Cannonballs coming: Scooter Hightower extends scoreless streak

Bristol’s season ended yesterday.

— Indianapolis (71-65) continued to struggle down the stretch, losing for the seventh time in ten games, 4-3, to Toledo. Alex McRae started and allowed three runs on eight hits in six innings. The Indians tied the game in the bottom of the sixth, but Michael Feliz allowed the decisive run in the seventh. He now has an ERA of 8.00 in AAA. Clay Holmes, who seems to be getting ready to pitch in relief for the Pirates, threw two perfect innings, striking out three. Jacob Stallings was 3-4 with a double. Kevin Kramer and Jordan Luplow each went 0-3 with a walk, and Jason Martin 0-4 with a walk. Indy remains a game out of first. In the wild card race, they’re in a virtual tie with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, half a game ahead of Toledo.

— Altoona (75-59) got outhit, 11-10, but still coasted past Trenton, 5-1. Scooter Hightower continued to pitch well, throwing five scoreless innings. He gave up five hits and a walk, and struck out three. Hightower now has a 23-inning scoreless streak. Blake Weiman added two scoreless innings, giving up three hits and striking out two. Cole Tucker was 2-4 with a double and Ke’Bryan Hayes 2-3 with a walk. Stephen Alemais and Jordan George also each had two hits. Bryan Reynolds was 1-4. Despite being two RBIs short of 100, Will Craig didn’t play. Altoona finishes its season with four games in Bowie, which has the Eastern League’s weakest pitching staff.

— Bradenton (55-72) got only one hit in a 3-0 loss to Fort Myers. Evan Piechota gave up the three runs in seven innings. Jared Oliva was 0-3 with a walk and three strikeouts. The Marauders have lost 29 of their last 38 games. Despite having the Florida State League’s oldest hitters by a wide margin, and despite playing in its best hitters park, they rank ninth in the 12-team league in runs. They have easily the league’s worst pitching.

— West Virginia (70-59) beat Hagerstown, 5-1. Samuel Reyes gave up just an unearned run on four hits and no walks in six innings. He fanned seven. The Power got their runs with just four hits and two walks. Cal Mitchell and Rodolfo Castro each went 1-4 with a double. Connor Kaiser was 1-4. Travis Swaggerty continued to be overwhelmed by full-season pitching, going 0-3 with a walk. He’s now batting .104 with the Power.

— Morgantown (30-42) beat State College, 5-3. Starter Francis Del Orbe gave up two runs, one unearned, but lasted only four and two-thirds innings due to six hits, four walks and 91 pitches. Zack Kone (pictured) went 3-5 and fell a home run short of a cycle. He’s 11-for-23 in his last five games. Brett Kinneman was 3-4 with a triple; he’s 12-for-29 in his last six games. Daniel Amaral went 2-4 with a triple.