Erie SeaWolves 3, Akron RubberDucks 0 (box)
The SeaWolves opened up the Eastern League playoffs the right way. Austin Bergner was outstanding and once again Gage Workman put the SeaWolves on his back offensively.
Bergner has been good for the SeaWolves this season, and he came through in a big, big way here. He no-hit the RubberDucks for six innings, walking two and striking out nine. Arguably this game should’ve been a combined no-hitter. An eighth inning grounder that Gage Workman couldn’t handle was changed to a single after the game, but throughout the rest of the game, this looked a like a no-no unfolding.
Workman opened the scoring with a solo shot in the first inning, continuing his torrid second half.
Brandon Seelinger handled the seventh and eighth innings with no issues. The SeaWolves got some insurance in the top of the eighth when Brady Allen was hit by a pitch with two outs, and Carlos Mendoza followed with a walk. Akron went back to their pen, but Austin Murr, fresh off his pitching win and game-winning triple combo on Sunday, greeted Bradley Hanner with a rocket to right field for a two-run double that gave the SeaWolves a bit of breathing room.
Tyler Owens, acquired back at the deadline for Carson Kelly, spun a perfect ninth to earn the save.
Workman: 2-4, R, RBI, HR, K
Murr: 1-4, 2 RBI, 2B
Mendoza: 1-3, R, BB
Coming Up Next: The SeaWolves are in great shape. Gabe Alvarez will bring his squad home for the next two games needing just one more victory to reach the championships and earn an opportunity to defend their 2023 Eastern League title.
Palm Beach Cardinals 8, Lakeland Flying Tigers 4 (box)
After helping lead the Flying Tigers to this point, Rayner Castillo just didn’t have it in this one. His command was off and he gave up five runs in 4 2⁄3 innings of work. The Cardinals took over in the fifth inning and pulled away to even the series at a game apiece. The Florida State League champions will be decided in the rubber match on Wednesday night.
The Flying Tigers struck right out of the gate in this one. Nomar Fana walked with one out in the top of the first and stole second base. Josue Briceño pulled a triple off the right field wall just shy of being a home run, and then scored on a Garrett Pennington single to make it 2-0 Lakeland.
Castillo allowed two in the bottom of the second, but in the fourth, the Flying Tigers recaptured the lead briefly. Franyerber Montilla striped a triple into the right field corner and then scored on a wild pitch to take a 3-2 lead.
Unfortunately, Castillo lost it in the fifth. He gave up three runs before getting lifted for Pedro Garcia, who was also charged for a run in the inning. Palm Beach led 6-3, and they didn’t look back. Jose De La Cruz launched a solo shot to center field in the eighth, but the bullpen leaked two runs late and never were able to close the gap.
Montilla: 2-3, R, 3B
Pennington: 2-3, RBI, BB
Castillo (L, 1-1): 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 4 K
Coming Up Next: First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday night. It’ll be all hands on deck, but the Flying Tigers should have Gabriel Reyes available to start.
Toledo Mud Hens 4, Columbus Clippers 1 (box)
The Hens kicked off their final series of the season in style as Matt Manning made a rehab appearance and the offense got the job done at the plate.
Andrew Navigato opened the scoring with an RBI double to score Akil Baddoo in the bottom of the first. Matt Manning allowed a run in the second, going three innings with four strikeouts in his outing.
PJ Poulin, Chase Lee, who was particularly excellent, Ricky Vanasco, and Miguel Diaz took it from there.
In the sixth, Ryan Kreidler drew a leadoff walk and stole second, advancing to third on a Baddoo ground out. Andrew Navigato pulled a grounder to shortstop that went for an error as Kreidler scored. Eddys Leonard stepped to the dish and smoked a triple into the right field corner and it was 3-1 Hens.
In the seventh, Riley Unroe walked and scored on a Ryan Vilade double to put this one away.
Navigato: 1-4, R, RBI, 2B, K
Leonard: 1-4, RBI, 3B
Manning: 3.0 IP, ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K