I'd like to see Urshela become an at least average offensive player, since his defense has always been rated outstanding. We have seen plenty of 3rd baseman peter out at AA from Pat Osborne to Kyle Bellows.

Boxes:

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.js ... x&sid=milb

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.js ... x&sid=milb

For Akron, Urshela singled, doubled, homered, walked, batted in 4.
Lindor and Tony Wolters each with a pair of hits.
Ace Cody Anderson 6 solid innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 3 K.
Shutout innings by Armstrong, Soto and Crockett.

Levon Washington with a pair of opening night hits. He's done that before and wound up on the DL by May 1. Good luck.
Morimando's 77 pitches got him through 5 innings: 5-5-2-2-1-3.

BA's daily selected lines are limited to players in the team's Top 30 list. For opening day:

CLE AA Lindor, Francisco SS 5 1 2 0 .400 SB (1)
CLE AA Wolters, Tony C 5 0 2 1 .400
CLE HiA Gonzalez, Erik SS 4 0 1 1 .250
CLE AA Anderson, Cody 6 4 1 1 1 3 1.50 W (1-0)
CLE AA Armstrong, Shawn 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.00
CLE AA Crockett, Kyle 1 0 0 0 0 1 0.00
CLE HiA Morimando, Shawn 5 5 2 2 1 3 3.60

Around the Farm: April 3, 2014

Urshela's power highlights the first ATF of the season

By Jim Piascik

April 4, 2014

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Around the Farm takes a quick look at some of yesterday’s performances by Cleveland prospects throughout the system. The positions listed below are where the player was playing in yesterday’s game.

Note that Columbus was rained out last night.

Giovanny Urshela (3B, Akron): 3-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SO

Following a disappointing 2013 season where Urshela posted a .270/.292/.384 line in his first exposure to Double-A, the third baseman kicks off 2014 atop Around the Farm thanks to his power outburst. Binghamton pitchers were generous Thursday night, walking 11 batters, but Urshela was the only RubberDuck with an extra base hit, bringing in most of those runs. Urshela's big issue is making sure to swing at pitches he can do something with -- not just make contact with -- and as the first Cleveland minor leaguer with a home run, the early results are positive. There is only so much we can take away from one game (which goes for everyone else listed here), but Urshela began to answer his big questions on opening night; not a bad start to the season.

Shawn Morimando (SP, Carolina): ND, 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO

After posting a 5.07 BB/9 in 2013, it is good to see Morimando fill the zone with strikes in his 2014 debut. The left-hander has talent, but limiting walks will be one of the keys to seeing him take a step forward this season. According to Tony (who was at the game), Morimando was consistently in the 91-92 miles per hour range with some occasional 93s as he cruised in every inning but the fourth. Morimando struggled in that fourth inning with runners on, rushing while pitching from the stretch, so that will be something to watch over the course of the season. But all in all, this was a successful start to the year for Morimando.

•Cody Anderson (SP, Akron): W (1-0), 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, 1 BK. Not the most dominant outing from Anderson in the strikeout column, but there is nothing wrong with throwing six one-run innings. It is good to see the right-hander start strong after struggling during a late-season callup to Akron in 2013 (5.68 ERA, 5.81 FIP in 12.2 innings).

•Kyle Crockett (RP, Akron): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO. It will not be long before Crockett is doing this type of thing in Cleveland. The left-hander just shuts things down.

•Francisco Lindor (SS, Akron): 2-for-5, 1 R, 1 SO, 1 SB, 1 E. The top prospect in the system looked the part Thursday, getting on base and making things happen. Lindor handled the jump to Double-A in 2013 well in limited time (.289/.407/.395 line in 21 games) and picked up where he left off here.

•Jake Lowery (1B, Akron): 0-for-1, 2 R, 3 BB, 1 HBP. Playing a new position -- one that could stick with the presence of Tony Wolters -- Lowery did not fit the part of "slugging first baseman." Instead Lowery reached four times on walks and hit by pitches -- still a good result -- tied for the most on the RubberDucks.

•Tony Wolters (C, Akron): 2-for-5, 1 RBI, 1 SO. Finally making his Double-A debut after the position switch delayed it in 2013, Wolters came out swinging well. Both hits were singles, a reminder that Wolters could use some more power after only posting a .353 slugging percentage in 2013, though it is still early of course.

•Josh Martin (RP, Carolina): W (1-0), 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO. This is the type of relief outing that gets you noticed; six-up, six-down. Martin struggled during his 33.1 innings in Carolina last year (4.86 ERA, 4.40 FIP), but this is a good way to bounce back from that.

•Todd Hankins (2B, Carolina): 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 CS. Despite a .204/.323/.259 line in 37 games with Carolina last year, Hankins (a) hit leadoff in the opening game of the year and (b) played really well, taking advantage of the new year and a blank slate.

•LeVon Washington (LF, Carolina): 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 SO. The story remains the same for #WashTime: when he plays, he does well, just like he did Thursday. What Washington needs to do this year is finally put his injury woes behind him so he can do this on a consistent basis.

•Yandy Diaz (3B, Carolina): 1-for-1, 1 R, 1 SB. As of this writing, the box score on MiLB.com is incorrect regarding Diaz and Yhoxian Medina, so I am doing my best to put it back together correctly. Diaz seemed to start his season well, but he injured his hand sliding into third base and was removed from the game. The third baseman will not have x-rays and the team expects it is just a sprain or something similar. He will be evaluated Friday.

•Yhoxian Medina (3B, Carolina): 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SB. Again, the box score is messed up here, so forgive me if something is wrong. Either way, Medina did a great job filling in for Diaz, getting on base twice and making things happen on the basepaths. He was not a part of the starting lineup, but Medina played a key role in getting Carolina the opening night win.

If you want to follow Jim on Twitter, he’s @JimPiascik. If you want to e-mail him, you can do so at jpiasci1@kent.edu

Baseball: Rain has Clippers in waiting game for season opener

A rainout cost the Clippers a second consecutive home opener in a thoroughly soaked Huntington Park yesterday, about four hours before the scheduled 7:05 p.m. first pitch against the Indianapolis Indians.

A search of the weather radar for the proverbial two-hour window to play a baseball game didn’t provide a “Eureka!” moment, so the two teams will try again at 7:15 tonight.

Manager Chris Tremie wasn’t surprised by the early decision.

“As bad as the radar is and as much rain as is out there, there was a pretty good chance we weren’t going to play,” he said. “You’ve always got to stay in the mindset that you’re going to play until that’s determined.”

Cleveland Indians center fielder Michael Bourn (left hamstring strain) was scheduled to start and play seven innings in a two-game injury rehabilitation assignment with the Clippers. He already had become an unlikely participant before the postponement.

“It was doubtful that he would have played,” Tremie said. “When it’s that wet, it would have been hazardous for everybody even if it had stopped raining.”

He added that he has seen worse starts to a season.

“Several years ago, we played the opener,” Tremie said. “We got rained or snowed out the next three days. Then we played a game and got rained out two games. So we played like, two games in the first 10 days.”

Triple-A rookie Carlos Moncrief was preparing to play right field in his Clippers debut opposite Bourn. Both took rounds of batting practice in the indoor cages to help prepare for today.

The Indians drafted Moncrief as pitcher in the 14th round of the 2008 first-year player draft. He switched from the mound to the outfield two years later with the blessing of the Indians.

“I always felt like my heart was into playing a position and being a hitter,” Moncrief said. “ But I threw 95 (mph) off the mound. So I thought it might be an easier road to the big leagues.

“I pitched for two years, but then I approached them with the question of, ‘Could I switch my position?’ I let them really know how I felt about the situation and they gave me the opportunity. I’m thankful for it and now I’m here.”

He earned a spot on Cleveland’s 40-man roster after batting .284 with 17 home runs and 75 RBI for double-A Akron last season. Moncrief credited an attitude change and his family for his breakout season.

“It was around the middle of May that I put it into my head to go out there and have fun instead of worrying about my mechanics,” he said. “Plus my wife (Brandy) came and my two baby boys. When they came, I started hitting great. When they left, I had an 0-for-24 stretch. So I think they might be a little bit of good luck for me. They’ll be here next month.”

In the Wednesday team workout, Moncrief and his teammates peppered Huntington Blvd. with baseballs driven over the right-field wall and balcony.

“This is a great place to hit,” he said. “I really don’t hit home runs to dead right field. But we’ll see what happens. To continue to have fun is my main thing. I’m having fun doing what I was born to do, playing the game of baseball.”

The Clippers and Indianapolis will make up the rainout with a doubleheader on Saturday. The first game has a scheduled 3:05 p.m. first pitch.

MEET THE TEAM

Baseball | Clippers season preview: Meet the team

Catcher

Roberto Perez

Vitals: 5 feet 11; 225 pounds (age: 25)

Bats-throws: R-R

Acquired: Selected in the 33rd round of the 2008 first-year player draft.

The skinny: Defensive specialist became the Clippers’ primary catcher after a June 13 call-up from double-A Akron. He batted .176 with no home runs and 24 RBI in 67 games.

George Kottaras

Vitals: 6-0; 200 (age: 30)

Bats-throws: L-R

Acquired: Released by Chicago Cubs on March 26; signed as a minor-league free agent by Cleveland on Monday.

The skinny: Veteran has played 295 games in the majors as a backup for the Red Sox, Brewers, Athletics and Royals. Kottaras spent 2013 with the Royals and played for Indians manager Terry Francona with the Red Sox in 2008 and ’09.

First base

Jesus Aguilar

Vitals: 6-3; 250 (age: 23)

Bats-throws: R-R

Acquired: Signed Nov. 13, 2007, as a nondrafted free agent.

The skinny: Also will be used as a designated hitter. … The No. 19 overall Indians prospect, Aguilar set an Akron franchise record with 105 RBI and led the Indians’ minor league system in 2013. He batted .275 with 16 home runs and a .349 on-base percentage.

David Cooper

Vitals: 6-0; 205 (age: 27)

Bats-throws: L-L

Acquired: Re-signed on Dec. 9 as a free agent.

The skinny: Also will be used as a designated hitter. … Suffered an upper-back injury while playing for the Blue Jays in August 2012 that required surgery in March 2013 to repair vertebrae. … Played seven games for the Clippers in August before asking for his release. … Outrighted to Columbus on March 4.

Second base

Jose Ramirez

Vitals: 5-9; 165 (age: 21)

Bats-throws: S-R

Acquired: Signed Nov. 26, 2009, as a nondrafted free agent.

The skinny: Cleveland’s eighth-ranked prospect jumped from Akron to the Tribe in September, where he had 12 at-bats in 15 games and hit .333. … Stole 38 bases for Akron and struck out only 41 times in 482 at-bats.

Shortstop

Justin Sellers

Vitals: 5-10; 160 (age: 28)

Bats-throws: R-R

Acquired: Contract purchased by Indians on March 2 from the Dodgers.

The skinny: Played 83 games over the past three seasons with the Dodgers in a utility role. … Batted .270 with six home runs and 65 RBI for triple-A Albuquerque in 2013. … Also can play second base and third base.

Third base

Ryan Rohlinger

Vitals: 6-0; 195 (age: 30)

Bats-throws: R-R

Acquired: Re-signed on Nov. 1 as a minor league free agent.

The skinny: Played 92 games for the Clippers in 2013, mostly at third base, hitting .266 with five home runs and 25 RBI. He has played 46 games in the major with the Giants.

Outfield

Matt Carson

Vitals: 6-2; 200 (age: 32)

Bats-throws: R-R

Acquired: Re-signed Dec. 13 as a minor league free agent.

The skinny: Strong-armed outfielder had 19 assists, one off the franchise record, for the Clippers in 121 games. He also had 14 homers and 49 RBI. Carson earned a September promotion to Cleveland, where he had seven hits in 11 at-bats.

Tim Fedroff

Vitals: 5-10; 200 (age: 27)

Bats-throws: L-R

Acquired: Selected in the seventh round of the 2008 first-year player draft.

The skinny: Now in his fourth season with the Clippers, Fedroff has a .270 career average in triple-A. He slumped to .242 in 136 games in 2013, but had a career-high 22 stolen bases.

Carlos Moncrief

Vitals: 6-0; 220 (age: 25)

Bats-throws: L-R

Acquired: Selected in the 14th round of the 2008 first-year player draft.

The skinny: The 10th-ranked Indians prospect had a breakout season on offense with Akron in 2013. A converted pitcher, Moncrief batted .284 with 17 home runs and 75 RBI. Like Carson, he has a “plus” arm.

Utility

Bryan LaHair

Vitals: 6-5; 240 (age: 31)

Bats-throws: L-R

Acquired: Signed on Feb. 5 as a minor league free agent.

The skinny: National League All-Star in 2012 at first base while playing for the Cubs. … Played for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in Japan in 2013 and had offseason surgery on his left wrist. … Also can DH and play the corner outfield spots.

Audy Ciriaco

Vitals: 6-3; 195 (age: 26)

Bats-throws: R-R

Acquired: Signed on Jan. 10 as a minor league free agent.

The skinny: Primarily a shortstop over nine minor league seasons with time at third base and brief stops at first base and left field. … Spent most of the 2013 season with double-A Jacksonville (Marlins).

Starting pitchers

Trevor Bauer

Vitals: 6-1; 190 (age: 23)

Bats-throws: R-R

Acquired: From the Diamondbacks on Dec. 11, 2012, as part of a three-team trade also involving the Reds.

The skinny: The third-ranked prospect in the Cleveland organization returns to Columbus for a second season. He had an uneven 2013 — 6-7 with a 4.15 ERA — while refashioning his delivery. … Also made four starts for the Indians.

Josh Tomlin

Vitals: 6-1; 190 (age: 29)

Bats-throws: R-R

Acquired: Selected in the 19th round of the 2006 first-year player draft.

The skinny: Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in August 2012 cost him most of the 2013 season and his spot in the Indians rotation. Now healthy, Tomlin was the final starter cut by the Tribe this spring.

Tyler Cloyd

Vitals: 6-3; 210 (age: 26)

Bats-throws: R-R

Acquired: Claimed off waivers from Philadelphia on Oct. 12 and re-signed to a minor league contract on Dec. 13.

The skinny: Voted the International League’s most valuable pitcher in 2012 after going 12-1 with a 2.35 ERA with Lehigh Valley. … Split last season with the IronPigs and the Phillies.

Travis Banwart

Vitals: 6-3; 220 (age: 28)

Bats-throws: R-R

Acquired: Signed as a minor league free agent on Dec. 13.

The skinny: Spent the past four seasons pitching for Sacramento (Athletics) of the Pacific Coast League. Banwart began 2013 in the bullpen but moved into the rotation. He was 6-0 with a 3.84 ERA over his final 11 starts.

T.J. House

Vitals: 6-1; 205 (age: 24)

Bats-throws: R-L

Acquired: Selected in the 16th round of the 2008 first-year player draft.

The skinny: Made 24 starts for the Clippers in 2013 and went 7-10 with a 4.32 ERA. Over his final 11 starts, House was 6-1 with a 2.65 ERA. … Spent three days on the Indians’ active roster but didn’t pitch.

Relief pitchers

Austin Adams

Vitals: 5-11; 190 (age: 27)

Bats-throws: R-R

Acquired: Selected in the fifth round of the 2009 first-year player draft.

The skinny: A starter for three seasons in the organization, Adams missed 2012 after having surgery on his right shoulder. … Returned to Akron as a reliever in 2013 and was 3-2 with a 2.62 ERA in 45 games. He struck out 76 in 55 innings.

Scott Barnes

Vitals: 6-4; 200 (age: 26)

Bats-throws: L-L

Acquired: In a July 27, 2009, trade with the Giants.

The skinny: Has ridden the Columbus-to-Cleveland bullpen shuttle a half-dozen times over the past two seasons. … Pitched in 23 games for the Clippers in 2013 before an injury to his left wrist ended his season with a 7.81 ERA.

Brett Brach

Vitals: 6-2; 190 (age: 26)

Bats-throws: R-R

Acquired: Selected in the 10th round of the 2009 first-year player draft.

The skinny: Spent most of 2013 in the Akron rotation and was 9-9 with a 4.79 ERA in 27 outings. … Made two starts for the Clippers and was 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA.

Nick Hagadone

Vitals: 6-5; 230 (age: 28)

Bats-throws: L-L

Acquired: In a July 31, 2009, trade with the Boston Red Sox.

The skinny: Split a third straight season between Columbus and Cleveland, and had five stints totaling 36 games for the Indians in 2013. … Held IL hitters to a .203 batting average in 27 games for the Clippers, and was the closer in August.

C.C. Lee

Vitals: 5-11; 190 pounds (age: 27)

Bats-throws: R-R

Acquired: Signed Sept. 16, 2008, as a nondrafted free agent.

The skinny: Made his way back from Tommy John surgery in June 2012 to reach the Indians’ bullpen in July of last season. He returned to Columbus (1-0, 2.37) before getting a September call-up. He was 0-0 with a 4.15 ERA for the Tribe.

Mark Lowe

Vitals: 6-3; 210 (age: 30)

Bats-throws: L-R

Acquired: Signed as a free agent on March 29.

The skinny: Veteran has eight years and 264 games of major league experience with the Mariners, Rangers and Angels. … Was 3-1 with a 3.14 ERA in 24 games for Syracuse (Washington) in 2013.

Mike Zagurski

Vitals: 6-0; 240 (age: 31)

Bats-throws: L-L

Acquired: Signed Nov. 22, 2013, as a minor-league free agent.

The skinny: Had short stays with the Pirates and Yankees in 2013. … In 279 minor-league games, has a 3.16 ERA and 455 strikeouts in 3582/3 innings.

Disabled list

C Matt Treanor (left hamstring)

RHP Matt Capps (right shoulder)

RHP Shaun Marcum

(thoracic outlet syndrome)

RHP J.C. Ramirez (left thumb)

RHP Bryan Price (right shoulder)

Roster limbo

C Luke Carlin

RHP Preston Guilmet

RHP Frank Herrmann

LHP Colt Hynes

Something must be up with the Clipper's game. It's supposed to be televised but I'm getting a blank screen and no sound. I checked several of the other games out and they are fine. I guess I'll try one more time.

Finally got the game. Bauer looked great. CC Lee has some great stuff also. Jose Ramirez accounted for the only Clippers run on a sac fly. Indians and Clippers tied at 1 in the bottom of the eighth. Ramirez just lead off the inning with a double to left. Sellers lined out. LaHair strikes out. Intentionally walking Aguilar. Moncrief singled to right but Ramirez was gunned down at home. End of 8, 1-1 ball game. Gotta run, Got work to do.

Well, I guess I understand the call by the third base coach. Ramirez was on second with two out, but the right fielder was playing a shallow right. The ball was hard hit and fielded on the first hop. I thought Ramirez was going to be out when the fielder picked up the ball and Ramirez was just rounding third. He made it a close play though. The game is in the 10th and Indianapolis just scored to go ahead 2-1.

Trevor Bauer

Around the Farm: April 4, 2014

By Arthur Kinney

April 5, 2014

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Around the Farm takes a quick look at some of yesterday’s performances by Cleveland prospects throughout the system. The positions listed below are where the player was playing in yesterday’s game.

Note, Double-A Akron was rained out on the night...

Trevor Bauer (Columbus, SP) - 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R (earned), 2 BB, 9 K - The Pitching Savant was on his game in his 2014 regular season debut. On most nights, this kind of performance would easily have merited a win, but poor run support denied him the decision this night. The issue with Bauer, however, is not whether he has nights like this one in him. Anybody who follows the Tribe farm system closely knows he does. The issue is whether he can perform at this level consistently and make the jump to the The Show for good. This season will likely a go a long way in providing the answer.

Dace Kime (Lake County, SP) - L (0-1), 3.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R (5 earned), 2 BB, 3 K, 2 WP - Dace Kime's debut at the full-season level was hardly one to remember. I won't be too critical of him regarding this outing as it is only the first of many in a season where he will be adjusting to a significantly higher level of play (There's a lot less roster filler on a 25-man full-season Single-A roster than on a 35-man short-seaon Single-A roster.). That and the fact that I am not entirely convinced that the Lansing Lugnuts didn't borrow some metal bats from the Michigan State Spartans (who they faced in an exhibition game on Thursday nght while the rest of the Midwest League was opening up their regular season) and bring them to Eastlake with them.

•Matt Carson (Columbus, LF) - 2-3, 1 BB, 1 K - Carson was by far the best offensive performer on a weak hitting night for the Clippers. Hopefully he can rebound from his rough Triple-A form last year (.252/.322/.394) and return to the .289/.340/.500 range his numbers were in during his prior AAA seasons to solidify his depth status for the Indians.

•Nick Hagadone (Columbus, RP) - P (0-1), 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (earned), 1 BB - While not a terrible outing from Hagadone, a night like this requires virtual perfection of pitches. Nick came up just short of this standard and was thus the hard-luck loser on Opening Night at Huntington Park.

•Yhoxian Medina (Carolina, 2B) - 1-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 2 K - Yhoxian put up the lone truly memorable offensive performance of the night for the Mudcats, who lost 10-5 to the Potomac Nationals. Even so, he saw his batting average drop 167 points from .500 (1-for-2) to .333 (2-for-6). Don't you just love early season small sizes?

•Rob Nixon (Carolina, RP) - L (0-1), BS, (1), 0.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R (all earned), 2 BB - The Mudcats' bullpen performances, however, were notable, and for all the wrong reasons. Nixon was responsible for 1.33 times as many runs as Carolina Starter Michael Peoples in 1/15th of the innings (4 in 0.1 IP as opposed to Peoples' 3 in 5 IP). While Rob alowed what would ultimately be the winning run, the result was put out of doubt by...

•Carlos Melo (Carolina, RP) - 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R (both earned), 2 BB- While not a disaster on the scale of Nixon's performance, Melo's night on the mound was not a promising way to start the season, ether. The key with both of these players is to remember that it is early. If they're still putting up ERAs of 108.00 and 13.50 at the end of April, then I'll be worried.

•Dorssys Paulino (Lake County, SS) - 2-4, 1 BB, 1 K - While looking at the line score wouldn't make you think so, there were actually some pretty good offensive performances at Classic Park this night by the home team. Dorssys was one of two Captains to pick up two hits on the night. Paulino added a walk to get on base three times out of five plate appearances.

•Eric Haase (Lake County, C) - 2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 K - Haase also had two hits in the Captains' opener. One of them was the Captains' first home run of the season, a solo shot in the fourth.

The Clippers’ Jose Ramirez reacts after striking out in the bottom of the 10th inning.

By Jim Massie

The Columbus Dispatch • Saturday April 5, 2014 6:03 AM

The rain that forced the Clippers to open the International League season a day late finally skipped town last night but left behind a raw, blustery evening for the game against the Indianapolis Indians.

The steady gale that kept the Huntington Park flags in center field stretched for nine innings waited until the 10th to become a factor in what had been a night for pitchers.

With the scored tied at 1-1 in the top of the 10th, the wind blew a Matt Hague popup out of the reach of Clippers second baseman Jose Ramirez.

The ball fell in for a double and Brent Morel followed with an RBI single off Nick Hagadone (0-1) that settled matters at 2-1 in front of the remnants of a crowd of 4,635.

Clippers manager Chris Tremie sensed trouble the second Hague made contact.

“(Ramirez) gave it an effort to get there,” Tremie said. “He just got turned around a little bit. That wind was tough. He just wasn’t able to come up with the play. But he did the best he could to get there.”

To that point, pitchers for both teams had sizzled. Trevor Bauer started for Columbus and checked the Indians on two hits and one run over six innings.

Working off his fastball, Bauer set down the final 12 batters he faced and struck out seven of the last nine. Austin Adams followed with a perfect seventh inning and C.C. Lee chipped in one more to run the string of Indianapolis outs to 18.

The Clippers had as much trouble with Indians starter Casey Sadler, who allowed one run over six innings. Columbus tied the score at 1-1 in the fifth when David Cooper scored on a Ramirez sacrifice fly.

The Clippers missed a chance to take the lead in the eighth. Ramirez opened the inning with a double against reliever Zack Thornton.

With one out, lefty Daniel Schlereth relieved Thornton and struck out the left-handed-hitting Bryan LaHair. The Indians intentionally walked Jesus Aguilar so that Schlereth could face another lefty in Carlos Moncrief.

Moncrief singled to right field, but Gregory Polanco cut down Ramirez at the plate with a perfect throw to catcher Carlos Paulino.

The wind finally had its way with the Hague popup in the 10th.

“That was a tough play, especially with the wind and the lights,” Clippers shortstop Justin Sellers said. “(Ramirez) did what he could. Unfortunately, it fell.”

To make up for the Thursday’s opening day rainout, the two teams will play a doubleheader beginning at 3:05 p.m. today.

Both games are seven innings with a 30-minute intermission after the first. Josh Tomlin is scheduled to start the opener for the Clippers. Brett Brach will start the nightcap.

Cleveland Indians center fielder Michael Bourn is expected to start the first game on an injury rehab assignment for a strained left hamstring.

Nationals Roar Back to Stun Mudcats, 10-5

By Darren Headrick / Carolina Mudcats

04/04/2014 10:35 PM ET

Zebulon, N.C. -

The Potomac Nationals stormed from five runs down to shellshock the Carolina Mudcats 10-5 on Friday night at Five County Stadium. The comeback evens the season-opening series at one.

The Mudcats' bullpen was rocked hard in the loss, surrendering seven runs on seven hits and six walks. Rob Nixon (0-1) faced six batters and allowed four runs. Conversely, the P-Nat's bullpen struck out 13 batters in 5.1 innings while allowing just two hits. Brian Dupra (1-0) earned the win by hurling 2.2 innings. The right-hander allowed one hit and struck out five.

The Mudcats jumped out to an early five run advantage through four innings. Alex Monsalve singled home Anthony Gallas to open the scoring in the second frame. A groundout to second by Erik Gonzalez scored Ollie Linton in the third.

Leading by two, the Mudcats plated three in the fourth. Jeremy Lucas and LeVon Washington drew walks around the first out. A wild pitched advanced the two into scoring position. With the infield in, Yhoxian Medina poked a single up the middle to score both for a 4-0 lead.

Potomac started their rally in the fifth against starter Michael Peoples. After cruising through four frames, Peoples walked and hit a batter to start. Pedro Severino blasted a three-run homer over the left field wall to cut the deficit to two.

A sac-fly by Adrian Sanchez in the six brought Potomac one run closer at 5-4 before things unraveled for Carolina in the seventh. With one away, Stephen Perez and Randolph Oduber stroked back-to-back doubles of Nixon to tie the game. Tony Renda followed with a single to center for a 6-5 lead.

Four consecutive walks between Nixon and Carlos Melo forced in two more runs that padded the lead at 8-5. Consecutive two-out hits by Renda and Will Piwnica-Worms in the seventh scored a two and provided the final margin.

The problem with Tony's daily game summaries is that he includes performance notes on players who clearly are not prospects. Separating from wheat from chaff can be time-consuming.

Good night for Bauer, 1 run and 9 K in 6 innings.

Unfortunately not uncommon debut for a Tribe 2nd round pick:

Dace Kime (Lake County, SP) - L (0-1), 3.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R (5 earned), 2 BB, 3 K, 2 WP - Dace Kime's debut at the full-season level was hardly one to remember

. We don't yet need another Dillon Howard or Mitch Brown.

Saturday early game:

For those hoping to see the back of Carrasco soon, Josh Tomlin's season debut for Columbus wasn't much better. 4 runs in 6 innings, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts. Jesus Aguillar with a pair of hits. Michael Bourn and Carlos Moncrief each with one.

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.js ... x&sid=milb

RDucks like the Clippers playing a DH after recent rainout, lose their opener. Joe Colon 5 runs in 4 2/3 innings. He's their No. 2 starter?! That tells how weak Akron's starting pitching will be.

Lindor with a homer and a single. Naquin single and double. Lowery and Wolters each a pair of singles.

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.js ... x&sid=milb