Columbus Clippers 8, Toledo Mud Hens 7 (box)
After taking three games straight, with a postponement on Thursday to break up the streak, the Hens lost both games in Saturday’s doubleheader, and lost again on Sunday. Fortunately, they’re getting some major reinforcements in the form of Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson, and shortstop Ryan Kreidler. The timing is good, as the Hens are now just a half game back of the Omaha Storm Chasers in the International League’s Midwest Division.
The Hens built a nice early lead in this one, but crumbled in the middle innings. Kody Clemens’ hit a rocket to straightaway center for a two-run shot in the first inning. JaCoby Jones and Josh Lester had RBI singles in the third. At that point it was 4-1, but Mark Leiter Jr. crumbled in the fourth, allowing a four-run outburst that put the Clippers on top for good. Nolan Blackwood wasn’t charged for three runs allowed in the sixth because of a Yariel Gonzalez error, and he wasn’t hit hard, but still the inning proved the difference.
Aderlin Rodriguez hit a solo shot in the seventh inning. Gonzalez redeemed himself with a two-run shot in the eighth, but it wasn’t enough.
Rodriguez: 2-5, R, RBI, HR, 2 SO
Clemens: 2-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR, SO
Leiter Jr. (L, 5-2): 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 4 BB, 4 SO
Coming Up Next: The timing of the Greene and Torkelson call-ups isn’t a coincidence. The Mud Hens will be home all week, taking on Indianapolis. Get your tickets.
Altoona Curve 5, Erie SeaWolves 3 (F/10)(box)
The SeaWolves’ offense was muted on Sunday, and the bullpen surrendered a few late runs as the Curve came back to win in 10 innings. Still, the SeaWolves took the series 4-2, though they remain two and a half games behind the Bowie Baysox for second in their division.
Starter A.J. Ladwig gave up a solo shot in the first inning, but he settled in to throw five innings with no further runs allowed. Erie manufactured a run in the bottom of the fourth after Kerry Carpenter was hit to start the inning. John Valente reached on a bunt single to move Carpenter to second, and he advanced to third on a Brady Policelli ground out and scored on a Drew Ward ground out. Billy Lescher leaked a run in the eighth as Altoona took the lead, Eric De La Rosa drew a walk with the bases loaded in the bottom half of the frame to score Carpenter and re-tie the game.
No one scored in the ninth, so we had a little Manfred ball. Henry Martinez allowed two doubles to start the top of the inning, and the Curve went on to score three runs. Erie could only answer with one, as Andre Lipcius scored on a wild pitch but no other runners reached base.
Carpenter: 3-4, 2 R
Greene: 2-5, 3B
De La Rosa: 0-3, RBI, BB, SO, CS
Coming Up Next: The SeaWolves are getting Reese Olson for their rotation, while Jack O’Loughlin has been promoted to West Michigan, but it’s that time of the season. We’re going to see a lot of promotions. The SeaWolves will try to go on, travelling to Richmond to take on the Flying Squirrels this week.
Lake County Captains 4, West Michigan Whitecaps 3 (F/12)(box)
It took 12 innings, but the Captains were able to take the series 4-2 as they downed the Whitecaps on Sunday. West Michigan seized an early lead on RBI hits from Andrew Navigato and Daniel Cabrera in the top of the first inning, but didn’t score again until the sixth. Still, Brendan White threw a nice game, allowing two runs in five innings of work with nine strikeouts. Meanwhile the ‘Caps had scored in the sixth when the Captains tried to backpick Daniel Cabrera at first and threw it away. Parker Meadows was on third and scored easily, though Cabrera was thrown out trying to come all the way around to score. 3-2 Whitecaps.
Unfortunately, Zack Hess blew the save in the eighth, and the game stretched 12 innings before the Captains finally walked it off with an RBI single.
Cabrera: 2-5, RBI, 2B, SO
Navigato: 2-5, R, RBI
Coming Up Next: The Whitecaps welcome in the Fort Wayne TinCaps this week.
Palm Beach Cardinals 7, Lakeland Flying Tigers 3 (box)
Starter Joseph Salazar was rocked for six runs early in this one, and the Flygers’ lineup never really got on track, other than Colt Keith’s four-hit day. It was already 6-0 Cardinals when the Flying Tigers got three straight singles to open the fourth, the last of which came from Colt Keith and scored Eliezer Alfonzo. Trei Cruz lined into a double play, but Jake Holton scored on a wild pitch to trim the deficit to four. However, Xavier Javier allowed another run in the bottom of the fourth. The Flying Tigers got a last run in the eighth when Keith led off with a double and later scored on a Kingston Liniak ground out.
Keith: 4-4, R, RBI, 2B
Alfonzo: 1-2, R, 2 BB
Coming Up Next: The Flying Tigers travel to Jupiter to deal with the Hammerheads this week.