Indianapolis Indians 7, Toledo Mud Hens 3 (box)
The Tigers moved reliever Zack Lee up from West Michigan with Brenan Hanifee headed to Baltimore to fill in for an injured Burch Smith, and it did not go well.
Troy Watson got the start, and despite minimal whiffs, navigated five scoreless frames. The Hens gave him a quick lead when Ben Malgeri was hit to start the bottom of the first. Max Clark pulled a hard ground ball down the first base line for an RBI triple, and it was 1-0 Hens.
Both teams were otherwise quiet until the sixth. Max Burt and Malgeri singled, and after Clark struck out, a balk advanced both runners. Max Anderson struck out as well, but Antwone Kelly walked Eduardo Valencia to load the bases. Isaac Mattson took over and Jace Jung pulled a two-run double to right field for a 3-0 lead.
Unfortunately, the first four batter reached against Lee, the last of which was a single that plated two runs with the help of a Jung error at second base on the relay. Lee walked the next hitter before getting a pop-out, and Tyler Mattison took over. Mattison didn’t do a whole lot better, allowing two more runs before getting out of the inning and it was 5-3 Indy. Mattison gave up two more in the eighth and that was that.
Malgeri: 2-3, 2 R, K
Clark: 1-4, RBI, 3B, K
Watson: 5.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, BB, 2 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 7:05 p.m. ET start on Saturday with the series tied up.
Erie SeaWolves at Altoona Curve (postponed)
They’ll play two on Saturday in Altoona with the Curve up 2-1 in the series.
South Bend Cubs 5, West Michigan Whitecaps 4 (box)
Andrew Sears made another rehab outing in this one, looking reasonably close to full strength, but as it’s gone for the past five weeks, the Whitecaps bullpen is terrible and did terribly.
Sears worked three innings of one-run ball, allowing two hits and a walk. He struck out three, and his velocity looked just about back to normal. He should be back with Erie the next time out. Carlos Marcano took over and allowed a run in the fifth.
The Whitecaps scored first when singles from Luke Shliger and Garrett Pennington set up a sacrifice fly from Clayton Campbell in the bottom of the first. It was 2-1 Cubs after the top of the fifth, but the Whitecaps fought back in the bottom half.
Junior Tilien got them started with a leadoff single, and Juan Hernandez doubled him to third. A Shliger automatic doubled plated both runs to take a 3-2 lead. Three walks pushed across another run to make it 4-2.
Ryan Harvey allowed three runs in the seventh, with the help of a Hernandez throwing error, to blow it.
Shliger: 2-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, K
Hernandez: 2-4, R, 2B, K, CS
Sears: 3.0 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, 3 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 7:05 p.m. ET start for the 14-29 Whitecaps.
Lakeland Flying Tigers 3, Bradenton Marauders 2 (box)
The Tigers are still being quite careful with Kelvis Salcedo as he builds up to full strength, but considering the plague of injuries it’s hard to argue with. The right-hander fired three scoreless frames, and the Flying Tigers rallied in the bottom of the ninth to walk off the Marauders on Friday.
Salcedo struck out three in those three innings, allowing just two hits and no walks. He averaged a bit over 95 mph with his fastballs and the cutter was sharp. Jatnk Diaz succeeded him, allowing a run in the fifth.
The Flying Tigers tied it up in the seventh. Zach MacDonald was plunked to lead off the inning and stole his 11th base on the year. Edian Espinal singled to right, but Javier Osorio grounded to third where the Marauders got MacDonald as the lead runner. Fortunately, Anibal Salas lined an RBI single to center field and just off the Marauders’ outfielder’s glove. Osorio was cut down trying to go first to third, but it was a 1-1 game.
Pedro Garcia allowed a solo shot in the eighth as the Marauders took a 2-1 lead.
However, in the top of the ninth, Yendy Gomez worked out of a jam to hold the game at one run. In the bottom of the ninth, MacDonald reached on an error with one out. Espinal drilled a double to center field to score MacDonald and tie the game. Osorio reached on an infield single that was deflected by reliever Draven Zeigler. Osorio took second base, but it was unnecessary as Jack Goodman lifted a fly ball to right field, and Espinal tagged and scored the game winner.
Espinal: 2-3, 2 R, RBI, 2B, BB
MacDonald: 0-2, R, BB, K, 2 SB
Salcedo: 3.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 K
Coming Up Next: The Flying Tigers will look to lock up a series victory at 6:00 p.m. ET on Saturday.
FCL Tigers 5, FCL Blue Jays 0 (box)
Luis Aguilera: 2-3, 2 R, RBI
Josueth Quinonez: 2-3, 2 RBI
Santiago Pinto: 1-3, R, BB
Aleiman Cruz: 2.2 IP, 0 R, H, 3 BB, 3 K
