Corey Kluber started and turned in a solid outing, allowing three runs over seven innings (6 H, 2 BB, 7 K). Kluber (4-5, 6.19) was sharp at the beginning, retiring six of the first seven with four K's. He was also sharp at the end. After a 6th inning wild pitch brought home Toledo's third run, Corey fanned the next three, en route to disposing of the final five he faced. While the middle was a bit shaky, Kluber did manage to strand a one-out runner on third in the 5th and prevent the big inning that has doomed him so often this season.
Nick Hagadone pitched the top of the 8th and loaded the bases. Around a pair of singles, a walk and a wild pitch of his own, Hagadone (4-2, 3.12) K'ed a pair and the Mud Hens left 'em full.
Jason Donald and Luis Valbuena did not have banner games in what is expected to be their last for the Clippers in the foreseeable future, but each did cross home in the 8th. Donald (.262) walked and came home on Valbuena (.313) fielder's choice. Luis also had a bunt single. While the choice was between the two for the utility infielder position, both likely get the call in light of Lonnie Chisenhall's broken face.
One significant reason that minor league baseball appeals to me is the interaction between the players and the fans. Twice, this evening, I was treated to unique examples of this. To begin the home half of the fifth, Paul Phillips flew out to Timo Perez in left field. Perez caught the ball on the run, crossing into foul territory. As he came to a stop, in front of the wall along the left field line, he opened his glove and seemingly offered the ball to a young boy in the first row. As the child reached for the prized souvenir, Timo turned the glove away and tossed the ball back to the infield. Suffice to say, the fans around me in the left field corner were not pleased. Flashing a huge grin, Perez beckoned to the Clippers' ball boy for another and gently tossed it to the kid, earning a big cheer in the process. An even more unlikely event took place in the top of the 8th. As Nick Hagadone warmed, I noticed a white balloon hovering about 30 feet above second base. The inning began and Will Rhymes took two pitches with the balloon bobbing and weaving in the wind. At that point it reached eye level and Luis Valbuena grabbed it from his shortstop position. Instead of popping it, Luis ran to the first row, next to the Toledo dugout, and handed it to yet another delighted young'un. Sometimes, the game just makes me smile.
Columbus takes on Toledo again tomorrow at 7:05p. Jeanmar Gomez gets the start.
Other Minor Points of Interest --
Adam Miller (1-2, 3.46) threw another scoreless inning for Akron. Miller has not been scored on in over a month, a span of nine appearances and eleven innings. I would surprised if he is not moved up to AAA by the end of the month.
In what very well might be his last single-A start, Drew Pomeranz tossed a beauty and took home his third win. Pom (3-2, 1.87) went seven shutout, surrendering three hits and 2 walks, while fanning seven. Pomeranz, who is putting up better numbers than previous first rounder Alex White did last season, might get once more turn for the little Indians, but that, say I, will be all.
Catcher Jake Lowery, the Indians' 2011 4th round pick, hit his 3rd dinger in 16 games for Mahoning Valley. Lowery (.270), who missed a few games last week to receive the Johnny Bench Award as the nation's top collegiate backstop, is second on the Scrappers with 12 RBI and has posted an .867 OPS.
Cheers.
