Cannonballs coming: Jason Martin impressive in debut

--Indianapolis(43-35) lost to Columbus 10-6. Indy somehow managed not to score in the top of the first after Kevin Newman led off the game hitting a ball into the right field corner only to be thrown out at second base. Jason Martin followed with a triple into the right center gap but was ultimately stranded at third. Brandon Waddell started for Indy and had a disastrous fourth inning as he gave up seven runs including a grand slam to Adam Rosales. Cleveland’s lefthander Ryan Merritt was on the hill for Columbus on a rehab assignment. In addition to the triple, Martin had another solidly struck ball later in the game vs Merritt but was robbed by the 2b who made a leaping grab. He had yet another impressive at bat vs lefty reliever Marc Rzepczynski as Martin worked a 2-2 count and beat the shift as he poked a ball through the left side. Martin has looked comfortable vs lefties this year and came into the game with an .826 OPS vs lefties as opposed to .536 last year. Jordan Luplow hit a two run homer to cut the Columbus lead to 8-6. Bo Schultz was roughed up for two runs in the eight and the Clippers went on to win 10-6. Jerrick Suiter hit his first home run of the year.

Kevin Newman: 3-5

Jason Martin: 2-5, triple

Jordan Luplow: 2-4, homerun(8)

--Altoona(40-35) lost to Akron 4-3. The Curve jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Will Craig drove in Bryan Reynolds with a ground ball to left field. Eduardo Vera gave up a two run double to Cleveland’s #3 prospect Bobby Bradley and Akron took a 2-1 lead. Altoona responded with a solo homer from Christian Kelley in the top of the second and the game remained tied 2-2 until Yeudy Garcia gave up two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Akron would hold on for a 4-3 victory. Old friend Jordan Milbrath got the win for the Rubber Ducks.

Cole Tucker: 2-3, walk

Ke’Bryan Hayes: 2-5

Will Craig: 2-5

Bryan Reynolds: 1-3, walks

Christian Kelley: 1-4 home run(6)

Eduardo Vera: 5 IP, 3 walks, 4 Ks

--Bradenton(37-36) stayed in a funk and was blown out by Dunedin 11-1. Mike Wallace allowed four runs over 5.2 innings and Jordan Jess set things completely ablaze allowing six earned runs and 7 hits while only recording a single out. Bradenton only had four hits.

Jared Oliva: 1-3, triple, walk

--West Virginia Power(43-31) defeated Hickory 5-3. Domingo Robles turned in a strong start for the Power going six innings and only allowing two runs to along with 4 Ks . Hickory took a 2-0 lead in the second inning after Robles surrendered a two run homer. But West Virgina scored two in the fourth and would take the lead on a Fabricio Macias RBI double in the bottom of the fifth inning. Lolo Sanchez hit his third home run in the sixth to extend the Power lead to 5-2. While Sanchez came into the game with an OPS of .616, he has played better as the year progressed as evidenced by his monthly OPS which was .518 in April, .624 in May and 815 in June. I also saw that Baseball America updated their top 100 prospects today. Cal Mitchell came in at 99 and Oneil Cruz was ranked #100.

Oneil Cruz: 0-2, 2 walks

Lolo Sanchez: 1-3, homerun(3)

--Morgantown(6-8) defeated Mahoning Valley 6-2. 18th round pick Michael LoPresti pitched four scoreless innings and Jhoan Herrera had 2 RBIs. Travis Swaggerty was not in the lineup for the second consecutive game.

Melvin Jimenez: 3-4

Jhoan Herrera: 2-5, double

--Bristol(6-4) lost to Princeton 4-1 as they apparently used all their hits last night. 16th round pick Colin Selby had a strong start going 3.2 scoreless innings while recording 6 Ks vs only one hit. Bristol only had 4 hits and Jonah Davis (2-4, double) collected two of them.

Mason Martin: 0-4

Sherten Apostel: 1-3

Conner Uselton: 1-4

--The GCL Pirates(4-6) lost 8-5 to the GCL Tigers East 8-5. The Tigers scored five runs in the final two innings to put the game out of reach.

Ji-Hwan Bae 1-5, triple

Jean Eusebio: 0-5 (.869 OPS after today)

-- The DSL Pirates1(11-13) lost to the DSL Rangers1 4-3. Centerfielder Daniel Rivero was 4-5. Juan Pie was 1-4.

Carlos Arroyo: 3-4

--The DSL Pirates2(12-12) scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to overtake the DSL Tigers 3-2. Germin Lopez had the key hit for the Pirates as his two run single gave them the lead. Luis Peralta pitched two scoreless innings while recording 4 Ks and got the win.