Naylor settles in at Triple-A

Bo Naylor settled in at Triple-A Columbus with a good week, Tanner Bibee made an impressive first start at Akron, Brayan Rocchio’s bat is really getting hot, Alexfri Planez improved his hitting streak to 21 games this week, and 2021 draft pick Ryan Webb made his full-season affiliate start after recovering from Tommy John surgery.

A look at the previous week for the Guardians’ minor-league teams:

Triple-A Columbus (1-4)

After a record-setting offensive week in Iowa last week, the Clippers came back to Columbus and struggled against the Nashville Sounds in a big way.

Despite two hits apiece from Will Benson, Will Brennan, and Bo Naylor on July 4, the Clippers offense couldn’t produce any fireworks, just a pair of late runs.

Gabriel Arias, just optioned back from Cleveland to Columbus, did provide a homer on July 6, along with Alex Call’s 11th blast of the season. But that wasn’t enough for a Clippers win. Logan Allen made his second Triple-A start and had a shaky outing early on, allowing five runs on four hits and five walks in four innings. He did strike out five and settled down a bit after a three-run first inning, but his first two starts have not been his best results.

Bo Naylor hit his first Triple-A homer on July 7 to try to back Xzavion Curry’s second Triple-A start, but he allowed four runs in six innings in a 6-2 Clippers loss. Through July 9, Naylor is hitting .294/.431/.549 in 14 games since his promotion to Triple-A Columbus.

In addition to his 11th homer of the season this week, Call had a 4-for-4 day on July 9, giving the 27-year-old a .283.418/.504 line in 68 games this season. However, Columbus also dropped that game, 6-2, with a bullpen game that night.

The Clippers rotation lost Tobias Myers, who struggled this year, to a trade with San Francisco after he was designated for assignment, as well as Kirk McCarty, who was claimed on waivers by Baltimore. Tanner Tully did rejoin the rotation and pitched on July 10.

Nolan Jones was finally promoted to Cleveland on July 7, with Richie Palacios coming back to take his spot on the Clippers roster.

Columbus will continue its homestand this coming week, hosting Indianapolis July 12-17.

Double-A Akron (2-4)

The RubberDucks had a week where they couldn’t hit the nights they pitched well, and had some pitching issues, but still managed to squeak out a few wins.

Brayan Rocchio had a hot week, collecting three hits and an RBI in Akron’s 6-3 loss on July 6, two hits including a homer in a 3-2 loss July 7, drove in a run with one hit in an 8-3 win on July 8, and two more hits on a July 9 7-3 win. He had two more hits in Akron’s loss on July 10.

Tanner Bibee made his Double-A debut on July 7, shutting out Altoona over five innings, allowing five hits a walk and struck out six.

Jose Tena hit two of his five homers this past week, which included a grand slam in the 8-3 win on July 8. He also homered in the July 6 loss. Three of his five homers have come in the last 10 days.

Jhonkensy Noel also homered on July 8 and now has six homers in 12 games at Double-A Akron, and 25 this year. He’s headed to the MLB Futures Game next week along with George Valera, who had just two hits in this series and missed the final two games dealing with some back soreness.

LHP Joey Cantillo had his start skipped this week to get him some rest.

Akron heads to Bowie next week for a series starting July 12-17.

High Single-A Lake County (2-4)

The Captains got their road trip at Fort Wayne with the TinCaps off to a good start. Jack Leftwich made his High-A debut, shutting the TinCaps out through 6 1/3 innings of work, allowing a hit, two walks and four strikeouts.

Angel Martinez his one of his three homers in the series on July 4 in the 6-0 win. Martinez had homers in the Captains’ 11-10 wild win on July 7, and a homer in a 3-2 loss July 9. The 20-year-old switchhitter now has eight homers on the year and an .875 OPS this season through 59 games as of July 9.

Alexfri Planez extended his hitting streak to 21 games on July 10 with a homer. He had another homer July 7 in the 11-10 win and had nine hits in the series overall. He also worked his second walk of the season on July 7.

Petey Halpin had seven hits in the series at Fort Wayne, giving the Captains the win in the wild 11-10 affair.

Doug Nikhazy turned in his best outing as a pro on July 9, carrying a no-hitter in the seventh inning of a seven inning game for a double-header. He allowed one earned run (two overall) in 6 2/3 innings, striking out 11, walking three and allowing two hits.

Lake County hosts Dayton July 12-17 this week.

Low Single-A Lynchburg (1-5)

It was a tough week for the Hillcats offense, mustering just more than two runs twice all week, and scoring one in two games.

In their lone win on July 6 in their series with the Fredericksburg Nationals, 5-1, 2020 first-round pick Carson Tucker had three hits after what has been an injured and very slow start to his pro career. First basement Junior Sanquintin added three hits, including a double, in the win. Trenton Denholm allowed just a run in six innings in this win, two hits, walked one and struck out five. Outfielder Isaiah Greene, acquired in the Francisco Lindor trade, had two hits and three steals in the win.

The Hillcats did score six runs in a 10-6 loss on July 9. Will Bartlett drove in three runs, doubled and scored a fourth run himself. Guardians 2021 draft pick and LHP Ryan Webb (Tommy John Surgery) made his first full season affiliate start in the loss. He allowed one run through three innings, but worked into the fourth, pitching 3 1/3 innings, giving up five hits, two runs, walked two and struck out two.

In a 3-1 loss on July 7, 2021 draft pick Reid Johnston struck out 10 in six innings. He gave up an unearned run on three hits and walked just one. The Hillcats had just two hits in the loss.

Lynchburg will host Charelston this coming week, July 12-17.