Cleveland Sports Forum

Lack of offense continues with a 1-0 loss by the Captains despite another good start by Michael Goodnight: 1 run on 5 hits and 1 walk in 4 2/3, fanned 3. Jason Smit with the lone LC hit and he walked, still batting 436

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And the floodgates break in the nightcap; Captains lead 11-4 after 4. 2 homers each by Jesus Aguillar and Michael Gallas, and one by Tyler Cannon, who also walked twice. Aguillar and Cannon each has 4 rbi. Throw in a single and triple by Alex Monsalve. Nick Bartalone with E#8 (rated the best defender in our 2010 draft by Baseball America). Mike Rayl leaves after 4 innings, 4 runs, 5 hits, no homers; so our 5 longballs may not be attributably solely to breezes.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb ... x_lcoafx_2

Aguilar keys Captains' power surge

Indians prospect hits three of Lake County's seven homers

By Josh Jackson / Special to MLB.com04/23/2011 8:01 PM ET

Jesus Aguilar recorded a pair of two-homer games in the Arizona League last season. (Tony Lastoria)
After being held to one hit in the opener of their doubleheader Saturday, Jesus Aguilar helped the Lake County Captains turn things around in a big way.

Aguilar slugged three of the Captains' seven home runs as Lake County earned a split of the twinbill with a 14-4 rout of the Bowling Green Hot Rods.

Anthony Gallas contributed a pair of long balls and Taylor Cannon and Carlos Moncrief also went deep for the Captains, who got all of their runs on homers.

"Well, all the home runs we hit in the second game were huge," said Lake County manager Ted Kubiak. "[Aguilar] hit three of them and had six RBIs, and they were all huge.

"Aggy is showing us he has power to right field. He hits them high and he hits them far. It was nice to see him do some damage after we couldn't do anything in the first game."

Bowling Green's C.J. Riefenhauser came within two outs of no-hitting the Captains in the opener, but Aguilar erased a 1-0 deficit in the nightcap with a two-run blast in the bottom of the first inning that cleared the center-field fence.

The 20-year-old first baseman from Venezuela bashed another two-run shot in the second and capped the most productive game of his four-year career with a third two-run homer in the fifth.

"They were throwing him everything outside," said Kubiak, a former Major League infielder. "It looked like they were all breaking balls. He's been having trouble chasing that [outside] pitch a lot, but when they don't get it out there far enough, he knows what to do with them.

"He got a little help from the wind, but he hit them all well."

When Aguilar made contact in the fifth, Kubiak knew right away he became the second Minor Leaguer this season to hit three homers in a game.

"With the wind blowing that way, he hit it so high, there was no doubt," Kubiak said.

Aguilar signed with the Indians as a non-drafted free agent in November 2007. After two seasons in the Dominican Summer League, he split last year between the Rookie-level Arizona League and the short-season New York Penn League. In 61 games, he batted .251 with nine homers and 39 RBIs.

"He's intense and attentive. He's always in the game," Kubiak said. "He's been a real nice surprise."

While Kubiak admitted his club got some help from blustery weather conditions, he wasn't going to take anything away from his hitters.

"Every home run that was hit today got a little help from the wind, but they were all hit well and they all count," he said. "[Bowling Green] had the same opportunities and they didn't do it. And we did."

Another stinker for the K-Tribe: 11-2 this time. Again the starter was only slightly to blame: TJ House 1 earned in 4 innings, 6 hits, 5 K, 2 walks. But Chris Jones, Travis Turek and Jose Flores had plenty of trouble. 3 hits by Bo Greenwell.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb ... a_kinafa_1

Aeros' nightcap finished as 4-0 loss. All 4 off DelaCruz. John Drennen with 2 hits.

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Civ - correct me if I'm wrong but Baseball America tends to not give much love to relievers in the minors?

Generally so. But they did rank among this year's Indians' Top 30: Josh Judy, Zach Putnam, Bryce Stowell, Jess Todd, as well as Hagadone who's role was uncertain in the offseason.

Former Indians

Carlos Rivero, Phils picked up, sent him back to AA again. OPS of 692. He'wnow 24

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minor ... vero001car

John Gaub, included in the trade for DeRosa, thus for Chris Perez, is in AAA for the Cubs, 15 K in 8 1/3. Injured and unsuccessful last year. He's now 26. When healthy he's a K machine.

Chris Archer went in the same deal. He was No. 1 Cub prospect last winter after a breakout 2010. Then traded to Tamps. He's not having a good start. But only age 22 in AA could still be a star

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minor ... cher001chr

Jesus Brito had a fine debut in 2009 but he was 22 and traded winter of 09=10 for Brian Bixler. I was upset. But shouldn't have been. He had a miserable 2010 with the Pirates in his first full season at age 23, and doesn't appear on any roster this year.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minor ... ito-001jes

Columbus finally got a game in, and won 6-4 despite another lousy start by Corey Kluber. The good numbers 1 earned run and 2 hits in 3 1/3. The bad 6 walks and a homerun. Zach Putnam continues solid, 1 1/3 1 hit, 3 K. Phelps singled, doubled and playing second made an error. HR for Travis Buck

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb ... x&did=milb

Rare win for Kinston, 3-2, behind Brett Brach who pitched for his 3rd team in 2 weeks, 5 innings, 1 run, 4 hits, 3 W, 5K. Preston Guilmet a perfect ninth; scoreless and walkless 6 1/3 IP for the season. The offense consists of a single, a double, a homer, 2 steals and a CS from Holt; and one other hit.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb ... a_kinafa_1

EAstern League and Midwest League apparently take Easter Sunday off.

After being washed out for two days, there was baseball at Huntington Park Sunday and when the dust settled, the Clippers stood tall with a 6-4 win against the Indianapolis Indians.

Columbus used a 5-run fourth inning to vault past Indianapolis and the bullpen threw 5.2 innings in relief of Corey Kluber, who had command troubles in his 3rd start of the season.

After falling behind 2-0, the Clippers got on the board on a Travis Buck solo home run in the bottom of the 2nd to make it a 2-1 ballgame. In the 5th, Columbus took advantage of Brian Burres, plating 5 runs on 5 hits, including a 2-run triple by Jordan Brown and back-to-back home runs by Paul Phillips and Luis Valbuena. They would be held scoreless for the rest of the night, but the bullpen made the lead stand up.

Jensen Lewis earned the win with 2 scoreless innings of relief and Josh Judy pitched a perfect 9th inning for his 1st save of the season.

The Clippers and Indians will play a double-header Monday night beginning at 5:05pm. Eric Berger will start game one against Sean Gallagher.