Benson gets time at first base; Arias starting to bounce back

Gabriel Arias had his first solid week at the plate in a while, while Will Benson is getting time at first base, Tyler Freeman and Will Brennan had hitting streaks through this past week, Joey Cantillo returned to the mound for Akron, and Johnathan Rodriguez showed incredibly consistent power this past week in the Guardians farm system.

Triple-A Columbus (3-3)

After taking two of three from Toledo last weekend after their break for MLB’s All-Star week, the Clippers had an up-and-down week in Louisville against the Bats.

Shortstop Gabriel Arias started to show signs of life with his bat for the first time after returning from a broken finger over a month ago. He homered in the Clippers’ 6-3 loss on July 26, went 1-for-3 with two RBI thanks to a groundout and a sac fly, as well as working a walk in a loss to Lousiville, 3-2, on July 30. He hit another homer as part of a 2-for-3 day in the Clippers’ 4-1 win July 31. He raised his OPS to .632 as he tries to climb out of his season-long slump.

In a new development, Will Benson started his first three professional games at first base this past week. Cleveland’s 2016 first-round draft pick has a 13-game hitting streak going where he is (22-for-54, .407). He has a 1.167 OPS in July and perhaps his play has forced the Guardians to consider more ways to get him onto the major-league roster. Benson can be a minor league free agent after the season if he’s not added to the 40-man roster, upon completing his seventh minor league season.

Double-A Akron (3-3)

The RubberDucks’ bullpen had another tough week, though the offense and starters were able to make up for that most nights. Akron got late-inning hits in the eighth inning from Daniel Schneeman in an 8-7 win on July 26, again on July 29 in a 2-1 win, and Jhonkensy Noel delivered one on July 30 in a 4-3 win all over the Harrisburg Senators.

The bullpen did waste an impressive Tanner Bibee start on July 27, where he tossed six shutout innings on two hits and struck out four. He lowered his Double-A ERA to 1.25.

George Valera had two hits and three RBI in an 8-7 win on July 26, but was quite most of the series until July 31, when he delivered two hits, including a two-run homer, his 15th of the season in the ‘Ducks’ 10-5 loss to Harrisburg.

High-A Lake County (3-3)

Outfielder Johnathan Rodriguez continued his torrid stretch during the Captains series in South Bend vs. the Cubs. He cracked four homers in the series: July 27 in the Captains’ 4-3 win, July 28 in the Captains’ 4-2 win, July 30 in the Captains’ 7-2 win, and July 31 in the Captains’ 9-8 loss. Nine of his 15 homers this season have come in July.

Milan Tolentino had four hits in the series, including two in the July 30 7-2 win, hitting a homer, walking twice and stealing two bases.

Angel Martinez returned from a shoulder injury and had four hits in three games, going 1-for-4 in the July 27 win, 2-for-4 with a double and walk in the July 29, 7-6 extra-inning loss. He had two more hits in the 9-8 loss on July 31.

Single-A Lynchburg (1-4) through July 31

Reid Johnston had another superb start for the Hillcats on July 27 to give the Hillcats their only win in the series through July 31. He struck out eight and allowed two runs in five innings in the Hillcats’ 4-3 win over the Delmarva Shorebirds. Johnston had three games of eight or more strikeouts in July. Shortstop Dayan Frias hit his third homer of the year in the win, following up a three-hit performance in the Hillcats’ 9-7 loss on July 26.

Benson