Juan Brito homers, Alexfri Perez blasts off twice and Tommy Mace shines in Akron shutout

Cleveland Guardians minor league recap for Sunday, May 12, 2024

Columbus Clippers 3, Iowa Cubs 5

Box Score · Clippers fall to 15-22

The Columbus Clippers got all their extra base hits from one person ... Juan Brito. Brito had a big day, going 2-for-5 with a double and a home run.

Daniel Schneemann continued his hot streak, going 2-for-4 while Myles Straw went 2-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base. George Valera also walked twice.

Starting pitcher Conner Gillespie gave up three runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts in 4 ²⁄₃ innings. Mason Hickman took the loss, giving up one run without giving up a hit in 1 ²⁄₃ innings and Anthony Banda gave up another run in his 1 ²⁄₃ innings of relief.

Akron RubberDucks 6, Bowie Baysox 0

Box Score · RubberDucks improve to 21-11

This was one-way traffic for Akron.

Alexfri Planez had himself a game, going 2-for-3 with two home runs and a walk.

Petey Halpin also had himself a game, going 2-for-5 with a home run, his second game in a row hitting one deep.

Aaron Bracho and Joe Naranjo both singled and walked to reach base safely twice.

Starting pitcher Tommy Mace was sensational, tossing six shutout innings on four hits with three strikeouts and a walk. He lowered his season ERA to 1.86 in the process. The former competitive balance second round pick from 2021 has really come around this season.

Davis Sharpe added two innings of scoreless relief and Tyler Thornton closed out the shutout with a perfect ninth inning, striking out a pair.

Lake County Captains 9, Dayton Dragons 3

Box Score · Captains improve to 20-12

“Rake” County was at it again, this time reaching base safely 18 times to score nine runs.

The big blows were actually from the bottom of the lineup as Justin Boyd hit his first home run of the season, a three-run blast in the second inning.

Zac Facia also homered for the first time in 2024, going 1-for-3 with a two-run shot and a walk.

But that’s not all. Nate Furman went 1-for-3 with two hit by pitches. Alex Mooney went 2-for-5 with two stolen bases, Cooper Ingle went 2-for-4 with a double, Guy Lipscomb went 1-for-3 with two walks, Maick Collado went 1-for-3 with a walk and a hit by pitch and Angel Zarate went 1-for-3 with a walk.

Starting pitcher Austin Peterson was terrific, allowing three runs on four hits in seven innings with five strikeouts and no walks. Unfortunately, all four hits he allowed were for extra bases, which accounted for his three runs.

Zach Jacobs closed out the game with two innings of scoreless relief.

Lynchburg Hillcats 3, Down East Wood Ducks 4

Box Score · Hillcats fall to 18-15

Lynchburg’s stars were productive, but that was about it on Saturday.

Top draft pick Ralphy Velasquez went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and a stolen base (stealing home). Fellow top prospect Jaison Chourio went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases.

The only other standout was Rafael Ramirez, who hit a solo home run in the fifth inning.

The lack of offense ruined the best start of 2023 second round draft pick Alex Clemmey’s young career. Clemmey was absolutely brilliant, tossing 4 ²⁄₃ shutout innings of one-hit ball with one walk and six strikeouts. This is a situation where I’m devastated that the Down East ballpark doesn’t stream its games, so there is no video of his performance.

Unfortunately, the bullpen surrendered the lead, giving up four runs in 3 ¹⁄₃ innings of work.

ACL Guardians 3, ACL Cubs 1 (F/7)

Box Score · Guardians improve to 4-2

Yanki Baptiste had the big blow for the ACL Guardians, a solo home run in the fourth inning, his second of the young season. He went 1-for-2 with a walk.

Centerfielder Yerlin Luis went 2-for-3 and that was it for hits for the Guardians. Christopher Espinola walked twice, as did Victor Izturis.

Keegan Zinn, a high school prospect drafted by Cleveland in the 12th round last year, made his 2024 debut, allowing one run without giving up a hit on two walks and two strikeouts in two innings.

Jogly Garcia earned the win with five shutout innings of work on three hits, striking out a ridiculous nine batters without walking anyone. The 20-year-old Venezuelan prospect appears to be a player worth keeping an eye on moving forward.