In a day in which ALL of the Indians’ minor league affiliates (above rookie ball) lost their respective games, there are understandably few individual performances to highlight. After all, the five teams mustered a whole 18 runs between them, with Mahoning Valley accounting for 8 of those. But I’ll do my best…
Lake County Captains starting pitcher VIDAL NUNO (23) pitched a good game on Sunday, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits and no walks while striking out 8 in 6 innings of work. The 2 home runs that he allowed were his downfall, as he pitched an otherwise stellar game. Longballs are a general problem for him, though, as he also gave up 2 in his last outing and has allowed a total of 10 in 70 innings pitched this season. As a matter of fact, he’s given up just as many HRs as BBs this season. If he can cut down on the HRs, he has BB and K numbers (10 and 72) that suggest he could be more effective. His .289 BAA is also on the high side, as is his 5.01 season ERA.
Mahoning Valley Scrappers outfielder CARLOS MONCRIEF (21) continued to impress, going 3 for 5 on Sunday with a stolen bag and a run scored. Over his last 6 games, he is batting .500 (12 for 24) with a .538 OBP, 2 SB, a HR, and 2 RBI. Moncrief is a former pitcher in the midst of his first season after converting to the outfield. He had a rough start to the season, batting .167 in June and .204 in July before exploding in August (.419). On the season, the left-handed batter is hitting .234 with 6 2B, 5 HR, 16 RBI, and 6 SB. He’s showing some talent right now, so I am interested to see how things continue to progress.
AAA Columbus Rundown (L, 3-6): The Buffalo Bisons completed their 4-game sweep of the Clippers in this one. Starting pitcher PAOLO ESPINO, whose debut with the Clippers on August 3 went well (7 IP, 2 runs, 6 hits, 0 BB, and 4 K), had a rough outing on Sunday. In 5.2 innings, he allowed 4 runs on 6 hits and 3 BB while striking out 2. The home run ball has been a problem for Espino, who gave up 2 on Sunday and 1 in his previous start… JOSE CONSTANZA batted leadoff and went 2 for 4 with a BB. He went 6 for 15 in the series with Buffalo, with 2 RBI and 2 BB… Recent acquisition ARGENIS REYES went 2 for 4 with an RBI, lifting his BA with the Clippers to .545 (6 for 11) after 3 games… WES HODGES went 1 for 3 with a BB. He’s 2 for 12 since getting re-acquired by the Indians just a few days ago… The biggest bat in the Clippers lineup on Sunday was that of 27 year-old outfielder JERAD HEAD, who went 3 for 4 with 2 2B, an RBI, and a run scored. He went 6 for 16 in the series with Buffalo with 3 2B and 2 RBI. He’s batting .283 with 6 2B, a HR, and 10 RBI in 53 at-bats with the Clippers after hitting .299 with 15 2B, 10 HR, and 28 RBI in 177 AA at-bats earlier this season.
AA Akron Rundown (L, 3-11): Starter ALEX WHITE had his second consecutive poor outing, giving up 7 runs (all earned) on 8 hits (2 HRs) and 2 BB while striking out 4. White just hasn’t been himself as of late. The 6 total BB issued in his last 3 outings contrasts starkly with the total of 3 that he issued in his previous 7 outings. The 2 HRs that he gave up on Sunday were the first since June 25… Second baseman JASON KIPNIS‘s bat remained hot as he went 1 for 3 with a 2B and a BB on Sunday. He’s now hitting .345 so far in August with a .424 OBP… TIM FEDROFF went 2 for 4 with a 2B. He’s batting .333 over his last 10 contests (12 for 36)… Part-time catcher MIGUEL PEREZ got the start on Sunday and went 2 for 4 with a 2B and an RBI. In limited action this season (101 at-bats), he’s hitting .277 with 8 2B and 9 RBI for the Aeros.
High A Kinston Rundown (L, 3-8): After a strong start on August 3 that merited a discussion here (6 IP, 2 H, 0 runs, 1 BB, 8 K), JOSEPH MAHALIC pulled the other half a Jekyll-Hyde act on Sunday. In only 3.2 innings of work, he gave up 4 runs on 3 hits (1 HR) and 8 BB while striking out 1. Much of this season has been a roller coaster ride for Mahalic and his control issues appear to be the culprit; he’s walked 48 in 87.1 innings of work while striking out 58 and allowing a .281 BAA… Center fielder BO GREENWELL went 1 for 4 with a SB. He’s recorded at least 1 hit in each of his last 6 games and in 9 of his last 10… Catcher CHUN CHEN batted cleanup and went 1 for 4 with a 2B. He’s batting .343 in his last 10 games with 6 2B and a .415 OBP.
Class A Lake County Rundown (L, 2-5): Another offensive disappointment for Lake County, as the team mustered only 2 runs on 4 hits in this one. Second baseman ARGENIS MARTINEZ had the only notable performance at the plate, going 1 for 2 with 2 BB and a SB. In his last 10 games he’s batting .333 with 7 SBs.
Short Season Mahoning Valley Rundown (L, 7-8): Shortstop NICHOLAS BARTOLONE had a stellar debut with the Scrappers, going 2 for 5 at the plate with a pair of RBI. Before getting promoted to Mahoning Valley, the 19 year-old recorded a .303 BA with 3 2B, 9 RBI, and 15 SB in 132 at-bats with the AZL (rookie league) Indians… GIOVANNY URSHELA went 1 for 4 with a 2B, an RBI, and a run scored. He’s batting .405 over his last 10 games with 9 RBI… Outfielder JONATHAN BURNETTE went 2 for 5 with a 2B. He’s batting .289 over his last 10 games with 4 2b, 3 HR, and 5 RBI… JESUS AGUILAR had another fine game in his thus far short stint as a Scrapper, going 2 for 2 with a 2B, 2 BB, and an RBI on Sunday. In 8 games with Mahoning Valley, he is batting .379 (11 for 29) with 4 2Bs and 4 RBI (5 BB, 5 K)… Switch-hitting DIEGO SEASTRUNK went 1 for 4 with a 3-run home run. In his first season of professional ball, the 22 year-old Rice University graduate is batting .176 with 5 2B, 3 HR, and 11 RBI in 91 at-bats for the Scrappers. He has a respectable K to BB figure of 18:15.