Nashville Sounds 12, Toledo Mud Hens 0 (box)
This didn’t look like the butt kicking that eventually developed early on. Logan Shore returned from the injured list in fine form with 4 1⁄3 perfect innings, including five punchouts. Unfortunately, the offense couldn’t take advantage and build a lead. Instead, the bullpen completely melted down. Angel de Jesus allowed a pair of runs in the seventh, and that made it 2-0 Sounds. So how did this develop into a complete blowout? Well, the Sounds scored 10 in the eighth, hammering Bryan Garcia for five runs, and then Robbie Ross Jr. for four more. By the time catcher Jon Rosoff took over to get the final out of the inning, this was already over.
Nashville starter Aaron Ashby was the star for the Sounds, punching out 11 Hens in six innings with just a single and a walk allowed. JaCoby Jones had both of Toledo’s two singles. Let’s just move on from this one.
Coming Up Next: RHP Pedro Payano (2-3, 4.43 ERA) gets the start on Friday night at 8:05 p.m. EDT. The Sounds have yet to announce a starter.
Harrisburg Senators 3, Erie SeaWolves 2 (box)
Starter Joey Wentz was hit up in this one, but he didn’t get much support either. The Senators racked up six hits and three walks, with only one extra base hit in the mix, in Wentz’s 3 2⁄3 innings of work. They scored all three runs against him before the SeaWolves bullpen took over and shut them down the rest of the way. Unfortunately, the offense managed just five hits as the big bats were quiet.
Andre Lipcius singled in Ryan Kreidler in the first inning, briefly giving Erie the lead. Lipcius later walked in the sixth and eventually scored on a Brady Policelli line drive single for the SeaWolves’ second and final run in the contest. Lipcius had two singles for the night, while Kreidler and Kerry Carpenter each had a double. Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson were hitless, though Tork did walk twice.
Coming Up Next: The SeaWolves haven’t announced a starter for Friday’s game. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. EDT.
Dayton Dragons 8, West Michigan Whitecaps 0 (box)
Yes, yes you do sense a theme developing. Not a good night down on the farm. Coming off a great start last time out, Adam Wolf was just decent in this one. Wolf allowed three runs in five innings of work, striking out five along the way. Not good, but he didn’t get any help from his teammates. Instead the Whitecaps lineup got themselves dominated, with Andrew Navigato’s two hit night the only bright spot. Daniel Cabrera chipped in a single, but three hits and three walks was all they could manage. Relievers Michael Bienlien and Xavier Javier were each tagged for a couple runs as the Dragons ran away with this one.
Coming Up Next: The two clubs play a double header on Friday, with game one set for a 6:05 p.m. EDT start. Game two is a makeup of a game postponed back on June 26. No starters have been announced for the Whitecaps.
Daytona Tortugas 4, Lakeland Flying Tigers 3 (F/10)(box)
20-year-old starter Wilmer Flores showcased his fine swing and miss stuff in the Complex Leagues, and so far it has carried over to full season A-ball. Flores still has control issues, but he should be one to watch the rest of the year. He gave up three runs on four hits in this one, throwing 4 2⁄3 innings, while striking out nine Tortugas.
Down three after Flores left the game in the fifth, the Flying Tigers fought back with a two run bottom half of the frame. Trei Cruz drew a one out walk, and catcher Eliezer Alfonzo launched a two run homer to right to get them within one run. Things stayed that way until the bottom of the ninth, when, with two outs and the game entirely in his hands, Alfonzo homered again to send it to extras. Unfortunately, that was all the magic they could muster, as the Tortugas scored under extra innings rules in the 10th, while the Flying Tigers got a walk and no more in the bottom half.
Alfonzo: 2-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 HR, SO
Flores: 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 9 SO
Coming Up Next: The Flying Tigers will send RHP Ricky Davila (3-4, 3.00 ERA) to the mound on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. EDT against RHP Bryce Bonnin (3-0, 0.95 ERA).
Complex League
Tigers second round pick Izaac Pacheco hit a three run shot for FCL Tigers West on Thursday, going 1-2 with a walk before play was suspended for rain. Colt Keith has also returned from the COVID list and had a triple and an RBI in the contest before play was halted.