Toledo Mud Hens vs. Indianapolis Indians (postponed)
Rains washed out Tuesday’s start of this series in Toledo and sent Troy Melton back down to Lakeland to get a rehab start in. They’ll play two tomorrow starting at 11:05 a.m. ET.
Altoona Curve 4, Erie SeaWolves 2 (box)
Seth Stephenson returned from the injury list in this one, but it didn’t spark the offense as the SeaWolves dropped the first of six in Altoona on Tuesday.
Sean Hunley got the start and couldn’t find the strikezone, walking five and surrendering a four-run second inning that got him bounced. Wandisson Charles, Eric Silva,
Tanner Kohlhepp, and Trevin Michael were great in relief, blanking the Curve the rest of the way.
The offense got Stephenson back, but lost John Peck in the first inning when he was hit in the helmet by a breaking ball. He appeared totally fine, but manager Tony Cappucilli lifted him for precautionary reasons.
In the top of the third, Peyton Graham was also hit by a pitch, and swiped second for his 23rd steal of the young sseason. Stephenson singled him to third with one out, and then stole his 22nd bag to put two in scoring position. Brett Callahan grounded out to score Graham, but that was all they’d get.
In the fifth, Izaac Pacheco smoked a triple to center field and scored on a Graham ground out, but that was all the SeaWolves could muster on the night.
In the eighth we got a look at Liranzo’s improved agility as he turned a double play by backpicking a runner at first after a strikeout to help Michael out of the inning.
Pacheco: 1-3, R, 3B
Graham: 0-2, R, RBI, 2 SB
Hunley (L, 0-4): 1.2 IP, 4 ER, 3 H, 5 BB, K
Coming Up Next: Game 2 in the series is set for 11:00 a.m. ET.
West Michigan Whitecaps 6, South Bend Cubs (box)
After three weeks of watching early leads slip away, Whitecaps’ manager Rene Rivera had to sweat this one through the late innings, but Donye Evans and Ryan Harvey were able to lock down the final two frames to end a 1-19 stretch over the last 20 games.
Hayden Minton gave the ‘Caps his best start of the year, firing five scoreless frames with eight strikeouts. He was rewarded with an early lead in the second when Cristian Santana doubled in Jackson Strong, though Samuel Gil was cut down trying to score, ultimately snuffing a rally. Gil bounced back by singling in Clayton Campbell in the third.
Thomas Bruss succeeded Minton and allowed a run in the top of the sixth, but the ‘Caps answered right back in the bottom half as Junior Tilien walked and was doubled to third by Andrew Sojka. Ricardo Hurtado singled in Tilien. Garrett Pennington then bashed a two-run shot to make it 6-1.
Unfortunately, Bruss allowed a pair of singles and a three-run shot in the top of the seventh. Fortunately, Evans and Harvey were able to lock it down from there.
Sojka: 2-4, R, BB, 2B, 2 K
Pennington: 1-4, R, 2 RBI, HR, BB
Rainer: 1-2, 2 BB, K, CS
Minton (W, 2-2): 5.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, BB, 8 K
Coming Up Next: It’s an 11:00 a.m. ET start on Wednesday and it’s a peanut free game in Comstock Park.
Lakeland Flying Tigers 3, Bradenton Marauders 2 (box)
Troy Melton had his way with the Maruaders for the most part, and the Flying Tigers blew a one-run lead in the top of the ninth only for Jesus Pinto to walk them off.
Melton opened his outing allowing a single and a stolen base, and then balked the runner to third where he scored on a grounder. For the rest of his five innings it was lights out from Melton as he allowed one more hit, no walks, and struck out six. His fastball topped out at 98.1 mph and he averaged 96.5 mph with his fourseamer on the night. He threw 46 of 63 pitches for strikes, and looks good to go when eligible to return to the Tigers on Sunday.
Pirates prospect Jack Anker had the Flying Tigers in check for six strong innings, but they quickly jumped the Marauders bullpen. Anibal Salas started them off with a walk and Zach MacDonald reached on an error. Pinto struck out, but Jude Warwick doubled in Salas, and Beau Ankeney lifted a sacrifice fly that made it a 2-1 Flying Tigers lead.
Left-hander Grayson Grinsell took over from Melton on his usual start day. He was cruising until he allowed back-to-back walks trying to close the game out in the ninth. A sharp single loaded the bases, and Yendy Gomez took over, allowing one inherited runner to score.
So it was all tied up, but with one out, MacDonald was hit by a pitch and the power hitting outfielder stole second base. 19-year-old outfielder Jesus Pinto continues to have a hot hand, and he singled up the middle to walk this one off.
Trei Cruz, who the Tigers have missed, if only for his defensive abilities and base stealing ability, with all the injuries to the Opening Day roster, made his first rehab appearance going 1-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts.
Warwck: 1-3, RBI, 2B
Pinto: 1-4, RBI, K
Cruz: 1-3, 2B, 2 K
Melton: 5.0 IP, ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 6 K
Grinsell: 3.1 IP, ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 4 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:30 p.m. ET start in Lakeland on Wednesday.
FCL Yankees 2, FCL Tigers 1 (box)
Jhonan Coba is another young pitcher you’re going to hear a lot about this season. The 19-year-old right-hander is a good bet to shoot up prospect lists this year, and should be in Lakeland, along with fellow Complex League Tigers Owen Hall, once Malachi Witherspoon and one of the other pitchers thriving with the Flying Tigers head up to West Michigan. Coba has a lively mid-90’s heater with advanced control but a bit inconsistent movement from a high three-quarters slot, a solid slider, and a very good changeup that sells well via Coba’s quick arm stroke. He struck out eight in this one, allowing a run on a hit and two walks in 3 1/3 innings of work on Tuesday.
Angel de los Santos: 2-5, 3 SB
Hadeen: 0-2, BB
Coba (L, 0-2): 3.1 IP, ER, H, 2 BB, 8 K
