By PAUL GOTHAM
A pair of Section V alums etched markers on their professional timelines in the same weekend.
Ernie Clement needed 89 Major League at-bats to connect on his first career home run, Friday night. One day later, Ben Cowles made good on his 27th professional at bat.
Clement delivered a two-out solo shot in the third inning of the Cleveland Indians 7-4 victory over Detroit, Friday night. The former Brighton High School standout needed just two more trips to the plate to go yard for the second time.
“I was definitely not trying to home run,” Clement told Bally Sports Cleveland when asked about his first round tripper that gave Cleveland a lead it never surrendered at 1-0. “I was just trying to hit the ball hard and get on base for those guys behind me and turn the lineup over. I happened to get into one and it was definitely a lot of luck involved. I’m glad I could do it for the squad.”
A fourth-round selection out of the University of Virginia in the 2017 MLB Draft, Clement had three home runs in 1,190 plate appearances over the past three-plus seasons at the minor-league level. Originally called up to the majors on May 30th for one day in which he did not appear in a game, Clement returned to Cleveland on June 13th. He has played in 32 games with the Indians.
Cowles led off the second inning of a 4-3 Tampa Tarpons victory with a shot to right center. A 10th-round pick of the New York Yankees in the most recent draft, Cowles was recently promoted to Tampa on August 3rd. Cowles started his professional career with the Florida Complex League (FCL) Yankees where he played two games. He has played seven with Tampa, New York’s Low-A affiliate.
Cowles, a University of Maryland grad, led the Big Ten with 18 home runs this past spring.
The highlights of Clement and Cowles come on the heels of former Pittsford Mendon and Monroe Community College star Danny Mendick appearing in MLB’s “Field of Dreams” game.
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