Toledo Mud Hens
The Hens had a rough weekend dealing with the Nashville Sounds. After winning the first two games in the scheduled six game home series, the Sounds swept a double-header on Friday, and then down the Hens by a score of 6-1 on Saturday. They were rained out on Sunday, as was West Michigan.
Logan Shore lost game one of Friday’s double-header, allowing four runs in 2 2⁄3 innings of work. He did collect five strikeouts, and wasn’t hit all that hard in his debut. He also got no run support, as the Sounds blanked the Hens 5-0.
The second game featured the debut of 2019 Rule 5 draft pick Rony Garcia. The right-hander had an appendectomy at the beginning of spring camp, and is just getting back to full strength. He allowed a pair of solo shots, but struck out five in four innings of work. Jason Foley was hit hard in an inning of relief, allowing a two run shot. SS Zach Short cracked his second homer of the season in the loss.
On Saturday, veteran starter Wily Peralta made his debut and overpowered the Sounds for three innings of work. Presumably, Peralta will be used in relief by the Tigers, and his high 90’s fastball and strike throwing could be useful along the way. Beau Burrows and Ian Krol were hammered in their respective three inning stints, with Burrows allowing three earned, including a home run, while Krol allowed a pair of solo shots. Short walked twice in the contest out of the leadoff spot, but the Hens managed just five hits in the game.
Coming Up Next: The Hens added shortstop Cole Peterson, and reliever Wladimir Pinto up from Erie to replace Kody Clemens, who hit the 10-day IL with a forearm injury, and Joe Jiménez, who was recalled to Detroit. The Hens will have an off day on Monday, before they open a six game road series in Indianapolis. Matt Manning was scheduled to start in Sunday’s rain out, so he should make his second start of the year on Tuesday.
Erie SeaWolves 7, Reading Fightin Phils 5 (box)
The SeaWolves offense was quiet for most of this one, but their pitching kept them close enough to take over the game late. Paul Richan tossed four shutout innings with one hit allowed against two strikeouts in the start. Joe Navilhon gave up a solo shot in the sixth, but struck out five in two innings of work.
In the eighth, OF Jacob Robson got things started with a leadoff double. Singles from Drew Ward and Josh Lester kept the line moving and plated the SeaWolves first run. A sacrifice fly and a groundout scored two more runs and after an RBI single by Riley Greene and Ryan Kreidler reaching after being hit by a pitch, the SeaWolves had the bases loaded for the second time in the inning and Robson came up to the plate again. This time his double cleared the bases to complete a seven run inning that carried Erie despite reliever Henry Martinez giving back four runs in the bottom of the eighth.
Going back to Friday, the SeaWolves lost 8-4 to the Phils. Starter A.J. Ladwig allowed three runs in the first, and the Phils never looked back. Ryan Kreidler had two doubles in the contest, while Robson collected three singles. Riley Greene walked, but otherwise struck out three times.
Reading came out on top on Saturday as well, by a score of 6-4. Ricardo Pinto got the start, allowing three runs in 3 2⁄3 innings, before Brad Bass took over. Bass was nicked for two more runs in 1 1⁄3 innings. On the plus side, hard throwing southpaw reliever Max Green struck out five in two innings, though he did allow a solo shot. Riley Greene tripled and walked in the game.
Coming Up Next: Erie will open a 12 game homestand on Tuesday, first welcoming in the Akron Rubberducks for six games, before Binghamton comes to town on May 18. UPMC Park has spent the past two years undergoing a major renovation, so Opening Day on Tuesday will be their coming out party.
West Michigan Whitecaps
The ‘Caps were rained out on Sunday as well. After a rough 10-3 loss on Friday, the offense finally broke out on Saturday for a 16-6 victory, their first of the season. That game saw Spencer Torkelson get loose, collecting a double, a single, and a walk while scoring a run and driving one in. Dillon Dingler struck out four times but also launched his second home run. Parker Meadows added a double and walk in the contest, while Andre Lipcius had the big day, collecting three hits, including a double and a triple.
Friday’s 10-3 loss was pretty uneventful on the prospect front. Lipcius hit his first home run of the year, but otherwise the offense was pretty quiet.
Coming Up Next: The Whitecaps home opener is set for a 6:35 pm ET start, as they welcome in the Great Lakes Loons for a six-game homestand.
Lakeland Flying Tigers 6, Clearwater Threshers 4 (box)
A bases clearing double by Nick Quintana sparked the Flygers to a four-run third inning on Sunday, and they held on to down the Threshers. Cleiverth Perez and Adam Wolf combined for six innings of two-run ball, each allowing an earned run in this one. Griffin Dey and Eric De La Rosa each had a pair of hits, with De La Rosa smacking a solo shot, his first of the year, in the seventh inning. Kingston Liniak, Jose De La Cruz, and Jose King each had a had in the contest.
On Friday, the Flying Tigers took down the Threshers 6-2 in 10 innings. SS Gage Workman doubled as part of a two-hit game, and also stole a base. Catcher Cooper Johnson had a pair of singles. Jose De La Cruz had the game winning hit, sparking a four-run 10th for Lakeland. Wenceel Perez was the runner starting the inning at second, and De La Cruz singled him home. Jimmy Kerr drew a walk and they were each sacrificed 90 feet by a Griffin Dey bunt. After De La Rosa popped out, Liniak walked, De La Cruz scored from third on a wild pitch, and then Threshers releiver Alejandro Made walked Quintana to force in a run, while a Workman double plated the game’s final run.
The Threshers got a little payback, erupting for a four run bottom of the ninth to walk off the Flying Tigers 4-3. Wenceel Perez doubled and stole a base, scoring a run and collecting an RBI, while Quintana walked twice and singled, also coming across to score.
Coming Up Next: Lakeland will take a 3-3 record into their home opener with the Tampa Tarpons on Tuesday.