Columbus Clippers 7, Toledo Mud Hens 0

Box Score · Clippers improve to 60-54

If Ryan Merritt is at all frustrated about not being in the Cleveland Indians rotation, he’s taking it out in the best way possible: by dominating Triple-A. The 25-year-old lefty pitched a 5.2-inning shutout yesterday and he has not allowed a run since July 26. In his last 10 starts, he’s allowed just 14 runs over 62.1 innings while striking out 42 and walking nine.

It wasn’t all Merritt yesterday, though. The Columbus Clippers offense stepped up to offer seven runs off 10 hits. Third baseman Ronny Rodriguez led the way with three hits, including a home run and team-high three runs batted in. Most notably, his home run marked the fourth straight game in which the 25-year-old has homered.

Batting right behind Rodriguez was shortstop Eric Stamets, who had two hits and a homer of his own.

Right fielder Richie Shaffer, who at one point looked like he was building quite the resume for a 2018 big-league signing, is struggling. He went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts yesterday, and over his last 10 games he’s struck out 17 times and gone just 6-for-33.

Akron RubberDucks 5, Reading Fightin Phils 4

Box Score · RubberDucks improve to 55-56

On a team loaded with potential future stars, it was third baseman Joe Sever who came through big for Akron RubberDucks in yesterday’s 5-4 win over the Reading Fightin Phils. Sever finished with a team-high three hits and two runs batted in, including a game-tying RBI single in the top of the ninth.

Shao-Ching Chiang followed up his no-hitter last week with an outing that finished just shy of a quality start. Chiang cruised through the first handful of innings, but struggled in the sixth, leading to his eventual pull.

Lynchburg Hillcats 5, Down East Wood Ducks 1

Box Score · Hillcats improve to 66-47

Starting pitcher Aaron Civale gave the Lynchburg Hillcats seven solid innings of one-run baseball yesterday, marking the fifth time in the 22-year-old’s last 10 games that he has allowed three or fewer runs and pitched seven or more innings.

Behind Civale were relievers Jared Robinson and Luke Eubank, who combined to hold to the Down East Wood Ducks to one hit over two innings. the pair struck out three of the seven batters they faced.

Second baseman Sam Haggerty finished with two hits from the lead-off spot (both doubles), leaving shortstop Willi Castro and designated hitter Andrew Calica in perfect spots to get him home.

Lake County Captains 4, West Michigan White Caps 0 (Game 1)

Lake County Captains 0, West Michigan White Caps 9 (Game 2)

Game 1 Box Score · Game 2 Box Score · Captains move to 46-66

For 11 straight innings yesterday, the Lake County Captains held the West Michigan White Caps to one run. Then things went wronger. And wronger some more. And even more wronger.

Lake County won game one of those doubleheader in shutout fashion with Sean Brady throwing 5.0 innings and striking out four batters.

Left fielder Conner Capel, right fielder Mitch Longo, and first baseman Emmanuel Tapia all finished with two hits. Capel did the most damage with his bat, drivingi n three runs from the No. 2 slot in the lineup.

Game two of the set, well, it didn’t go as planned. The White Caps scored their first run of the day in the first-inning double, then went silent for three innings before exploding for eight runs over the final three frames.

Michah Miniard took the brunt of the damage, five runs in 4.2 innings.

Mahoning Valley Scrappers 6, State College Spikes 3

Box Score · Scrappers improve to 27-18

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers jumped out to a five-run lead that they would not give back en route to their 27th win of the season.

Left fielder Hosea Nelson and Erin Clement each added two hits for the Scrappers, while Nelson and shortstop Jesse Berardi each homered. Starting pitcher Gregori Vasquez threw six innings of shoutout baseball, striking out three and allowing two hits.

The AZL Indians and the DSL Indians had scheduled off-days.