Cannonballs coming: Bradenton wins again

— Indianapolis (2-3) had only four hits in an eleven inning, 1-0 loss to Columbus. Josh Lindblom (pictured) had a strong start, fanning seven in five shutout innings. He gave up three hits and walked none. Pat Light and Dovydas Neverauskas combined for four scoreless innings, but a two-base error on Chris Bostick set up the winning run. The Indians were helpless against several mostly nondescript Columbus relievers, going down in order over the last five innings, with nine whiffs.

Gift Ngoepe: 1-4
Jose Osuna: 1-3, 2B, BB
Austin Meadows: 0-4, K

— Altoona (3-2) took twelve innings to edge Richmond, 2-1. Tanner Anderson survived all sorts of trouble in the early going thanks to three double plays, out of four on the day for the Curve. Anderson gave up one run over five innings on five hits and three walks. He fanned three. Three Altoona relievers combined for seven scoreless innings after that. Doubles by Kevin Newman and Edwin Espinal produced a run in the first. That was it until Pablo Reyes, following a no-pitch intentional walk to Newman, hit a two-out single to drive in Wyatt Mathisen with the winning run in the top of the 12th. The Curve made it harder than it had to be in the bottom half when they let a popup by the leadoff hitter drop untouched in front of the mound, but Montana DuRapau got the next three hitters. Newman and Espinal each went 2-5.

Connor Joe: 0-4, 2 BB
Jordan Luplow: 1-5
Mathisen: 2-4
Tate Scioneaux: 2 IP, BB, 3 K
Buddy Borden: 3 IP, 2 H, 2 K
DuRapau: 2 IP, 2 H

— Gage Hinsz had a rough debut in high A but Bradenton (5-0) remained undefeated anyway with a 6-4 win over St. Lucie. Hinsz lasted only three and two-thirds innings, struggling to throw strikes — 47 in 84 pitches -- and allowing four runs. He gave up four hits and two walks, with two strikeouts. Two of the four hits were by rehabbing major leaguer Juan Lagares. Yunior Montero followed with three and a third scoreless innings. He gave up four hits, walked none and fanned six. Montero now has ten strikeouts in four and two-thirds innings. Logan Hill was 3-4 with three runs scored, and is now hitting .500. Casey Hughston went 2-3 with a sacrifice fly, and didn’t strike out. He’s hitting .400.

Cole Tucker: 0-5
Will Craig: 1-3, BB
Ke’Bryan Hayes: 0-4, BB, 3 K
Christian Kelley: 2-4
Kevin Krause: 1-3, 3B, BB
Daniel Zamora: 2 IP, 2 K, Sv

— Hapless West Virginia (0-5) lost again, this time in eleven innings to Asheville, 5-1. Starter Cam Vieaux came out after four and a third innings, probably due to a pitch count of 78. Geoff Hartlieb and Jordan Jess combined for five and two-thirds scoreless innings, but West Virginia conceded the game by putting infielder Logan Ratledge in to pitch the 11th. He gave up four runs to keep the Power, who went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position, winless. Hunter Owen went 3-5 with a double and a triple. Before the game, the Power put Victor Fernandez, one of their very few players with any hitting potential at all, on the disabled list and activated Carlos Munoz. Fernandez left during the game yesterday, but I don’t know why yet.

Stephen Alemais: 0-3, BB
Arden Pabst: 2-4, 2B