Cannonballs coming: Steven Brault struggles

-- Steven Brault is evidently as confused about The Plan as Jeff Locke.  Indianapolis (57-56) scored five runs in the top of the first against Columbus, but Brault couldn't throw strikes and lasted only two and a third inning.  He gave up five runs on six hits and four walks, with two strikeouts.  The Indians fell behind eventually, 7-6, then battled back to tie in the eighth on a bloop single by Jose Osuna.  In the bottom half, though, Edgar Santana let an inherited runner score and then one of his own, for a 9-7 loss.  Osuna was 2-3 with two walks.  Danny Ortiz went 2-4 with a first-inning grand slam, his 14th HR.  Alen Hanson was 3-6 with a double, but also struck out three times.  Indy hitters fanned 14 times in all, while drawing nine walks and leaving a dozen on base.

Max Moroff:  1-2, 3 BB
Josh Bell:  1-4, BB
Willy Garcia:  0-5

-- Edwin Espinal got his second walkoff RBI in two days as Altoona (61-49) beat Richmond, 2-1, in ten innings.  Espinal hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly with one out to end the game.  Tyler Eppler had a strong start, allowing a run on six hits and a walk in seven innings.  He struck out six.  Kevin Newman was 2-5.

Erich Weiss:  1-2, 2B, 3 BB
Eric Wood:  0-4

-- Bradenton (56-52) lost to Fort Myers, 5-4.  Buddy Borden gave up four runs, two earned, in five innings.  Wyatt Mathisen and Justin Maffei each went 2-3.

Cole Tucker:  1-5
Tito Polo:  1-5
Connor Joe:  0-3

-- West Virginia (54-55) shut out Delmarva, 3-0.  Bret Helton gave up just three hits and a walk in seven innings, with four strikeouts.  Yunior Montero fanned another four in the last two innings.  Logan Hill and Jordan George each went 2-4 with a double.

-- Morgantown (20-26) blew a one-run lead in the ninth and lost to Mahoning Valley, 4-3.  Stephan Meyer had a good start, allowing just an unearned run in six innings.  He gave up six hits and a walk, and struck out six.  The Black Bears had a chance to tie in the bottom of the ninth but had the tying run thrown out at the plate.  Albert Baur was 2-3 with a walk.  Austin Meadows played the whole game and went 1-3 with a double and a walk.

Stephen Alemais:  0-4
Will Craig:  1-3, BB

-- Bristol (16-24) lost to Greeneville, 4-2.  Starter Matt Eckelman gave up two runs on five hits and no walks in five innings.  He fanned four.  Hennry Rosario moved up from the GCL and went 2-3 with two walks.  Daniel Cucjen and Yoel Gonzalez were each 2-4.

Adrian Valerio:  0-4
Michael De La Cruz:  0-1, 3 BB

-- The GCL Pirates (16-20) lost to the Blue Jays, 2-1, in ten innings.  Braeden Ogle made his fourth pro appearance, allowing a run in three innings.  He gave up two hits, walked none and struck out two.  Felix Vinicio went 3-4 and Raul Hernandez doubled in the only run.

Yondry Contreras:  0-4
Oddy Nunez:  4 IP, H, BB, 3 K

-- The DSL Pirates (19-33) lost to the Rangers1, 9-4.  Leandro Pina, who generally has pitched very well, allowed five runs, four earned, in three and a third innings.

Kevin Sanchez:  1-4
Gabriel Brito:  1-4
Sherten Apostel:  1-4