COLUMBUS CLIPPERS 3, ST. PAUL SAINTS 2 IN COLUMBUS (GAME 1)

The Saints started the game with four consecutive singles, producing two runs.  That was all the runs they would get, and for six innings it looked like that would be enough.  But Scott Blewett came in to pitch the seventh and, well, he blew it.  A walk, a double, and a two-run single by Angel Martinez tied the game, and an RBI double by Will Wilson walked it off for Columbus.  Saints starters still had not allowed a run through four games.

Batters:  Mike Ford was 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.  Austin Martin was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run.

Pitchers:  Marco Raya struck out five in 2.1 scoreless innings, giving up five hits and a walk.  Kody Funderburk struck out three in 2.2 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk.

Opposition:  Angel Martinez was 3-for-4 with two RBIs.  Bradley Hanner pitched two shutout innings, giving up two hits and a walk.

ST. PAUL SAINTS AT COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (GAME 2)

The Saints trailed Columbus 11-1 through five innings at press time.  Luke Keaschall was 2-for-3 with a double.  David Festa ended the scoreless streak by St. Paul starters, allowing six runs (five earned) on ten hits and two walks.  He did strike out four in 3.1 innings.  For Wichita, Christian Cairo was 4-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs.  Will Wilson hit a two-run homer.  Kolby Allard struck out five in four innings, giving up one run on three hits and a walk.

WICHITA WIND SURGE AT SPRINGFIELD CARDINALS

Rained out.  Will be made up as part of a doubleheader Sunday.

CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS 4, WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS 1 IN WISCONSIN

It was scoreless through three, but Billy Amick singled home a run in the fourth, Brandon Winokur doubled one home in the sixth, and Caden Kendle hit a two-run double in the seventh.  Wisconsin did not get on the board until the ninth.  There were thirty strikeouts in the game, with Cedar Rapids pitchers striking out thirteen and Wisconsin pitchers fanning seventeen.

Batters:  Gabriel Gonzalez was 2-for-4 with a double.  Caden Kendle was 1-for-4 with two RBIs.  Kyle DeBarge was 1-for-4 with a walk and two runs.

Pitchers:  Charlee Soto struck out five in four shutout innings, giving up two hits and three walks.  Spencer Bengard struck out six and walked one in four shutout innings of relief, allowing no hits.

Opposition:  Manuel Rodriguez struck out eleven in 4.1 innings, giving up an unearned run on three hits and a walk.  Aidan Maldonado struck out four in two shutout innings, giving up one hit.

Record:  1-0, tied for first.

PALM BEACH CARDINALS 8, FORT MYERS MIGHTY MUSSELS 2 IN PALM BEACH

Palm Beach scored two in the third to open the scoring and led all the way.  Jefferson Valladares singled home in the run to cut the lead to 2-1 and a wild pitch scored a run in the seventh to cut the margin to 4-2, but the Cardinals scored one in the seventh and three in the eighth to put it out of reach.

Batters:  Kevin Maitan was 2-for-4.

Pitchers:  Starter Eli Jones pitched 4.1 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk and striking out one.

Opposition:  Luis Pino was 2-for-2 with two RBIs.  Jonathan Mejia was 2-for-4 with two triples, a walk, and two runs.  Cade McGee was 2-for-4 with a double and a run.  Christian Martin was 2-for-4 with a triple, a double, a run and an RBI.  Jose Suarez was 2-for-5 with an RBI.  Anyelo Encarnacion was 1-for-2 with a home run, two walks, and three runs.  Leonel Sequera pitched 3.2 innings, giving up a run on three hits and a walk and striking out two.  Michael Watson struck out three and walked one in two shutout innings.

Record:  Fort Myers is 0-1.

TODAY'S TILTS

1:10  Cedar Rapids (Alejandro Hidalgo) at Wisconsin (Bishop Letson)
3:05  St. Paul (Randy Dobnak) at Columbus (Ryan Webb, 0-0, 2.25)
5:00  Fort Myers (Dasan Hill) at Palm Beach (TBD)
6:05  Wichita (Trent Baker) at Springfield (Max Rajcic)