Toledo Mud Hens 9, Columbus Clippers 5 (box)
A solid outing from Logan Shore and a five run outburst in the fourth inning powered the Hens to their fifth win on Thursday. A two-run single from Aderlin Rodriguez plated Victor Reyes and Derek Hill in the third inning to start the scoring. With two runs already scored in the fourth, and the bases loaded, it was Rodriguez again coming through with a bases clearing double to make it 7-0. Isaac Paredes tripled in Reyes in the sixth, and in the eighth Daz Cameron tripled and scored on a single from Reyes. Nolan Blackwood gave up three runs in the top of the ninth to make it look a bit closer than it was.
Victor Reyes had a four hit game with a double, while Paredes, Cameron, Rodriguez, and Yariel Rodriguez all had two hits. Derek Hill singled, stole a base, and scored a run, while LHP Derek Holland threw a clean inning in his first rehab appearance.
Coming Up Next: The two clubs meet up at 7:05 p.m. ET on Friday night.
Erie SeaWolves 11, Binghamton Rumble Ponies 1 (box)
The Ponies were trampled by the SeaWolves lineup in this one, led by Riley Greene’s pair of home runs. Erie erupted right from the start. Josh Lester doubled in Jacobson Robson in the first inning, and then rode home on Kerry Carpenter’s third long ball of the year. Lester then doubled home Robson in the third to make it 4-0. In the fourth, John Valente tripled into the right field corner, and Riley Greene worked a walk, recognizing a pretty good 2-2 curveball and a 3-2 changeup down and away. Binghamton turned to Cole Gordon, and in a 2-1 count to Ryan Kreidler, Greene stole second base and as the catcher threw to second, Valente broke from third and stole home to make it 5-0.
The SeaWolves poured in on from there. Greene hit solo shots in the sixth and eighth innings, while his teammates racked up a three-run frame in the seventh. Josh Lester also triple and scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth.
Ricardo Pinto went six strong innings, holding the Ponies scoreless on three hits, two walks, and six strikeouts. Riley Greene obviously had a monster game with two homers, two walks, and a stolen base. Josh Lester and Jacob Robson also had huge games with four hits apiece.
To further stoke our growing confidence that Riley Greene is going to be a force in due time, let’s see those home runs.
Coming Up Next: Erie sends Mark Leiter Jr. (1-1, 2.16 ERA) to the mound on Friday night against RHP Luc Rennie (0-0, 9.00 ERA).
West Michigan Whitecaps 4, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 1 (box)
Beau Brieske struck out nine and allowed just a hit and an unearned run on Thursday night, earning the victory with six innings of excellent work. He allowed an RBI triple after 2B Andre Lipcius made an error, but was otherwise unhittable. The offense powered up in the second to give the ‘Caps a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Bryant Packard and Daniel Cabrera launched solo shots, and the lead was 2-1. They came back in the third with a leadoff single from Dillon Dingler, who scored later in the inning on a Packard ground out. They pushed across one more in the ninth on a hit by pitch and three walks, and with good bullpen that was plenty enough to win.
Spencer Torkelson walked twice in the game, while Rey Rivera doubled and walked.
Let’s enjoy that Bryant Packard homer too.
Heck let’s see Cabrera’s as well. Thanks to Tigers Minor League Report for pulling the clips and generally being awesome.
Coming Up Next; Victor Castaneda (1-1, 5.40 ERA) goes for the Timber Rattlers on Friday night at 7:35 p.m. ET.
Bradenton Marauders 12, Lakeland Flying Tigers 6 (box)
The offense actually had a solid night but the pitching staff was blown up by the Marauders in this one. Joseph Salazar, Austin Bergner, Gabriel Sequiera, and Matt Walker all leaked runs to put this one out of reach. Gage Workman walked in the fourth, stole second and advanced to third on the throw, and then scored on a Wenceel Perez sacrifice fly to take a shutout off the table. The Flying Tigers later showed some fight with a five-run sixth, but it was too little too late.
Gage Workman led off with a single and scored on a Perez double, and Nick Quintana walked, with both then riding home on a Cooper Johnson home run. Jimmy Kerr roped a line drive home run to left to complete Lakeland’s scoring on the night. Workman and Perez led the way with two hit games.
Coming Up Next: Lakeland lefty Adam Wolf (1-1, 3.00 ERA) gets the start on Friday night at 6:05 p.m. ET.