Guardians minors roundup

Sports@News-Herald.com Oscar Gonzalez continued hitting well for Columbus, and 2021first-round pick Gavin Wiliams had a sparkling performance for Lake County. Here’s a look at how the Guardians’ farm teams fared this week:

Triple-A Columbus (2-4)

The Clippers’ trip to Omaha to face the Storm Chasers (Royals) started out strong with some good early offense to overcome shaky pitching. Once again, Oscar Gonzalez had a big week. He hit a grand slam in the opening game of the series on the way to the win. It was another week where the slugger didn’t draw a walk but he still hit two homers and drove in seven and only struck out four times.

In the second game of the series, another grand slam powered the Clippers’ 5-4 win. Infielder Jose Fermin, not known for his power, has shown some in 2022, and also hit a grand slam in that win. LHP Tanner Tully continued to take the ball every week and put up a solid effort for the organization, going six innings and allowing just a run. Relief prospect Nick Mikolajchak ended up going two innings to earn the save and got a pair chasing strikes in the save. Mikolajchak, however, blew his first save on May 7and allowed his first run of the series without recording an out in a 10-9loss where he and reliever Brett Daniels allowed seven runs in the ninth to blow the game.

Double-A Akron (3-3)

Jose Tena ended last week heating up, and the new week didn’t slow him down. He went 7-for-23 with a double, a walk and two steals at the top of the ‘Ducks order. His two-hit day helped power Akron’s 10-3 win on May 7 at Richmond. Will Brennan had a hit but also worked two walks and scored three in that win. Bo Naylor, who has been dealing with some left arm soreness, doubled for one of his two hits in the win. He also worked three walks. That was more than enough for Hunter Gaddis, who continues to shine for

Akron. He struck out nine in five innings of shutout ball, allowing just two hits and two walks.

Joey Cantillo put up a stellar outing in the RubberDucks’ 3-0 win May 6 at Richmond. He had some control issues in a few starts following his strong season debut back in April. He pounded the strike zone and fanned six without any walks over five shutout innings. In two May starts, he has pitched nine innings with 10strikeouts, two walks, seven hits and hasn’t allowed a run.

High-A Lake County (2-3)

The real stars this week in Ohio were baseball groundskeepers. Bad weather in Cleveland and Dayton caused several rainouts. Lake County missed back-to-back games due to rain and is now up to seven double-headers, which will probably lead all of professional baseball for months even without another rainout.

The star of the week we undoubtedly RHP Gavin Williams. The 2021first-round pick struck out 10in five innings of shutout work on May 7in Game 1of a doubleheader. In 241⁄3 innings, Williams had 39strikeouts, just nine walks and a 1.46ERA.

Low-A Lynchburg (2-2)

Ohio wasn’t the only area where rain cost teams games all week. The Hillcats had three games called due to the rain. They got a 4-2 win on May 4 behind the strong pitching of Rodney Boone (six innings, four hits, two runs (one earned), five strikeouts) and Davis Sharpe (two innings, four strikeouts).

The Hillcats split a doubleheader with Fredericksburg on May 5 with huge days from OF Jorge Burgos, SS Milan Tolentino and first base Will Bartlett. Bartlett doubled and homered, driving in four. Tolentino collected three hits, including a double and scored three runs. Tolentino’s dad, Jose Tolentino, is the Angels’ Spanish broadcaster and happened to be in town for the weekend and got to call Milan’s double on the radio broadcast.