Hamm cruises for the ‘Caps, while Bennett Lee’s first pro homer powers Lakeland

Columbus Clippers 7, Toledo Mud Hens 6 (F/10)(box)

The Hens lineup provided plenty of offense in this one, but a bullpen game saw them a bit overstretched with Matt Manning called up to Detroit. Presumably Ty Madden, who would’ve been on pace to start this game as his first with the Hens, will make his Triple-A debut on Wednesday, keeping Manning’s spot in their rotation intact.

The Hens struck first when Buddy Kennedy led off with a walk. Justyn-Henry Malloy doubled him to third where a Jace Jung sac fly brought him home. Dillon Dingler doubled home Justice Bigbie in the fourth for the Hens next run, but it only tied the game at 2-2 after Sean Guenther and Brenan Hanifee allowed Columbus runs in the second and third inning.

Keston Hiura gave them a lead in the fifth with a massive two run shot to right center field with Malloy aboard after a walk. Dingler launched a towering solo shot to straightaway center field in the sixth for his third long ball of the year. Malloy followed suit with a 104.2 mph screamer to left center field in the seventh for his third homer as well.

However, the Hens bullpen leaked runs in the fifth and sixth, and the Clippers finally tied things up with a two-run shot off of Mason Engert in the eighth.

That sent this to overtime, and the Hens couldn’t get the runner on second across in the 10th. Devin Sweet, in his second inning of work, put the leadoff hitter on to set up the force, but then hit a batter. Sweet bounced back to strike out Daniel Schneemann, and Jose Tena’s ground ball to Hiura and first allowed Hiura to throw the runner out at home. But with two outs, a bit of a wide throw on a grounder to Jace Jung at third pulled Hiura off the bag, and the umpire appeared to miss a swipe tag that got the runner. Instead the run scored as a walkoff. Frustrating.

Malloy: 2-3, 2 R, RBI, HR, 2 BB, K

Dingler: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, HR, K

Sweet (L, 1-3): 1.2 IP, R, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 BB, K

Coming Up Next: A 6:35 p.m. ET start time is set for Wednesday’s matchup, which should feature Ty Madden in his Triple-A debut.

Bowie Baysox 10, Erie SeaWolves 8 (box)

These two clubs traded blows all night long, but the Baysox struck hardest and last, scoring five runs across the seventh and eighth inning to comeback and steal the first of six in Bowie.

The SeaWolves quickly jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first. Gage Workman started the game with his second home run on the year. Hao-Yu Lee singled and TJ Hopkins walked. Lee scored later on an Eliezer Alfonzo ground out, and Brady Allen smacked a two-run shot, his second home run of the season.

Unfortunately, Lael Lockhart had a rare poor outing, much accentuated by Alfonzo’s inability to throw out baserunners. The Baysox stole six bags in the first three innings, helping them cut the deficit to one run.

In the fourth, Workman tripled with two outs and scored on a Lee grounder that went for an error. Please Gage Workman, let this be real.

Lefty Andrew Magno, off to a really strong start this year, gave up two solo shots in the bottom of the fourth, one of them to a really good prospect in Samuel Basallo, as Bowie tied things up at 5-5.

Things stayed that way until the seventh, when Jake Holton led off with a walk and later scored on a Brady Allen single. Allen stole second, but Chris Meyers needed no help plating him, as the first baseman mashed his second home run of the year to make it 8-5 Erie.

RJ Petit has also had a nice start to the season, but he allowed four runs in the eighth, with two more stolen bases contributing, to blow the lead and the game.

Workman: 4-5, 2 R, RBI, 3B, HR, K

Allen: 3-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR, BB, SB

Meyers: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, HR, 2 K

Lockhart: 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, BB, 3 K

Coming Up Next: May begins with a mid-day game on Wednesday, with first pitch set for 11:05 a.m. ET. The Tigers top prospect Jackson Jobe has gone 24 batters straight without allowing a hit, and just one walk in the mix. He’ll look to keep the streak alive against Basallo and the Baysox.

West Michigan Whitecaps 9, Dayton Dragons 2 (box)

Jaden Hamm got right back on track with another stellar outing, and the offense flexed its muscles on Tuesday night. Josh Crouch crushed a pair of home runs as the Whitecaps racked up 12 hits including seven extra base hits.

Roberto Campos got the ‘Caps going, lining a one-out double to left in the top of the first second inning and eventually scoring on an Izaac Pacheco single.

Crouch mashed the first of two homers on the day in the third inning. The solo shot made it 2-0.

Meanwhile, Hamm just owned the Dragons in this one. He scattered three singles over four innings of scoreless work with no walks and five strikeouts. Mr. Hamm is going to find himself pitching for the Erie SeaWolves very soon.

The ‘Caps started to bust this one open in the sixth. Austin Murr led off with a single and scored on a Max Anderson double. Luke Gold doubled home Anderson, and after Campos struck out and the Dragons went back to their pen, Danny Serretti singled home Gold to make it 5-0.

Dayton got on the board with a Hector Rodriguez solo shot off of Max Alba in the bottom of the sixth, but Crouch got that run right back in the top of the seventh.

In the eighth, Gold led off with his second double of the game. With two outs, Pacheco tripled deep to center field to score him and make it 7-1. Crouch wasn’t done either. He led off the ninth with a double and scored on a Murr ground ball that went for an error. Another error allowed Anderson to reach as the Dragons fell apart somewhat. A Campos single plated Murr to make it 9-1. Zack Hess allowed a run in the ninth before finishing this one off.

Crouch: 3-4, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2B, 2 HR

Gold: 2-4, 2 R, RBI, 2 2B, BB, K

Pacheco: 2-4, 2 RBI, 3B, K

Hamm: 4.0 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 5 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 7:05 p.m. ET start on Wednesday night in Dayton.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 7, Clearwater Threshers 3 (box)

The Flying Tigers jumped out to an early lead and fought off a few rallies from Clearwater. They then pulled away for good with a four-run sixth inning.

Brett Callahan got the scoring started in the bottom of the second inning. He drew a leadoff walk and later scored on Bennett Lee’s double to left. This was Lee’s Low-A debut, and the Tigers sixth rounder out of Wake Forest last year made his presence felt.

In the third, Max Clark walked to leadoff the bottom half, stole second base, and took third on a wild pitch. Jose De La Cruz doubled him home and then took third on a Callahan single. After Jim Jarvis struck out, Callahan broke for second and it worked, as De La Cruz stole home on the throw.

At that point it was 3-2 Lakeland after starter Joe Miller allowed two runs in the top of the third. Clearwater tied it with a run off of Eiker Huizi in the sixth, but in the bottom half the Flying Tigers struck hard and seized control of the game.

Jarvis opened the bottom of the sixth with a single to center field and then stole second. A wild pitch moved him to third as Cristian Santana, who entered the game in the second inning after John Peck suffered a leg injury running the bases, drew a walk. Bennett Lee then launched a three-run shot to left field for his first pro home run. Congrats to him. It would prove to be the game winner.

David Smith followed Lee’s shot with a walk and then stole second and third, scoring on a Max Clark ground ball to second.

Yosber Sanchez, firing fastballs up to 99 mph, closed this out by striking out the side in the ninth.

Lee: 2-4, R, 4 RBI, 2B, HR

Callahan: 1-3, R, BB, SB

Smith: 0-2, R, 2 BB, 3 SB

Miller: 3.0 IP, 2 R, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 5 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:30 p.m. ET start time on Wednesday night at Publix Field.