Guardians Farm Report: Valera Goes Deep Twice While Gaddis Flirts With Perfection In Akron Win

All four Cleveland Guardians minor league affiliates were in action Thursday but only Akron and Lynchburg would emerge with victorious.

Triple-A Columbus Clippers

Iowa 8 Columbus 2

Columbus dropped their second straight game to Iowa on Thursday dropping their record to 25-14 on the year.

There was not much to highlight in the loss as the only two runs the Clippers would score came in on an error in the sixth inning. Jose Fermin led the way with two base hits while Tyler Freeman, David Fry and Alex Call would each double in the game.

#Guardians 22-year-old (SS) prospect Tyler Freeman with his 5th double of the year for Columbus in their 8-2 loss to Iowa Thursday.

@tyler_freeman34 @CLBClippers #ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/bVctHAG527
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) May 20, 2022

Clippers starter Adam Scott would give the team five innings but gave up four runs on eight hits in the contest and take the loss. Columbus

Top Performers:

David Fry 1-3 R 2B BB
Alex Call 1-3 R 2B BB
Jose Fermin 2-4 2SB
Tyler Freeman 1-4 2B
Adam Scott 5.0(IP) 8H 4R 4ER 1BB 4SO

Double-A Akron RubberDucks

Akron 13 Binghamton 1

The RubberDucks would dominate the Rumble Ponies on the mound and at the plate taking their third straight win in the series.

Starter Hunter Gaddis was tremendous throwing six no-hit innings only allowing one base runner on a walk in the game. Gaddis got stronger as they game went on topping out at 97 mph in both the fifth and six innings. He would go on to strike out a season high 11 in the game.

#Guardians 24yr old RHP Hunter Gaddis w/ an absolute masterpiece on the mound for Akron tonight striking out 11 over 6.0 no-hit innings! Gaddis was up to 97mph in the sixth inning!

Line - 6.0(IP) 0H 0R 0ER 1BB 11SO (89 Pitches 56 Strikes)@hgaddis22 @AkronRubberDuck #ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/RcPAwvkWmX
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) May 20, 2022

Akron reliever Luis Oviedo would allow a double in the seventh inning to break up the no-hit attempt. Oviedo would pitch well in relief finishing with four strikeouts allowing just one run over three innings of work.

On offense George Valera would reach base five times including two home runs one of which came as a grand slam in part of a seven run fifth inning. Valera would finish with five RBI's in the game.

#Guardians 21yr old OF prospect George Valera hits a no doubter for a Grand Slam in the 5th inning for Akron! Its Valera's 2nd HR of the game he now has 5 RBI's through 5 innings.@GV13__ @AkronRubberDuck #ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/2obLM3QZLx
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) May 19, 2022

RubberDucks Daniel Schneemann not to be overlooked fell just a double short of a cycle as he collected four hits including his second home run of the season in the seventh inning.

With the win Akron moves into first place in their division with a 21-15 record on the year.

Top Performers:

George Valera 3-4 2R 2HR 5RBI 2BB
Daniel Schneemann 4-5 3R 3B HR 3RBI
Bo Naylor 2-4 R 2RBI
Julian Escobedo 2-5 R 2RBI
Marcos Gonzalez 3-5 3R 2(2B) RBI
Hunter Gaddis 6.0(IP) 0H 0R 0ER 1BB 11SO (W)
Luis Oviedo 3.0(IP) 2H 1R 1ER 1BB 4SO (SV)

High-A Lake County Captains

Cedar Rapids 11 Lake County 2

It was a rough night for Lake County pitchers as they would give up five home runs and eight extra base hits in total in a Cedar Rapids rout.

Captains Aaron Bracho would drive in the only two runs in the game on a opposite field bloop base hit in the seventh inning. Bracho has now collected a hit in four straight games as he looks to get out of a season long slump.

#Guardians 21yr old switch hitting INF prospect Aaron Bracho drives in 2-runs on a bloop single for Lake County in the 7th inning. Bracho is showing some signs of life at the plate as he's on a 4 game hit streak driving in 5 runs with a 2B and 2 HR's.@LCCaptains #ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/z7WPa7kzmX
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) May 20, 2022

Lake County reliver Raymond Burgos was a bright spot out of the bullpen giving the team two scoreless innings while striking out two in relief.

The Captains with the loss fall to 16-19 on the year. They are the only Guardians affiliate currently with a record below .500 on the season.

Top Performers:

Aaron Bracho 1-4 2RBI
Ray Delgado 1-3 2B RBI BB
Gabriel Rodriguez 1-4 R
Micael Ramirez 1-2
Raymond Burgos 2.0(IP) 1H 0R 0ER 1BB 1SO

Low-A Lynchburg Hillcats

Lynchburg 6 Salem 4

The Hillcats and Red Sox were all tied up at 4-to-4 in the seventh inning when Yordys Valdes would drive home his third run of the day giving Lynchburg what would be the eventual winning run. The Hillcats would take on an insurance run in the ninth inning and defeat Salem by a final of 6-to-4.

#Guardians 20yr old switch hitting (SS) prospect Yordys Valdes drives home the eventual winning run in the top of the 7th inning for Lynchburg. Valdes remained scorching hot going (2-5 3RBI's BB) in the game. His average is up to .297 on the season. @7Yordysvaldes @LynHillcats pic.twitter.com/x5qK3oWYQl
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) May 20, 2022

Lynchburg right-handed pitcher Jake Leftwich who was piggybacking with starter Jake Miller would earn the win throwing three scoreless innings striking out two in the game. Reliever Hugo Villalobos would earn the save holding the Red Sox scoreless over the final two innings

The Hillcats have taken the first three games of the series vs the Red Sox. With the win Lynchburg moved into sole possession of first place in their division with a 20-15 record.