Aiken’s up-and-down season continues

Brady Aiken’s numbers against the Great Lakes (Mich.) Loons on June 27 spoke to why this has been a log of a season for the Captains starting pitcher and 2015 No. 1 draft choice of the Indians.

The 20-year-old lefthander lasted four innings in what ended as a 4-3 victory for the Captains. Aiken, who didn’t figure in the decision, now is 1-8 with a 4.58 ERA.

As was the case in most of his previous 14 starts, Aiken struggled with control and allowed too much traffic on the basepaths. He faced 20 batters and threw 95 pitches, 48 for strikes and 47 for balls.

The trouble began in the top of the first inning when Aiken issued a free pass to Great Lakes leadoff batter Darien Tubbs. Gavin Lux, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ first-round pick in the 2016 draft, followed with a home run to right-center field to stake the Loons to a 2-0 lead.

Although he righted himself after Lux’s round-tripper, Aiken pitched himself back into trouble in the top of the second inning by issuing three more bases on balls. Lux came to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded, but Aiken got the better of him by inducing a routine grounder to second base for the final out.

The top of the third was relatively uneventful for Aiken beyond a two-out walk by Brendon Davis. Great Lakes mounted another threat in the top of the fourth on a leadoff walk to Mitchell Hansen and a oneout single by Brayan Morales. Aiken buckled down to retire Tubbs and Lux on routing fly balls.

In 15 starts covering 72 2/3 innings, Aiken has given up 74 hits and 48 runs (37 earned) with 49 strikeouts and 53 walks.

Before the game, Captains pitching coach Jason Blanton said Aiken is showing signs of progress on the mound despite his statistical struggles and continuing recovery from Tommy John surgery two years ago.

The Captains used the long ball to overcome the early 2-0 deficit against the Loons. Logan Ice slammed a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning to make it 2-1. Emmanuel Tapia connected for a tworun blast in the bottom of the sixth to put the Captains in front, 3-2. It was Tapia’s Midwest Leagueleading 16th home run. He also has a team-high 45 RBI.

After the Loons scored a run in the top of the eighth inning to pull even at 3-3, the Captains scored what proved to be the gamewinning run in the bottom of the eighth when former Mayfield High School and Ohio University standout Mitch Longo raced home on a double-play grounder.

Relief pitcher Henry Martinez (4-2, 4.02 ERA) earned the victory for the Captains, who improved to 5-1 in the second half. Great Lakes slipped to 3-3 with a second straight loss at Classic Park.