Cleveland Indians Minor League Update: Zach Walters to Disabled List; Clippers in Must Win Playoff Game

Zach Walters to Disabled List in Columbus

The Columbus Clippers have announced that Cleveland Indians minor league infielder/outfielder Zach Walters has been placed on the disabled list and his Triple-A season is over.  Anthony Gallas has been added to the Clippers roster from the inactive list.

It’s a very unfortunate turn of events after Walters had just hit for the cycle in Thursday night’s Triple-A playoff game. Walters was one of the hottest hitting Clippers to this is a big blow to their championship aspirations. This injury also puts Walters’s chances at a September call up in jeopardy.

Gallas appeared in 30 games for the Clippers though spent most of the year with the Double-A Akron Rubberducks. He enjoyed more success with Akron, though he five home runs in just 113 plate appearances with the Clippers.  With Walters out the Clippers were down to just three outfielders in Tyler Holt, James Ramsey, and Michael Choice, making the Gallas addition a necessity.

The Walters injury wasn’t lost on the Cleveland Indians skipper. After initially saying the injury appeared serious, Terry Francona had these comments yesterday:

"“It looks like, looking at a kid 18 hours later, it doesn’t look maybe as bad as feared,” Francona said. “He’s day-to-day … And then when their season’s over, if he needs to be examined more, he will.”"

The great news here is the “when their season’s over” part as the Clippers’ season will be over in a matter of days.  Meanwhile, the Cleveland Indians season runs until at least October 4th, so optimistically Walters could still get a September call up should the shoulder check out medically, something I talked about yesterday.

Clippers in Must Win Game 5

After taking a two games to none lead in the International League finals the Columbus Clippers will face a must win Game 5 tonight in Indianapolis.  The Clippers dropped Game 4 last night 5-4 in heartbreaking fashion as the Indianapolis Indians (Pittsburgh Triple-A team) scored four runs in the final two innings to erase a 4-1 Clippers lead.  The Clippers got their runs from an Adam Moore solo home run in the 4th and a clutch three-run home run in the 8th from Michael Choice to give the Clippers, at the time, a three run lead. 

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Despite nearing 100 pitches, Columbus manager Chris Tremie decided to stick with starter Jarrett Grube as the Clippers bullpen had really struggled in previous games. Grube managed to get through the 8th inning with the lead in tact but entering the 9th inning at 116 pitches proved to be too much. He exited with the Clippers clinging to a 4-3 lead and the tying run on first.  Reliever Jeff Johnson though was unable to retire a single batter and the Indianapolis Indians lived to see another day.

The deciding Game 5 will be tonight in Indianapolis at 7:05 pm.  Mike Clevinger will toe the rubber for the Clippers as they look to right the ship and sail off with the Governor’s Cup Trophy and International League Title.  Clevinger has made only one start for the Clippers but it was a memorable one, as he went 7.2 no-hit innings in the deciding Game 5 of the International League Semi-Finals.  Columbus will hope for a repeat outcome, with the Clippers celebrating a Game 5 victory on Saturday night.

Next: Cleveland Indians Send Struggling Trevor Bauer to Bullpen