Whitecaps beat TinCaps with Max Clark leading the way

Indianapolis Indians 7, Toledo Mud Hens 5 (box)

The Hens pitching staff is nearly as depleted as the Tigers right now, and another bullpen day did not go well. The offense rallied late but couldn’t close the deal as they lost the first of the series in Indy.

The Indians built an early lead off of Garrett Hill and Austin Schulfer, but in the fourth Andrew Navigato doubled in Akil Baddoo to cut the lead in half to 2-1 Indy. Unfortunately, Andrew Magno got knocked around for three runs in the fifth, and Brenan Hanifee gave up two more, one earned, in the sixth. That made it 7-2, as Navigato drew a walk and later scored on a Riley Unroe single in the top of the sixth.

Akil Baddoo launched a solo shot in the eighth to make it 7-3. In the top of the ninth, Unroe drew a walk to start the inning and Stephen Scott and a newly promoted from High-A Luis Santana single scored Unroe. Spencer Torkelson struck out swinging and Jace Jung lined out, but Justice Bigbie and Baddoo both walked to score Scott. The big bats just didn’t get it done, and Navigato struck out to end it.

Baddoo: 1-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR, 2 BB, K

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

Hill (L, 0-1): 2.0 IP, ER, H, 4 BB, K

Portland Sea Dogs 6, Erie SeaWolves 5 (F/10)(box)

In a battle of Dogs vs. Wolves, you bet on the Wolves, but it didn’t work out on Tuesday. Garrett Burhenn gave them a decent start, but the bullpen blew a lead and they went down to defeat in extra innings.

Burhenn gave up a run in the first and a run in the second, settling in to go five innings without allowing anything else. He struck out five against three walks. A Brady Allen two-run shot in the top of the fourth had the game tied, and in the fifth, Carlos Mendoza led off with a single and took second and third after drawing an errant pickoff throw. A Ben Malgeri sacrifice fly made it 3-2 Erie after five innings.

However, Joel Peguero allowed two runs in the seventh as the pendulum swung back to the Sea Dogs. In the eighth, Trei Cruz led off with a double and later scored on an Austin Murr double to tie things up. Neither team managed anything in the ninth and so it was on to extra innings.

With Chris Meyers starting on second, Cruz grounded out to move him to third, and an Allen single gave the SeaWolves a 5-4 lead. Calvin Coker then allowed two runs in the bottom half to lose it.

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

Cruz: 3-5, 2 R, 2 2B, K, SB

Burhenn: 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 5 K

West Michigan Whitecaps 6, Fort Wayne TinCaps 4 (box)

The Whitecaps had a pretty good day at the plate on Tuesday, and they got a solid outing from right-hander Carlos Marcano as well.

Things started well for West Michigan, as Max Clark led off the game with a double and scored on a Kevin McGonigle double. That’s what we like to see.

Marcano allowed a run in the bottom half, and another in the third as the TinCaps took their only lead of the day.

In the fourth Roberto Campos smoked a one-out double to center field and Luke Gold followed with a triple to right field to score him and tie the game. Patrick Lee was hit by a pitch and promptly stole second base. Danny Serretti lifted a sacrifice fly out to right, and it was 3-2 Whitecaps.

Max Clark reached on an error to open the fifth. Max Anderson singled him to third, and McGonigle came through again, lifting a sacrifice fly to score Clark. Eddys Leonard then launched a two-run shot to make it 6-2 Whitecaps.

Marco Jimenez and Erick Pinales were strong in relief of Marcano, while Zack Hess allowed a pair of solo shots late to add a little drama to the proceedings.

Clark: 2-5, 2 R, 2B, 2 K

McGonigle: 1-3, 2 RBI, 2B, BB

Gold: 2-4, R, RBI, 3B

Marcano (W, 3-9): 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 3 K

Lakeland Flying Tigers at Tampa Tarpons (postponed)

They’ll play two on Wednesday starting at 4:30 p.m. ET after getting rained out in Lakeland on Tuesday.