Max Clark injured in Flying Tigers victory

Toledo Mud Hens 9, Louisville Bats 4 (box)

This was a close one for six innings, but the Hens blew it open with a four-run seventh inning and went on to win on Thursday.

Bryan Sammons got the start, and he struggled a bit once again. The lefty allowed three runs and was knocked out in the fourth inning.

It didn’t hurt the Hens much. After Sammons allowed two in the top of the second, Anthony Bemboom led off the bottom half with a double. Riley Unroe and Stephen Scott walked, and Andrew Navigato came through with a two run single to tie things up.

Sammons allowed one in the fourth, but in the bottom half Dillon Dingler led off the inning with a single and Unroe followed with a double to score him. Unroe stole third as Stephen Scott struck out, and Navigato came through again with a sacrifice fly. 4-3 Hens.

Easton Lucas allowed a solo shot in the top of the fifth, Bligh Madris hit a solo shot in the bottom half. The Hens just kept answering back, and held a 5-4 lead going into the bottom of the seventh.

Three straight singles from Dingler, Unroe, and Scott started the inning and scored one run. Parker Meadows singled in Unroe and Scott. Spencer Torkelson drew a walk, and Ryan Vilade’s ground ball to third went for an error and scored Meadows from second.

Andrew Magno did a great job in two innings of relief, while Trey Wingenter spun two scoreless frames to close it out.

Unroe: 3-4, 3 R, RBI, 2B, BB, SB

Meadows: 3-5, R, 2 RBI, SB

Navigato: 1-3, 3 RBI, K

Torkelson: 0-3, 2 BB, K, SB

Coming Up Next: It’s a doubleheader scheduled for Friday evening with Game 1 set for 5:30 p.m. ET.

Erie SeaWolves 6, Harrisburg Senators 2 (box)

Troy Melton put together another strong start, and one big inning was all the SeaWolves needed to win this one and take a 2-1 lead in the series.

Melton tossed five innings of one run ball, allowing three hits, including a solo shot in the fifth. He walked two and struck out six on the day.

The bottom of the second opened with a Trei Cruz walk. Ben Malgeri doubled him to third, where an Austin Murr sacrifice fly scored him, but also made the second out of the inning. Brady Allen walked next, and Carlos Mendoza doubled in Malgeri. A Gage Workman single to right scored Allen and Mendoza, with Workman taking second on the play. That forced a pitching change, and Jake Holton greeted new reliever Marquis Grissom Jr. with a two-run shot to left. 6-0 Erie.

Melton allowed the solo shot in the fifth, and Trevin Michael allowed a run in the sixth, but otherwise the bullpen locked it down.

Hao-Yu Lee was absent from the lineup for the third straight day as the team gives him time to recover from getting hit in the head twice in the last two weeks.

Holton: 1-4, R, 2 RBI, HR

Workman: 1-3, R, 2 RBI, BB, K, SB

Mendoza: 1-3, R, RBI, 2B, BB, 2 K

Melton (W, 4-5): 5.0 IP, ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:35 p.m. ET start on Friday night.

Lansing Lugnuts 3, West Michigan Whitecaps 0 (box)

A tight zone and some rare wildness from Jaden Hamm led to a bit shakier start that we’re used to, but the offense scored no runs. My research indicates that it’s impossible to win that way.

Hamm walked five and hit a batter in this one. He only allowed two hits, and he struck out six, but that was enough for the Lugnuts to push across a couple of runs. Hamm’s ERA skyrockets to a 2.34 ERA mark with the loss.

Jim Jarvis had three hits, including a double, out of the leadoff spot, but those were the only hits the Whitecaps would manage on a bleak night at the dish. Jarvis led off the first and fourth with hits only to be stranded. Yosber Sanchez put together a pair of good innings of relief to give his club a chance at a comeback, but it wasn’t happening.

Jarvis: 3-4, 2B, K

Hamm (L, 2-2): 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 5 BB, 6 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 7:05 p.m. ET start at Jackson Field. It looks as though Jackson Jobe will make one more rehab start with West Michigan on Friday night.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 3, Dunedin Blue Jays 2 (box)

Lefty Gabriel Reyes got Lakeland off to a strong start with a dominant short outing, and the bats took advantage of five walks to take down the Blue Jays.

Reyes two-hit the Jays for 3 ²⁄₃ innings, walking one while striking out seven. Quinn Gudaitis cleaned up the fourth inning for him with a strikeout to strand two, and then Garrett Apker went three one-hit innings with four strikeouts and no walks.

The Flying Tigers got on the board in the third. Daneurys De La Cruz led off with a walk. David Smith flew out, but Kevin McGonigle singled De La Cruz to third. He would score on a Max Clark grounder that forced McGonigle at second. Clark promptly stole second and drew an errant throw that allowed him to take third as well, but Samuel Gil grounded out to end the inning.

In the fifth, David Smith doubled with two outs and McGonigle followed with a double to left to score him. A wild pitch walked Max Clark and moved McGonigle to third. Gil came through with a single, and it was 3-0 Lakeland.

Unfortunately, in the seventh, Clark led off with a walk and then injured his right leg on a slide while stealing second base. He left the game and while it didn’t look too bad and he walked off with no obvious limp, presumably he’s out for a little while at least.

Eiker Huizi allowed a solo shot to Arjun Nimmala in the eighth, then hit a batter. A throwing error on Archer Brookman on a stolen base attempt sent the runner to third, where a sacrifice fly made it 3-2 Lakeland. Huizi was able to close the door, and close out the game for his fifth save.

McGonigle: 2-4, R, RBI, 2B

Smith: 2-4, 2B, K

Clark: 0-2, RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB

Reyes: 3.2 IP, 0 R, 3 H, BB, 7 K

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