the way, going 3-for-5 with an RBI. Kahlil Watson went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and Guy Lipscomb went 2-for-4 with a double. Aaron Bracho also reached base safely three times, going 1-for-3 with two walks.

Starting pitcher Aaron Davenport had a decent game, allowing two runs on three hits in five innings with five strikeouts and three walks.

Mason Hickman, Jack Leftwich and Ross Carver added a scoreless inning apiece. Lenny Torres then added a scoreless ninth inning, but then was brought out for the top of the 10th, where he allowed the ghost runner to score an unearned run.

Akron went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 10th with a pair of strikeouts to lose the game.

Lake County Captains 5, West Michigan Whitecaps 3

Box Score · Captains improve to 69-49

Lake County was outhit 9-6, but the type of hits mattered in this game and the Captains got a pair of monster hits from a pair of the top prospects in the entire organization.

The Guardians 2023 first round pick Ralphy Velazquez blasted his first home run since being promoted to High-A, a two-run shot in the sixth inning. Velazquez finished the day 1-for-3 with a walk.

Then in the ninth inning, Travis Bazzana, after starting the day 0-for-4, connected on the biggest hit of his young professional career, a 3-run bomb to put Lake County in front.

The only other Captains to reach base safely twice were Isaiah Green, who went 2-for-4 with a double; and Jorge Burgos, who went 1-for-3 with a walk.

Starting pitcher Dylan DeLucia was sensational, tossing five shutout frames on two hits while striking out four and walking one. He hasn’t skipped a beat since being promoted to High-A.

Jay Driver earned the save with a scoreless ninth inning.

Lynchburg Hillcats 5, Salem Red Sox 4

Box Score · Hillcats improve to 64-54

Lynchburg jumped out to a 5-1 lead then held on for the victory Sunday.

The Hillcats didn’t have any extra base hits, but they made their own extra base hits by stealing a ridiculous NINE bases in the game.

Welbyn Francisca led the way, going 2-for-4 with two stolen bases. Guardians 2024 14th round pick Ryan Cesarini went 1-for-3 with a walk and three stolen bases. Tommy Hawke went 1-for-4 with two stolen bases and Barrett Riebock and Luis Durango both singled and stole a base. Christian Knapczyk walked twice and had a sacrifice fly.

Starting pitcher Jervis Alfaro allowed one run on four hits in 4 ¹⁄₃ innings. He struck out three and walked three. Guardians 2024 eighth round pick Donovan Zsak chipped in 1 ²⁄₃ scoreless innings of relief in his best outing thus far (out of four).