Iowa Cubs 5, Toledo Mud Hens 1 (box)
The Cubs jumped on Nivaldo Rodriguez for a four-run first inning, and Cory Abbott dominated the Hens lineup on Thursday. A Ryan Kreidler throwing error allowed the Cubs first runner to reach base in the first inning, but Rodriguez allowed two home runs in the inning, so there’s no getting off the hook there. Riley Greene led off the eighth with a double, and eventually scored on a Kody Clemens ground out for Toledo’s only run. Beyond that the lineup managed just six hits. Spencer Torkelson added a double in the losing effort, while Juan Centeno was the only Mud Hen with two hits.
Greene: 1-4, R, 2B 2 SO
Centeno: 2-3, SO
Coming Up Next: First pitch is set for 8:08 p.m. EDT on Friday night.
Altoona Curve 8, Erie SeaWolves 3 (box)
Developing a key theme of the evening around the system, Altoona got to starter Garrett Hill for a four-run first inning and pulled away to win easily. Hill got into big trouble by allowing two singles and a walk to start the game. A pair of two-RBI hits later did him in, but Hill did settle down, pitching into the fourth and striking out six, but he did issue four free passes along the way. The SeaWolves got on the board in the fifth when Andrew Navigato led off with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly from Dane Myers. Eric De La Rosa and Dillon Dingler drew walks to keep the inning going, and Kerry Carpenter singled in De La Rosa. De La Rosa led off the seventh with a double and eventually scored on a wild pitch for the SeaWolves last run on the night. Jesus Rodriguez had a rough go in relief, surrendering four runs, three earned in four innings of relief to spare the bullpen.
De La Rosa: 1-2, 2 R, 2B, 2 BB
Navigato: 1-3, R, 3B, BB, SO
Hill (L, 2-1): 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 6 SO
Coming Up Next: SeaWolves’ RHP Reese Olson take on RHP Travis McGregor on Friday night at 6:00 p.m. EDT.
West Michigan Whitecaps 10, Great Lakes Loons 5 (box)
Austin Bergner threw a good game, racking up nine strikeouts in five innings of work, and the offense roared back late to win on Thursday. Austin Murr singled to score Eliezer Alfonzo in the third inning, opening the scoring and keeping his streak intact at 16 straight games. The ‘Caps scored two more in the fourth on RBI singles from Wenceel Perez and Alfonzo. The Loons scored two in the fifth against Bergner, and added three more against the bullpen, but the Whitecaps lineup kept up the pressure, adding a run in the sixth, and putting together back-to-back three-run innings in the seventh and eighth to pull away.
Murr: 3-5, 2 R, RBI, 2B, SO
Workman: 2-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B, BB
Alfonzo: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, 2B
Bergner (W, 4-0): 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 9 SO
Coming Up Next: First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. EDT on Friday night in Comstock Park.
Lakeland Flying Tigers at St. Lucie Mets (postponed)
Ah the joys of summer ball in Florida. They were rained out again on Thursday. No word yet on whether they’ll try to get the game in with a doubleheader this weekend or not.