Guardians Baseball Insider

Scoreboard

Triple-A: Columbus Clippers 10, Syracuse Mets 1
Double-A: (Game 1) Akron RubberDucks 11, Reading Fightin Phils 0 (Game 2) Akron RubberDucks 2, Reading Fightin Phils 1
High-A: (Game 1) Dayton Dragons 4, Lake County Captains 3; (Game 2) Dayton Dragons 2, Lake County Captains 1
Low-A: Delmarva Shorebirds 8, Lynchburg Hillcats 3

Highlights

Gabriel Arias (SS, Columbus): 2-4, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, BB – It has been very hard to slow Arias down, as he’s off to an even hotter start this year than last year. With good reason since he handled Triple-A pitching well as a 21-year-old last year. He does have 10 strikeouts in the eight games, but that’s always going to be part of his game. He’s hitting through it anyway, so that’s not a huge nitpick right now.

Will Brennan (CF-LF, Akron): 2-6, 2B, 2 BB, 3 RBI – While Brennan had all two of his hits in game one, and collected his three RBI in the game one win, too, he did walk in both contests. He’s staying red hot either way.

Daniel Espino (SP, Akron): 4.1 IP, 3BB, 7K – Despite the fact that Espino didn’t allow a hit in his contest, it wasn’t as dominant as his season opening start. He walked three and did uncork two wild pitches. But, he is unhittable sometimes, he just beats himself at times. No-hits in 4.1 innings is still no hits.

Jose Tena (DH, Akron): 3-4, 3R, RBI – Tena has gotten off to a bit of a slow start, but he is getting acclimated to Double-A since he had one series of playoff experience a year ago there. But he was able to get on base and score all three times at the top of the order in Akron’s game 1 win.

Brayan Rocchio (SS, Akron): 3-6, 3 RBI, SB – Rocchio started both games at short and had a hit in game one and two in game two. He’s really picked up where he left off last year in Akron.

Tanner Burns (SP, Akron): 5.2IP, 2H, 2BB, 6K – A  much better line for Burns from his first outing of 2022 and how he finished 2021. 

Angel Martinez (SS, Lynchburg): 3-3, SB –  He only started one of Lake County’s two games Saturday but he sure made the most of it. Just a heady, advanced player all around that has a great approach and instincts. 

Tommy Mace (SP, Lake County): 4IP, H, 2BB, 7K – A much better second outing for Mace, settling in nicely in game two of the double-header. This is the guy Cleveland should be able to coax more out of.

Best of the rest

Kirk McCarty (SP, Columbus): 4.1IP, 2H, 2BB, 4K – You don’t get a lot of flash in McCarty’s lines, but he’s about as consistent as they come. He’s reliable and keeps the team in the game. 

Oscar Gonzalez (RF, Columbus): 2-4, K – Not a standout line for Gonzalez. Just two singles. But the guy likes every pitch he sees and still hits.

Richie Palacios (LF, Columbus): 1-4, 2B, BB, 2 RBI, – Another solid day for Palacios at the top of the order getting on base twice.

Alex Call (CF, Columbus): 1-4, HR, 2 RBI – The average is low early in the year for Call, but he’s getting on base and hitting for power as he looks to find someone to grab an opportunity to be a backup for someone in the majors. It probably won’t be Cleveland, but he’s good enough for a look.

Micah Pries (1B, Akron): 3-7, 2B, 2 RBI – Pries had hits in both games and RBI in both but drove in the winning run in game two.

Julian Escobedo (RF-DH): 2-6, HR, RBI – All of Escobedo’s damage came in the big game one win for Akron.

George Valera (LF-CF, Akron): 1-4, 3 BB, 3R – He only got one hit, but you can see Valera is starting to get locked in with the homer he hit the other day and now the walks are really picking up. That’s typical Valera.

Tim Herrin (RP, Akron): 1.2IP, H, 3K – Herrin allowed a run in his first outing but has allowed just the one hit in his last 3.2IP in the last two outings of the three this year.

Milan Tolentino (3B, Lynchburg): 3-5 – Tolentino continues to be extremely hot in the early going, picking up plenty of hits.

Dayan Frias (2B, Lynchburg): 0-2, 3BB, R – Three walks are good to see from Frias, who is still young getting his first full season affiliate taste and swinging and missing some in the ACL last year. The Colombian Winter League may have been a big experience for him.

Juan Zapata (RP, Lynchburg): 4IP, 5H, BB, 5K – A very solid first piggyback outing for Zapata who actually pitched well in his spring training tuneup that was in an ML outing.

Jhokensy Noel (3B, Lake County): 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI, BB – A nice outing where Noel walked and didn’t strike out, but walked and knocked an extra base hit. He needs a few more of these. He also keeps started at third now with Joe Naranjo firm at first base. Noel made two errors Thursday at the hot corner.

Jaime Arias-Bautista (RP, Lake County): 4IP, H, ER, BB, 4K – Nikhazy tossed 36 pitches in his inning, so Bautista had to take over and had another solid outing, looking the same as he did a year ago in Lynchburg just filling up innings with quality results in a bulk role.