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Kyle Manzardo hits three home runs in two games…

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Monday, May 6th 2024

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Kyle Manzardo hits three home runs in two games | Guardians minors roundup for April 21

The Guardians’ Kyle Manzardo. (Carolyn Kaster – The Associated Press)
The Guardians’ Kyle Manzardo. (Carolyn Kaster – The Associated Press)
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Triple-A Columbus Clippers (2-4 vs. Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays)

Not unexpectedly due to the lack of organizational pitching depth, the Clippers are winning games by scoring runs (35 runs) and Kyle Manzardo heating up over the last two weeks has been a huge part of that. After hitting his first homer back on April 3, Manzardo only had six extra-base hits since, all doubles. Two of those doubles came April 19 in a 9-3 Clippers win and he followed that up with two homers and two RBI as part of a 3-for-4 game April 20, a 5-3 Clippers loss.

Manzardo hit another homer and walked twice on April 21 in the Clippers 16-4 loss.

Johnathan Rodriguez put Bison pitchers on the endangered species list with his series against Buffalo, going 9-for-23 with three homers of his own (April 19 and 20 as well), and two doubles. The Guardians 2016 third-round pick was hitting .256/.407/.395 coming into the series and is now hitting .318/.423/.576 with four homers.

Though he went 0-for-8 with five strikeouts April 19 and 20 for Columbus, Jose Tena started the series hot, going 3-for-4 with a double (and three RBI) April 16 in a 7-4 Columbus win, and then a 3-for-6 effort April 16 in a 12-9 loss. He drove in eight runs during the series, but his cold streak at the end of it dropped him to .191/.247/.309 for the season.

Micah Pries got in on the power display against Buffalo with two homers of his own, his first pair of the year. Pries went a total of 7-for-17 on the week.

The Clippers best pitching of the week came from RHP Adam Oller on April 19, a 9-3 win. He allowed three runs in five innings but struck out 10. Other than that, the bullpen had some good moments throughout the week. Nic Enright remains unscored upon this year after three perfect innings over two outings, striking out six. Franco Aleman has settled in a little more as well, fanning five in three innings over two outings, though he walked one and hit a batter.

Columbus will head to Syracuse (Mets) April 23-28 next week.

Double-A Akron Rubber Ducks (2-4) vs. Erie SeaWolves (Detroit Tigers)

Chase DeLauter hit his first homer of the year at first at Double-A in a 6-0 win for Akron on April 16, but the ‘Ducks dropped four or six to the SeaWolves in Akron. Overall for the week, DeLauter went 5-for-19 and stole his first base of the year.

Kahlil Watson also notched his first homer of the year in a 1-for-4 day in Akron’s 9-3 loss on April 18. He doubled for one of his two hits in the April 16 win, Watson’s 21st birthday. For the week, he totaled seven hits in 23 at-bats, playing center field, left field, shortstop and third base throughout the week.

Ryan Webb bookended the week with a pair of starts. He got the win April 16, tossing five shutout innings as he allowed just three hits and a walk, while punching out six. On April 21, he didn’t have the same control, walking four in 4 2/3 innings, but allowed just two hits and struck out five. Webb was part of the 2021 draft class that included Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams, and Webb could have a chance to also be a rotation contributor in that class.

A few pitchers did the heavy lifting for Akron in a tough week. Despite a 7-2 loss April 19, Rodney Boone struck out seven and allowed two runs in five innings for his best Double-A start to date.

Andrew Walters continued to dominate Double-A, throwing 2 2/3 innings across three outings. The 2023 Comp-B draft pick struck out six and allowed just one hit, walked one and hit a batter. He was up to 98 and now has 16 strikeouts in seven innings this year.

Sam Hentges (finger) made his first rehab appearance of the year, tossing a scoreless innings April 19, struck out one and allowed a hit. He was up to 93 after not pitching since early March.

Akron will look for more offense at Altoona (Pirates) in the coming week, April 23-28.

High-A Lake County Captains (2-4) vs. Lansing Lugnuts (Toronto Blue Jays)

The Captains’ pitching staff had a hard time finding an answer for the Lugnuts’ bats this week. Tandem-starter Zach Jacobs was the only pitcher who found extended success, tossing a scoreless inning and striking out three in the Captains’ 6-5 win on April 18. He picked up the win on April 20 with 4 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out five and walked one in the win.

Trenton Denholm did allow four earned runs (five total) in 10 1/3 innings over two starts with 10 strikeouts and did not walk a batter.

Offensively, Nate Furman hit his first career homer in the April 18 win, a grand slam that was 106 off the bat. He had three more hits April 20 and was 7-17 in the four games he played during the series. He raised his line to .279/.311/.395.

Alex Mooney stayed hot with another homer on April 19, as well as a double and a steal, going 6-for-21 in the series.

CJ Kayfus’ solo homer on April 17 was the Captains’ only run in a 6-1 loss. He added four hit on April 20, going 4-5, making him 8-for-22 and he started in left field on April 21, as Cleveland tries to increase his versatility between first and left.

Lake County’s pitching staff will try to right the ship in West Michigan (Tigers) this week, April 23-28.

Single-A Lynchburg Hillcats (4-1) vs. Salem Red Sox (Boston Red Sox)

Yes, once again 2023 first-rounder Ralphy Velazquez kept all eyes on his bat this week. He notched homers in back-to-back games on April 16 and 17 (11-4 and 7-2 Hillcats wins), giving him four for 2024. He collected six hits in five games in the series, and has hits in all but one of his 12 games played. He has a 10-game hitting streak now after a double in the April 21 finale at Salem. Moving from catcher to first base immediately after being drafted, Velazquez’s bat is showing why he was moved to a less physically demanding position.

Angel Genao stayed hot at the plate himself, going 8-16 with a homer and a double in five games vs. Salem. As of April 20, the international free agent is hitting .353/.393/.549 in 12 games this year.

Jaison Chourio continued to work to keep his name mentioned next to his older brother Jackson’s (Brewers-MLB). He led the series off on April 16 (11-4 Hillcat win) going 2-for-3 with a double and two walks. He was 0-for-3 on April 17 but walked twice. After an 0-for-5 night April 19, he went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a homer on April 20 (13-8 Hillcats win). He drew another walk in the April 21 finale.

The Tugboat, Matt Wilkinson, once again led the Hillcats pitching staff for the week. He allowed just one run in 5 2/3 innings with nine strikeouts and a walk, earning the win in the 4-3 Hillcats victory April 19. Wilkinson has 26 strikeouts against five walks in 14 2/3 innings across three starts.

Despite the 5-4 loss April 18, Mat Jachec struck out five in 3 1/3 innings where he allowed only a hit and a walk.

The Hillcats come home for an extended home stand, April 23-May 5, hosting Myrtle Beach (Cubs) and Kannapolis (White Sox).

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