Ralphy Velazquez kept the power surge rolling Thursday, going deep in both ends of Columbus’ doubleheader, but the Clippers still left St. Paul with two losses.
In the opener, Columbus dropped a 10-2 decision to the Saints. The Clippers’ only offense came on solo homers from Kyle Manzardo and Velazquez, with Velazquez finishing 2-for-4 and Cooper Ingle adding a 1-for-3 line with a walk.
Trenton Denholm started and gave up two runs on four hits over 3.0 innings, striking out two without issuing a walk. The rest of the pitching staff had a rough night, as Jack Leftwich, Jack Jasiak and Connor Brogdon each allowed at least two runs.
Game two was closer, but it ended the same way for Columbus in an 8-6 loss. Velazquez stayed hot and went 2-for-4 with his 17th home run for the Clippers and 24th overall.
Daniel Schneemann turned in a big performance too, going 3-for-4 with a home run and a double, while George Valera added a 2-for-4 game with two doubles. Yorman Gomez allowed three runs on two hits in 4.2 innings, but four walks hurt him, and both hits he gave up left the yard.
Carlos Hernandez was tagged for four runs in one inning and took the loss.
Elsewhere, Akron took a 2-1 win over Harrisburg behind a strong pitching effort. Braylon Doughty set the tone with 4.0 scoreless innings, allowing two hits while striking out five and walking one.
Izaak Martinez followed with three innings of one-run ball, and Adam Tulloch and Zach Jacobs each closed things out with scoreless, hitless innings to earn a hold and a save. Jace LaViolette had one of his better Double-A games, going 1-for-2 with a double and two walks, while Dean Curley went 2-for-4 and Logun Clark finished 1-for-2 with a walk.
Lake County rolled past Wisconsin 10-1, and Welbyn Francisca kept building on a huge season. He homered again for his 15th at High-A, even after missing the first two months with injury.
Through 52 games in his first High-A look at age 20, he’s slashing .289/.370/.579. Anthony Martinez also delivered one of his best outings of the year, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and two walks.
Garrett Howe went 2-for-4 with a double and a walk, and Cannon Peebles drew two walks in a 1-for-3 game. Harrison Bodendorf worked 4.2 shutout innings on two hits, walking three and striking out five.
Melkis Hernandez added 2.1 scoreless frames, and Cam Schuelke finished it off with 2.0 innings and four strikeouts, allowing one run.
In the South Atlantic League, Charleston outlasted Hill City 8-7 in 10 innings. Alejandro Blasco reached base three times with a double, two walks and a stolen base.
Jonathan Martinez went 2-for-4 with a walk, Yeiferth Castillo was 2-for-5, and Jhorvic Abreus homered, walked and stole a base. Ryan DeSanto struggled on the mound, giving up four runs on six hits in 4.0 innings with four walks and four strikeouts.
Evan Chrest was excellent in relief, throwing 3.0 scoreless, hitless innings with two strikeouts, but Javi Torres surrendered three runs on three hits over 2.0 innings to blow the save. After Hill City came up empty in the top of the 10th, 2026 20th round pick Parker Coil didn’t record an out and allowed the walk-off run in the bottom half.
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The lineup stability also fit the broader tone around the club, where Vogt had checked in with key players about how they were feeling before locking things in. Jos Ramrez was part of that conversation, and he kept adding to his place in franchise history with another hit, nudging himself further up Cleveland's all-time list while the Guardians tried to find a rhythm that has been elusive for much of the season. [Read more 🡒]