Triple-A Columbus Clippers (2-3) at Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals)
As the Guardians called up Oscar Gonzalez, at least temporarily, the Clippers had a roster spot open for outfielder Johnathan Rodriguez, who hit 18 homers in Double-A Akron. He homered in two of his first three games for Columbus, which was in Omaha this week. Rodriguez, a third-round pick in 2017, went 2-for-4 with a double in his first game. He went just 2-for-8 over the next two days, but both hits were homers. Columbus lost, 7-6, on July 28, and won, 6-3, on July 29. Rodriguez did strikeout twice in both of the contests he hit homers.
Back-to-back days with a big blast by Johnathan Rodriguez! pic.twitter.com/vz2bcr4N95
— Columbus Clippers (@CLBClippers) July 30, 2023
Raynel Delgado gave the Clippers a strong week offensively, collecting four hits in three games played. He reached base with two hits and a walk in the July 29, 6-3 win. Delgado is a 2018 draft pick, who like Rodriguez, was a former switch hitter who is also now exclusively hitting right-handed and has had better success since doing so. Delgado has provided solid defense all across the infield.
George Valera added a double in the July 29 win as well as a walk, and had four hits in the first five games of the series as he is looking to get more settled in offensively.
After a poor start last time out, Joey Cantillo had a good outing in that 6-3 win on July 29. Cantillo only went four innings and walked a pair, but he did strikeout six and allowed just two runs. He had some success with his fastball and missed a lot of bats with his changeup. His other two pitches (slider and curve) were little used, not that it mattered.
Over the last month or so, Brayan Rocchio has been finding some more power, mostly doubles power, but didn’t have a strong week in the wake of the Amed Rosario trade news. He did homer and walked four times but was hitting .211/.348/.368 through the first five games of the week.
The Clippers return homer on Aug. 1, on the date of the trade deadline, to host a series with the St. Paul Saints (Twins).
Double-A Akron RubberDucks (3-3) at Erie SeaWolves (Tigers)
The first half of the year was a struggle for infielder Angel Martinez, picking up some momentum but not maintaining it. He’s put together a campaign worthy of Eastern League Player of the Month, and certainly Player of the Week. Though he was held hitless in Akron’s 9-2 win on July 29, and 7-1 loss on July 30, Martinez went 7-for-21 with homers in the ‘Ducks 7-5 loss on July 26 and a 10-8 win on July 27, where he drove in five runs with three hits. For the month of July, Martinez finished with a .309/.396/.543 line, two doubles, five homers, two steals and 17 RBI.
BANG!!!!
Angel Martinez hits a three-run 💣 to pad the lead!!!
TOP 11: Akron 10 | Erie 6 pic.twitter.com/qvCTKslQDr
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) July 28, 2023
Martinez wasn’t the only infielder on the 40 man roster in Akron that has struggled all year that put together a strong June campaign. Tena had a hit in every game he played against Erie, homering and driving in two on July 27th, and homering again on the 28th. Tena hit .349/.430/.500 in June and drew 11 walks, which is new for him, but also struck out 28 times, which remains a concern.
TENA TIME!!!!
For the second night in a row, Tena comes up with a big home run in the ninth inning…this one gives us the lead!!
TOP 9: Akron 4 | Erie 3 pic.twitter.com/hzg9B9t49r
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) July 29, 2023
Petey Halpin has also had a rough year but is ending the summer strong, much like he did in 2022. The 2020 draft picked doubled in three straight games, July 27-29, and had seven hits in those three games. Though Halpin was 0-for-4 in the July 30 loss, he hit .271/.327/.427 largely due to a nine-hit series against Erie.
On the board!!!@peteyhalpin doubles home our first run of the night!
TOP 5: Erie 2 | Akron 1 pic.twitter.com/YPBrmwU4Lr
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) July 29, 2023
Injuries and ineffectiveness have limited Jack Leftwich from trying to build on his 2022 success, but he threw four scoreless innings in Akron’s 9-2 win on July 29, allowing four hits but striking out three.
His 2021 college teammate, Franco Aleman, continues to draw attention to himself out of the bullpen. He tossed 3 1/3 perfect innings against Erie with three strikeouts, regularly sitting at 96-97 mph and hitting 99 with an above-average slider.
Another scoreless appearance for Franco Aleman. 18 K's in 12 innings since getting to Double-A. No runs allowed yet. Sitting 96-97 with a good slider. pic.twitter.com/IPfF4Xi15q
— Justin L. (@JL_Baseball) July 29, 2023
Fellow 2021 draft pick Doug Nikhazy pitched well enough to win on July 27, and Akron did win, 10-7, but Nikhazy only allowed two runs (one earned) in 5 1/3 innings, one hit, just two walks and struck out six.
Akron will host Somerset (Yankees) starting Aug. 1.
High-A Lake County Captains (4-2) vs. Beloit Sky Carp (Marlins)
Dayan Frias’ hot June and Midwest League Player of the Week run last week, and Chase DeLauter’s status as a first-round pick have gained a lot of attention this year in Lake County lately, but Milan Tolentino has been hitting well, too. He had two hits in four of the first five games he played in the series, going 2-4 in a 2-1 win for Lake County July 25, 1-4 with a homer in the 8-5 loss on July 26, 2-7 July 27 (5-2 win), 2-4 on July 28, and then 2-4 with a homer on July 29, a 12-3 Lake County win. He hit .386/.408/.591 through July 30 with three homers, seven doubles and three steals.
Dayan Frias stays hot. He's got 6 homers this month. pic.twitter.com/2fDXPIhJv1
— Justin L. (@JL_Baseball) July 29, 2023
Jake Fox didn’t have a ton of power in July, but finally showed more with the bat than he did early in 2022 at Low-A. He also had a hit in the first five games in the Beloit series, adding a pair of multi-hit games in the Captains’ wins on July 28 and July 29.
Chase DeLauter returned from his high ankle sprain to play and double on July 28, then played in right field again on July 30.
Aaron Davenport’s seven innings of one-run ball in his first appearance this week was one of his better performances all year with five strikeouts and no walks. Ethan Hankins tossed four scoreless innings on July 29th, walked four but also struck out four as he continues to stretch his arm out more and get through his first season since 2019.
Lake County will head to West Michigan (Tigers) for a series starting August 1.
Single-A Lynchburg Hillcats (4-3) at Salem Red Sox (Red Sox)
Suddenly, shortstop Jose Devers is a power hitter. He has seven homers on the year, five coming in June. Devers popped three of them this past week vs. Salem, hitting his second grand slam of the year in the Hillcats July 26th doubleheader sweep, then a solo homer in Lynchburg’s 7-2 loss July 29. He homered again in the Hillcats’ 3-2 win July 30.
20-year-old outfielder Wuilfredo Antunez has battled some injuries this year, but came up with six hits through five games this week, including a double on July 29.
The Hillcats did not have a real standout pitching performance this week. However, Zach Jacobs allowed just two runs in five innings with seven strikeouts in Lynchburg’s 8-3 win on July 28.
Austin Peterson continues to be solid in Low-A, going five innings, giving up three runs (two earned) with six strikeouts and no walks in the Hillcats’ 4-3 loss July 27.
Lynchburg heads to Delmarva (Orioles) to start a series on Aug. 1.
