Stephen Scott and the SeaWolves stomp the Baysox

Toledo Mud Hens 7, Columbus Clippers 3 (box)

After losing the first two games of the series, the Mud Hens came back strong in this one. They pounded out 12 hits and drew six walks, building a big lead early and watching a good night from the bullpen lock down the victory.

Again it was Akil Baddoo leading the way. The center fielder led off the game with a single and scored on a sacrifice fly to get Toledo a 1-0 lead from the jump.

They started to break the game open in the second inning as Ryan Vilade doubled with one out and Justice Bigbie walked. Catcher Anthony Bemboom struck out, but infielder Riley Unroe reached on an error and Vilade scored. Baddoo singled sharply to center to score Bigbie, and Justyn-Henry Malloy doubled to the opposite field to plate Unroe and Baddoo. 5-0 Hens.

Wait, who is Riley Unroe? The 28-year-old infielder has been in pro ball for a decade, playing for various minor league teams along with winter ball in Australia and Mexico, among others. He was with the Mariners Triple-A affiliate last summer, played in the Mexican Pacific League over the winter, and the Tigers signed him to a minor league deal on Tuesday.

A switch-hitter known for a good approach with modest power and some ability on the basepaths, Unroe played shortstop in this one, but has played second base as well in recent years. We’ll see how he fits into the infield scheme in the coming weeks with Ryan Kreidler and Eddys Leonard still not near a return to action. The signing is somewhat out of nowhere and not widely reported, and I can’t help be curious about Unroe considering his long journey playing around the world.

Here’s a look from his time in the Mariners org last fall.

In the bottom of the second, Columbus first baseman Jhonkensy Noel led off with the first home run of the season allowed by Keider Montero. The young right-hander surrendered an unearned run in the inning as well, courtesy of his own throwing error on a comebacker. He settled back in to throw 4 ¹⁄₃ innings with five strikeouts to one walk, running his ERA to 1.77 on the young season.

Montero continues to show really good stuff, collecting plenty of whiffs and limiting hard contact. He’s still a little raw but he’s also younger than Ty Madden or Brent Hurter and holding his own quite well with a really good four pitch mix including a more refined pair of high spin breaking balls and a split change developed last year that really took his game to a new level. I continue to think he’s been insanely underrated by national prospect writers, and if his command improves a little more he is going to a very solid mid-rotation starting pitcher for the Tigers.

Bligh Madris added a solo shot in the third. In the fourth, Bemboom led off with a walk and Unroe doubled to right field. Jace Jung’s line drive single to right scored Bemboom and made it 7-2 Hens.

Wilmer Flores got five outs in relief in one of his best outings of the season. Angel Reyes was much shakier, allowing an unearned run in the seventh. Trey Wingenter finished this one off for the bullpen.

Baddoo: 2-5, 2 R, RBI, BB, K

Unroe: 2-4, R, 2 2B, BB, K

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

Montero: 4.1 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 H, BB, 5 K

Coming Up Next: First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. ET in Columbus on Friday night.

Erie SeaWolves 11, Bowie Baysox 3 (box)

The SeaWolves had a big night at the plate as well to make it 2-1 Bowie in the series so far. Wilkel Hernandez had another mediocre outing, but there was plenty of offense to spare.

Chris Meyers and Trei Cruz opened the scoring in the top of the second with solo home runs. In the fourth, Eliezer Alfonzo led off with a double and with one walk, Chris Meyers drew a walk. Stephen Scott came through with a two-run triple to make it 4-2.

Hernandez allowed two runs in the bottom of the fourth and another run in the fifth before departing. In the sixth, Scott came up with another two-run double, this time scoring Meyers and Brady Allen. That re-opened the lead to 6-3, and in the seventh the SeaWolves blew this one open.

TJ Hopkins led off with a double, and Allen doubled with one out to plate him. Meyers was hit by a pitch and Cruz singled in Allen before Scott stepped to the dish again and launched a three-run home run.

Scott had seven RBI in this one and came up a single short of hitting for the cycle. The left-handed hitting catcher is one of the few bright spots in a veteran SeaWolves lineup.

Scott: 3-5, R, 7 RBI, 2B, 3B, HR, 2 K

Cruz: 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR, BB, 2 K

Meyers: 2-3, 4 R, RBI, HR, BB

Hernandez: 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 4 K

Coming Up Next: First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. ET on Friday night.

Dayton Dragons 4, West Michigan Whitecaps 0 (box)

The Whitecaps got a good start from Colin Fields in this one, but the bats went cold and they were unable to make it three in a row over the Dragons.

An Izaac Pacheco error led to the Dragons first run in the second inning. Fields would allow an earned run in the third, but scattered just three hits and two walks against five strikeouts over five innings of work. Conner Holden allowed two more runs in the seventh with some help from Chris Mauloni.

The ‘Caps didn’t really develop a scoring opportunity until the fifth, when Roberto Campos doubled with one out. That went nowhere. In the seventh, Luke Gold walked with one out and Campos singled him to second, but again they were stranded. They never got another runner into scoring position, collecting just four hits on the night.

Campos: 2-3, 2B, K

Murr: 1-3, BB, K

Fields (L, 0-2): 5.0 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 7:05 p.m. ET start on Friday night with the ‘Caps leading 2-1 in the series.

Clearwater Threshers 5, Lakeland Flying Tigers 4 (box)

The Flying Tigers took a 3-1 lead into the ninth inning of this one, but a Threshers rally against Carlos De Los Santos and Donye Evans gave them a come from behind victory on Thursday.

Hayden Minton got the start and was good in this one. He spun five innings of one run ball with four strikeouts. Minton allowed his only run in the top of the second inning.

In the bottom half of the second inning, catcher Bennett Lee launched a two-run shot to left with Samuel Gil aboard to take the lead.

In the fourth, Josue Briceño led off with a single and one-out singles from Brett Callahan and Gil loaded the bases. It was Lee again, singling to center to score Briceño and make it 3-1 Lakeland. Unfortunately, Cristian Santana grounded into a double play at that point to end the inning. They could’ve used another run or three.

Lakeland mustered a threat in the eighth when Briceño and Clayton Campbell singled with one out. After Brett Callahan struck out swinging, Briceño was cut down trying to steal home, ending the inning.

The bullpen gave up four in the ninth. Gil led off the bottom of the ninth with a triple. Lee struck out, Santana walked on a wild pitch that scored Gil, but they couldn’t get him around to score.

Lee: 2-4, R, 3 RBI, HR, K

Gil: 3-4, 2 R, 3B

Briceño: 2-4, R, K, CS

Minton: 5.0 IP, ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K

Coming Up Next: First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday evening.