Clip Joint Open For Lunch

Tim Fedroff

You could not ask for a better day to play afternoon baseball.  Sunshine, a light breeze and temperatures in the high 70s.  Bee-you-tee-full. The Clippers lineup dug it the most.  The top 3 cracked 8 hits and the team produced 15 overall to bring in a dozen in a 12-4 victory over Toledo.  Recently promoted Tim Fedroff (.333) joined headliners Ezequiel Carrera (.292) and Jason Kipnis (.302) in the three hit parade and drove in three runs.  Fedroff and Luis Valbuena (.316) went deep, four players drove in multiple runs and five scored at least twice.

All of that in support of David Huff (8-2, 3.74), who allowed just a run on four hits over six quality innings.  Dave struck out seven and walked four as he finished June a perfect 5-0 with 2.70 ERA.  The numbers that Huff has posted are difficult to ignore, especially for a team without a lefty in their starting rotation.  Still, lest we forget, he was 2-11 with a 6.21 for the Indians last season and the opposition batted a healthy .304 against him.  I cannot see him as legitimate option.

The Clips play two in Toledo, starting tomorrow with Scott Barnes on the mound.

Other Minor Points of Interest --

Despite loading the bases on two singles and a hit batter, Adam Miller pitched a scoreless ninth to seal a 4-1 Akron Aeros win and earn his first AA save.  Miller (1-1, 2.77) fanned pair, one with the bases juiced and one out, and, since a couple of rocky outings early in his tenure, has tossed nine straight shutout frames allowing just five hits.

Beau Mills provided half of the Aeros' offense with a two-run double.  Mills (.292) has now driven in 32 in his 41 games with an .813 OPS.  If he continues at this pace, he will see AAA for the first time before season's end.

Bryce Stowell showed definite control issues as he allowed his first run of 2011 for Lake County.  Stowell (0.93) threw 1.2 innings, walking 3 and allowing 2 hits, but striking out three as well.  Overall, he has walked 6 and fanned 13 in 9.2 innings.

Cheers