Indianapolis Indians 4, Toledo Mud Hens 3 (box)
Matt Manning was a little homer prone and Indianapolis stayed in the game as a result, and ultimately pulled it out late. The Tigers top pitching prospect gave up solo shots on grooved fastballs to both Travis Swaggerty and Will Craig in the first inning. He struck out the other three hitters he faced in the frame. From there, Manning started to get the feel for his curveball and he racked up 11 straight outs until Andrew Susac ambushed a first pitch fastball for the third solo home run allowed by Manning on the day. He struck out seven, didn’t walk a hitter, and the three hits he gave up all left the park.
The Hens got on the board in the third when SS Cole Peterson led off with a triple and scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Derek Hill on which Hill reached first base. With two outs, Isaac Paredes singled, Renato Nuñez was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and then Indianapolis starter Chase De Jong walked Christin Stewart to push across another run before escaping the threat. In the seventh, down a run, Zack Short was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, Victor Reyes singled, and a fly ball from Paredes allowed Short to advance to third where Nuñez singled him home. The game was briefly tied 3-3 but it wouldn’t last.
Wladimir Pinto allowed Craig’s second solo homer of the day in the bottom of the seventh, and the Hens went on to lose by that 4-3 final score.
Coming Up Next: Drew Hutchison (0-0, 4.50 ERA) throws for the Hens on Wednesday in a 1:35 pm ET matinee. RHP Beau Sulser (0-0, 6.75 ERA) will start for Indianapolis.
Akron Rubberducks 5, Erie SeaWolves 0 (box)
Starter Pedro Payano had one bad inning, and the SeaWolves’ offense was quiet on Tuesday night. Payano, a 26-year-old right hander who came up in the Texas Rangers’ system, struck out 11 Ducks on the night, but allowed a five run third inning that was the difference. Payano simply lost control, hitting a batter before giving up a single and a walk to load the bases. A single and a home run later and the damage was done. To his credit, Payano did settle right back in and had no trouble in the fourth or fifth.
Offensively there just wasn’t much going on. Riley Greene went 0-for-4, and the lineup managed just six hits. Jacob Robson singled, tripled, and walked to lead the way.
Coming Up Next: Lefty Juan Hillman will make his season debut for Akron at 6:05 pm ET on Wednesday night at UPMC Park. The SeaWolves have yet to announce.
Great Lakes Loons 9, West Michigan Whitecaps 1 (box)
A quiet day from the offense and another rough start for Keider Montero spoiled Tuesday’s home opener at LMCU Park. Montero was a little wild again, and ultimately got himself into deep trouble in the third inning. Zac Shepherd came on to put out the fire, but he too struggled as the Loons pushed across five runs in the frame.
Meanwhile the Whitecaps offense drew five walks, but managed just two hits on the night. Parker Meadows had a single, and Rey Rivera a double, but otherwise the lineup was held in check. Spencer Torkelson, Dillon Dingler, and Andre Lipcius each drew a walk in the contest.
Coming Up Next: The two clubs will get underway on Wednesday at 6:35 pm ET.
Tampa Tarpons 5, Lakeland Flying Tigers 1 (box)
The Flying Tigers scored first in this one, but overall it was a rough night for the offense. In the third, Eric de la Rosa singled, and moved to second on a walk to Kingston Liniak. A wild pitch and an errant throw later, and de la Rosa had plated his club’s only run.
Starter Gio Arriera was reportedly up to 97 mph in this one and struck out four in 4 1⁄3 innings of work. A good outing was undone in the fifth, however, as Arriera allowed a pair of runs and was knocked from the game. Reliever Matt Walker allowed an inherited runner to score before escaping the fifth, and then surrendered two runs of his own in the next inning to give the Tarpons a margin they wouldn’t relinquish.
Gage Workman, Wenceel Perez, and de la Rosa each singled in the game to account for all the Flygers hits. De la Rosa also walked once, while Workman picked up his second stolen base of the year.
Coming Up Next: Lakeland sends right hander Carlos Guzman (0-1, 9.82 ERA) to the mound for his second start of the year at 6:35 pm ET on Wednesday. The Tarpons counter with Sean Boyle (1-0, 0.00 ERA).