Jhonkensy hits record-setting double in Columbus win, Tugboat strikes out nine for Lynchburg

Cleveland Guardians minor league recap for Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Columbus Clippers 6, Iowa Cubs 5 (F/10)

Box Score · Clippers improve to 14-19

With no Kyle Manzardo, the Columbus Clippers have had to rely on some other players to carry the load offensively, and Jhonkensy Noel rose up to the occasion on Tuesday. Noel went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and a double, knocking in four runs overall in the Clipper’s victory. His double was in the top of the 10th inning and knocked in what would be the second run of the frame and resulted in the winning run. It’s not often I show the highlight of a double over a homer, but Noel’s double had some significance due to its elite exit velocity.

Noel was one of three Clippers who had three-hit games. Daniel Schneemann went 3-for-5 with a double and a stolen base, and Jose Tena went 3-for-5 as well.

George Valera and Johnathan Rodriguez both went 1-for-4 with a walk, with Rodriguez stealing a base, and Bryan Lavastida went 1-for-4 with two stolen bases.

Starting pitcher Wesley Parsons gave up one run on three hits with four strikeouts and two walks in 3 ²⁄₃ innings. Jaime Barria added 2 ¹⁄₃ innings of scoreless relief with a pair of strikeouts.

A rehabbing Eli Morgan struggled, giving up two runs on two walks in ¹⁄₃ of an inning, with Randy Labaut allowing both inherited runners to score and giving up another run of his own in his inning of work.

Tanner Burns added 1 ²⁄₃ innings of scoreless relief to earn the win and Anthony Banda closed out the victory, allowing the ghost runner to score in the bottom of the 10th inning and no one else to earn the save.

Akron RubberDucks 1, Bowie Baysox 17

Box Score · RubberDucks fall to 18-10

Oh no...

Petey Halpin tripled and scored Akron’s only run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning. Akron’s pitching staff then gave up 17 unanswered runs.

Starting pitcher Jordan Jones gave up two runs on three hits with four strikeouts and a walk in three innings to take the loss, but four relievers combined for 15 runs allowed over the next four innings.

Honestly, the lone highlight of the pitching was position player Connor Kokx, who tossed a scoreless frame with one hit allowed in the eighth.

Lake County Captains 9, Dayton Dragons 5

Box Score · Captains improve to 17-11

Lake County was consistent, scoring at least one run in seven straight innings to pull away for a victory on Tuesday.

CJ Kayfus had the big blow, a two-run home run in the third inning, going 1-for-4 with a walk to keep his OPS above one thousand at 1.037.

Alex Mooney also had a monster day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and a stolen base. Guy Lipscomb went 2-for-5 with a stolen base. Cooper Ingle reached base safely three times, going 2-for-4 with a walk. Tyresse Turner went 2-for-4 with a walk and Jonah Advincula went 1-for-3 with two walks and a stolen base.

Starting pitcher Parker Messick gave up three runs (one earned) on four hits with four strikeouts and four walks in five innings. Juan Zapata and Jay Driver added a scoreless inning of relief each and Josh Wolf gave up two runs in two innings to finish off the victory.

Lynchburg Hillcats 7, Down East Wood Ducks 5

Box Score · Hillcats improve to 16-12

Lynchburg scored all seven of its runs in the sixth inning, with the big blow coming off the bat of Rafael Ramirez Jr., who blasted his first home run of a season, a grand slam. He finished the game 1-for-3 with a walk.

Wuilfredo Antunez went 2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base while Christian Knapczyk went 2-for-4 with a stolen base. Manuel Mejias reached base safely twice, going 1-for-3 with a walk and Tommy Hawke singled, was hit by a pitch and stole a base.

Starting pitcher Matthew “Tugboat” Wilkinson had his roughest outing of the season, allowing four runs (two earned) in 4 ²⁄₃ innings on six hits with no walks and nine strikeouts, raising his miniscule ERA to 0.89.

It took just one other pitcher to finish off the game as Rorik Maltrud piggybacked with Wilkinson, allowing one run (zero earned) on two hits with six strikeouts and no walks in 4 ¹⁄₃ innings of long relief to earn the win.

ACL Guardians 10, ACL Dodgers 4

Box Score · Guardians improve to 2-1

The ACL Guardians scored nine of their 10 runs in the second inning.

Carloz Gutierrez went 3-for-3 with a double and a walk, Yanki Baptiste went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk, Christopher Espinola doubled and was hit by a pitch, Victor Izturis went 2-for-3 with two walks and David Leon went 2-for-3 with three runs batted in.

Starting pitcher Austin Aldeano gave up one run on two hits with three strikeouts and a walk in four innings. Former seventh round pick Javier Santos struggled, giving up three runs without allowing a hit due to four walks, four wild pitches and a balk in ²⁄₃ of an inning.