Guardians Baseball Insider

Image: Matthew Carper

Not very often does a team get to say it won a series but was outscored and out-hit through the length of the week. Triple-A Columbus was one of the exceptions against the Indianapolis Indians last week, earning three victories and tossing two shutouts in the process. The Clippers were sent a plethora of reinforcements at the start of the series, notably in outfielder Oscar Gonzalez from Double-A Akron and recently-signed right-hander Brad Peacock and catcher Wilson Ramos. Infielder Yu Chang returned to the organization, as well as left-hander Logan Allen. However, the absence of Andrés Giménez loomed large as the infielder hasn’t played since July 3 with a leg injury, but was stretching on the field Saturday. While back-to-back shutouts are impressive, Columbus saw dominance on both sides of the ball Friday as veterans Zack Godley and Kevin Herget combined to fend off the Indians’ early two-run lead — while the latter spun five shutout innings in relief — and both Trenton Brooks and Chang recorded three hits. Rain threatened Huntington Park for much of the series, ultimately taking away 10 innings by shortening Wednesday’s contest and erasing Sunday’s altogether. Columbus is now 27-31 and fifth in the Triple-A East Midwest Division.

Day-by-day

7/6: W 1-0 vs. Indianapolis W: Dowdy (3-2) L: Jacques (2-1)

7/7: W 2-0 (8) vs. Indianapolis W: Gose (4-1) L: Marvel (3-2) S: Stephens (4)

7/8: L 10-3 vs. Indianapolis W: Wright (4-4) L: McCarty (6-2)

7/9: W 9-4 vs. Indianapolis W: Herget (3-3) L: Oviedo (0-2)

7/10: L 11-1 vs. Indianapolis W: Sulser (4-2) L: Allen (0-3)

7/11: Canceled (Inclement weather)

Player of the Week

INF Trenton Brooks: 7-for-20, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2B

The jump to Triple-A for Brooks has been a successful one after he was third in Double-A with a .438 on-base percentage. Although he’s reaching at a .333 clip with the Clippers, the 26-year-old is hitting .284 and added a team-high seven hits against Indianapolis. Brooks began his week with a walk-off single to secure Tuesday’s 1-0 win, then piled five hits over the last two games, including a 3-for-5 night Friday with two runs scored. 

Who’s Hot

INF Owen Miller: 2 G, 5-for-9, 3 RBI, 2 HR (1 G w/ Indians: BB)

Owen Miller has served twice as Cleveland’s 27th man in their handful of doubleheaders lately, and his recent tap on the shoulder came Wednesday in Tampa Bay. The 24-year-old drew a walk in his lone plate appearance, and was one of only three baserunners as the Rays held the Indians hitless in the second game of the doubleheader. Nonetheless, Miller returned to Columbus and garnered playing time both Friday and Saturday, crushing home runs in each and totaling five hits. He’s gathering hits in bunches — multiple in each of the last three games in which he’s gotten a hit — while reaching base at least once in six of his last seven.

RHPs Kyle Dowdy, Heath Fillmyer, Kevin Herget and Matt Koch: 2 W, 16.2 IP, 0 R, 13 K, 9 H, BB

A quartet of right-handed arms led the way in Columbus’ pitching staff after a stellar week of allowing zero total runs combined. One of the four pitchers listed impacted each of the five games played against Indianapolis, including two who earned wins (Dowdy and Herget). Dowdy spun two perfect innings Tuesday to keep the 0-0 game going and picked up a scoreless ninth Saturday. Fillmyer is currently on an 11-inning scoreless streak and added six-shutout frames Wednesday, punching out three and walking none. Herget piggy-backed Godley’s debut with five-shutout innings and has allowed just one run in his last 9 2/3 frames. Koch has been just as serviceable, stopping the bleeding with a one-pitch double play and scoreless fourth inning Wednesday.

Who’s Not

LHP Ben Krauth: 3.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 3 K

The month of June was a prime one to write home about for Krauth, who’s only played in nine games all season. In three appearances, he allowed three hits and no runs in nearly six innings. July, though, hasn’t gone as smoothly. Although he threw a scoreless inning of work Tuesday, Krauth gave up two of the three hits Indianapolis recorded in a narrow 1-0 game, pitting a pair of runners against a one-out situation. The left-hander walked a pair of runners after relieving Logan Allen in the third inning Sunday, then was tagged for three runs — albeit two scored when Jordan Stephens took over. So far, Krauth has surpassed his June hit and walk total with over half the month left to go.

INF/OF Nolan Jones: 1-for-18, HR, 8 K, BB

Entering the series against Indianapolis, Jones was arguably the hottest hitter on Columbus’ roster. He owned a 7-game hitting streak and recorded hits in 10 of his last 11. But, the 23-year-old’s momentum came to a screeching halt against the Indians. Jones was held to just one hit, a solo home run in Friday’s 9-4 rout, and he whiffed to a pair of hat tricks en route to eight strikeouts in the week. He did, however, display a strong arm for his first outfield assist Saturday, hosing a baserunner and would-be run at third base.

Transactions

7/6 – OF Oscar Gonzalez promoted to Triple-A Columbus from Double-A Akron

7/6 – C Wilson Ramos signed by the Cleveland Indians and assigned to Triple-A Columbus

7/7 – OF Daniel Johnson recalled by Cleveland from Triple-A Columbus

7/7 – INF Owen Miller recalled by Cleveland from Triple-A Columbus

7/7 – RHP DJ Johnson selected by Cleveland from Triple-A Columbus

7/7 – LHP Logan Allen assigned to Triple-A Columbus by Cleveland

7/8 – INF Owen Miller assigned to Triple-A Columbus by Cleveland

7/8 – RHP Jean Carlos Mejia recalled by Cleveland

Coming Up

7/13 – ROAD at St. Paul 8:05

7/14 – ROAD at St. Paul 8:05

7/15 – ROAD at St. Paul 8:05

7/16 – ROAD at St. Paul 8:05

7/17 – ROAD at St. Paul 8:05

7/18 – ROAD at St. Paul 3:05