Friday's Highlights ...
My apologies to the short-season clubs, which I will start including next week. As for the others ...
TRIPLE A: Toledo 8, Scranton/Wilkes Barre 4
Highlights: Freddy Guzman, Brent Clevlen and Fernando Seguignoi all homered for the Mud Hens, who won their fourth straight game. Matt Joyce was 3-for-4 with two doubles for Toledo, which banged out 13 hits.
Winning pitcher: Lauren Gagnier (4-3)
Losing pitcher: Daniel McCutchen (1-5)
Not-so-fun fact: In his return from Detroit, Brent Clevlen had the homer but also four strikeouts.
DOUBLE A: Harrisburg 9, Erie 6
Highlights: Danny Worth, Casper Wells and Caonabo Cosme homered for Erie, which couldn't hold onto a four-run lead through the sixth inning. The bullpen duo of Danny Zell and Marcelo Perez were charged with five earned runs on four hits in just one combined inning of work.
Winning pitcher: Beltran Perez (3-2)
Losing pitcher: Marcelo Perez (1-1)
Save: Adam Carr (1)
Fun fact: Danny Worth had a single to go with his homer and finished with three RBIs.
CLASS A: Tampa 3, Lakeland 2
Highlights: Shawn Roof had a single and an RBI for the listless Flying Tigers, who managed just four hits in spoiling a solid start by Matt O'Brien. He allowed just two earned runs on six hits in 7.1 innings. He struck out two and walked one.
Winning pitcher: Jason Stephens (1-0)
Losing pitcher: Matt O'Brien (5-3)
Save: Josh Schmidt (6)
Fun fact: Gary Sheffield, still working on rehabbing that oblique strain, wasn't in the lineup.
CLASS A: West Michigan 8, South Bend 5
Highlights: Jordan Newton was 3-for-4 with a double, four RBIs and a run for the Whitecaps, who took control with back-to-back three-run innings in the fourth and fifth. Each was highlighted by a big hit from Newton: a bases-loaded double in the fourth and a two-run triple in the fifth.
Winning pitcher: Andrew Hess (1-0)
Losing pitcher: Jordan Norberto (3-6)
Save: Rudy Darrow (4)
Fun fact: Recently signed draft picks Alex Avila and Andy Dirks each got their first professional hits.
Thursday's Highlights ...
TRIPLE A: Toledo 4, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 3
Highlights: Max Leon had a single and two RBIs for the Mud Hens, who got all four of their runs in a fifth-inning outburst. It made a winner out of Virgil Vasquez, who allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings. He struck out five and didn't walk anyone. Aquilino Lopez, starting his transition from reliever to starter, pitched two scoreless innings for Toledo. He struck out two.
Winning pitcher: Virgil Vazquez (5-6)
Losing pitcher: Alan Home (2-1)
Save: Blaine Neal (21)
Fun fact: Toledo managed just five hits, with the only extra-base hit being Mike Hessman's double.
DOUBLE A: Binghamton 3, Erie 2
Highlights: Dusty Ryan hit his team-leading 12th homer and Kody Kirkland added a solo shot, but the SeaWolves came up just short. A botched potential double-play ball allowed the winning run to score in the bottom of the ninth inning, snapping Erie's string of series victories at three.
Winning pitcher: Tim Lavigne (1-0)
Losing pitcher: Andrew Kown (4-8)
Fun fact: Andrew Kown tossed a complete game, allowing three runs on eight hits in 8.1 innings.
CLASS A:: Lakeland 6, Tampa 3
Highlights: Shawn Roof was 4-for-5 with a double, Brennan Boesch was 2-for-2 with a triple and three RBIs and Cale Iorg was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI for the Flying Tigers, who put up three spots in both the fifth and seventh innings. Rick Porcello was solid in his start, allowing two runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings. He walked one and struck out three.
Winning pitcher: Nicholas Martin (2-1)
Losing pitcher: Grant Duff (3-12)
Save: Jay Sborz (3)
Fun fact: Gary Sheffield (oblique) was 0-for-2 but had two walks and scored two more runs.
CLASS A:: South Bend 6, West Michigan 1
Highlights: Ronnie Bourquin went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI for the Whitecaps, who opened the second half of the Midwest League season with a loss. CMU alumnus and Homer, Mich., native Josh Collmenter earned his first home win for South Bend, allowing one run on five hits and a walk in five innings of work.
Winning pitcher: Josh Collmenter (6-4)
Losing pitcher: Paul Nardozzi (3-2)
Save: Evan Scribner (8)
Fun fact: Two players drafted by the Tigers last month debuted: DH Andy Dirks was 0-for-3 with a walk and Brett Jacobson pitched one perfect inning of relief.
Wednesday's Highlights ...
DOUBLE A: Erie 5, Binghamton 4
Highlights: Will Rhymes had two hits, including a two-out, two-run triple in the top of the ninth inning for the SeaWolves, who escaped with the victory. Dusty Ryan also had two hits, including his team-leading 11th homer. Deik Scram was 2-for-4 with an RBI for Erie.
Winning pitcher: Brendan Wise (1-0)
Losing pitcher: Eddie Kunz (1-4)
Save: Casey Fien (5)
Fun fact: It was Erie's first victory of the season when trailing after the sixth inning.
CLASS A: Sarasota 8, Lakeland 2
Highlights: Shawn Roof had a single and two RBIs for the Flying Tigers, who led after six innings only to watch Sarasota score two in the seventh and a back-breaking five in the eighth. Gary Sheffield, continuing his minor league rehab while working through an oblique strain, was 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
Winning pitcher: Camilo Vazquez (4-2)
Losing pitcher: Ramon Garcia (2-2)
Save: Philippe-Alexandre Valiquette (1)
Fun fact: Ramon Garcia allowed just five hits while striking out five before his seventh-inning woes.
Tuesday's Highlights ...
TRIPLE A: Toledo 5, Syracuse 4
Highlights: Fernando Seguignol had a homer, double and two RBIs and Jackson Melian was 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Mud Hens, who won the afternoon contest. Reliever Ian Ostlund had another solid outing, working two innings of scoreless relief. He allowed one hit and fanned one as his ERA dropped again to 2.67.
Winning pitcher: Anastacio Martinez (1-1)
Losing pitcher: Bill Murphy (4-4)
Save: Blaine Neal (20)
Not-so-fun fact: Clete Thomas was the Mud Hens designated hitter and was 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.
DOUBLE A: Binghamton 10, Erie 1
Highlights: Deik Scram's RBI single in the ninth inning was all the scoring the SeaWolves could muster in this laugher, which saw Erie pitchers allowed 10 walks and 14 hits. Starter Luke French got rocked, allowing six runs on seven hits in four innings. Three pitchers later, EMU alum Anthony Tomey allowed four runs on five hits in his sole inning of relief. He fanned two and walked one.
Winning pitcher: Jonathan Niese (5-4)
Losing pitcher: Luke French (4-7)
Fun fact: A ninth-inning single by Ryan Roberson extended his hitting streak to eight games.
CLASS A: Lakeland 5, Sarasota 2
Highlights: Gary Sheffield hit a solo homer for the Flying Tigers, his first hit in a rehab stint as he works to get back to the majors after suffering an oblique strain. He also had a couple walks and scored two runs. Brennan Boesch had a triple and two RBIs and Cale Iorg added a pair of hits.
Winning pitcher: Jonah Nickerson (6-3)
Losing pitcher: Misael DeJesus (0-2)
Fun fact: Jonah Nickerson threw seven scoreless innings, allowing just four hits while striking out six.
Sunday's Highlights ...
TRIPLE A: Syracuse 5, Toledo 3
Highlights: Matt Joyce had two doubles and an RBI and Nick Trzesniak had a two-run double for the Mud Hens, who saw outfielder Freddy Guzman and manager Larry Parrish get ejected for arguing a close call at first base in the seventh inning. Clay Rapada was credited with a blown save, allowing a hit and a walk in his two-thirds of an innings.
Winning pitcher: John Parrish (10-0)
Losing pitcher: Brian Rogers (0-2)
Save: Mike Gosling (7)
Fun fact: Mud Hens pitchers fanned 11, with starter Yorman Bazardo (five) leading the way.
DOUBLE A: Erie 8, New Hampshire 6
Highlights: Dusty Ryan homered again and Ryan Roberson was 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs for the SeaWolves, who withstood New Hampshire's four-run rally in the final two innings. Erie starter Danny Christensen allowed one earned run on six hits in six innings. He walked a pair and fanned four.
Winning pitcher: Danny Christensen (4-4)
Losing pitcher: Brandon Magee (0-9)
Save: Casey Fien (4)
Fun fact: Danny Christensen is 4-0 with one no-decision in his last five starts.
CLASS A: Fort Wayne 8, West Michigan 4
Highlights: Hayden Parrott was 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Whitecaps, who saw their win streak end at four games. Jordan Newton homered for West Michigan, which got only 3.1 innings from starter Matt Hoffman. Brandon Hamilton allowed six run in 4.1 innings of relief.
Winning pitcher: Jeremy Hefner (6-3)
Losing pitcher: Matt Hoffman (0-2)
Save: Derek McDaid (2)
Not-so-fun fact: The loss cost West Michigan its sixth first-half Midwest League title.
Erie's Christensen named Eastern League pitcher of the week
Erie left-hander Danny Christensen was named the Eastern League pitcher of the week, going 1-0 with 12 strikeouts and a 1.29 ERA in two starts (14 innings). In his first start, against Portland, he allowed a run on three hits in eight innings while walking two and striking out eight in a no-decision. Then, against New Hampshire, he allowed one earned run on six hits in six innings while walking two and fanning four in a victory.
Monday's Highlights ...
TRIPLE A: Toledo 5, Syracuse 2
Highlights: Clete Thomas, still on a rehab assignment, essentially took care of Toledo's entire offensive attack, going 3-for-4 with a homer, double and four RBIs in the victory. Max Leon's single was Toledo's only other hit. Chris Lambert allowed one run on four hits in six innings, walking three and fanning two. Joel Zumaya and Francisco Cruceta each pitched an inning, with Zumaya allowing a run on two hits while fanning two and Cruceta yielding only a walk.
Winning pitcher: Chris Lambert (6-3)
Losing pitcher: David Purcey (6-5)
Save: Blaine Neal (19)
Fun fact: Blaine Neal improved to 19-for-19 on save opportunities this season.
CLASS A: Lakeland 3, Sarasota 2
Highlights: Brennan Boesch was 4-for-6 and Ryan Strieby had three hits and an RBI for Lakeland, which won it in the 11th on an RBI single from Cale Iorg. Duane Below was solid in his start for Lakeland, allowing only one earned run on five hits in seven innings. He fanned three. Jay Sborz got the with three perfect innings of relief. Gary Sheffield, on an rehab assignment, was 0-for-2 with a run and a walk.
Winning pitcher: Jay Sborz (1-0)
Losing pitcher: Logan Ondrusek (0-4)
Save: Zach Simons (1)
Fun fact: All 13 of Lakeland's hits were singles.
Saturday's Highlights ...
TRIPLE A: Toledo 4, Syracuse 1
Highlights: Erick Almonte had a homer, double and three RBIs and Lauren Gagnier threw six innings of three-hit ball for the Mud Hens. Joel Zumaya, still rehabbing that surgically repaired shoulder, also made a one-inning appearance, striking out one in a hitless appearance.
Winning pitcher: Lauren Gagnier (1-1)
Losing pitcher: Davis Romero (1-5)
Save: Blaine Neal (1-1)
Fun fact: Francisco Cruceta also threw one inning, striking out two in the eighth.
DOUBLE A: Erie 9, New Hampshire 5
Highlights: Dusty Ryan was 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs, Ryan Roberson had two doubles and two RBIs and Kody Kirkland added three hits and an RBI for the SeaWolves. Brendan Wise threw three innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit while striking out two.
Winning pitcher: Ben Fritz (2-2)
Losing pitcher: Seth Overbey (2-1)
Fun fact: Joe Tucker hit his first homer of the season for Erie.
CLASS A: West Michigan 6, Fort Wayne 3
Highlights: Jon Kibler didn't allow a run until the sixth inning, snapping West Michigan's run of 32.2 consecutive scoreless innings pitched. Kibler, though, was solid, allowing just one earned run on four hits in seven innings. He walked two and fanned six for the Whitecaps, winners of three straight.
Winning pitcher: Jon Kibler (6-2)
Losing pitcher: Wynn Pelzer (4-3)
Save: Noah Krol (8)
Fun fact: The Whitecaps clinched at least the first-half wild card, their fifth straight year in the playoffs.
Friday's Highlights ...
TRIPLE A: Indianapolis 2, Toledo 0
Highlights: Indianapolis starter John Van Benschoten threw 6.1 innings of no-hit ball, with Mike Hessman breaking up the bid with a seventh-inning double. The outing overshadowed the start by Toledo's Virgil Vasquez, who allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings. He walked one and fanned five. Fernando Rodney, rehabbing his shoulder tendinitis, threw two hitless innings. He fanned three and walked nobody and likely will rejoin the Tigers active roster Monday.
Winning pitcher: John Van Benschoten (7-1)
Losing pitcher: Virgil Vasquez (4-6)
Save: Matt Miller (3)
Not-so-fun fact: Clete Thomas (ankle), on a rehab stint, started and was 0-for-3 with three strikeouts.
DOUBLE A: New Hampshire 8, Erie 1
Highlights: Erie fell in a game that was shortened to seven innings because of the rain, ending the SeaWolves' modest two-game winning streak. Casper Wells had an RBI triple for the SeaWolves' lone run.
Winning pitcher: Robert Ray (1-0)
Losing pitcher: Andrew Kown (4-7)
Not-so-fun fact: Erie starter Andrew Kown has failed to win back-to-back outings this season.
CLASS A: West Michigan 5, Fort Wayne 0
Highlights: Manny Miguelez, on in relief after a one-hour, 13-minute rain delay kept starter Mauricio Robles from returning, threw six innings of hitless ball in extending the Whitecaps' scoreless-inning streak to 29. Miguelez walked three and fanned three. Fort Wayne's lone hit was the first batter of the game. Kody Kaiser had a two-run triple for Toledo and Roger Tomas' RBI single extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
Winning pitcher: Manny Miguelez (2-4)
Losing pitcher: Matt Teague (5-4)
Not-so-fun fact: It was the Whitecaps' first one-hitter since Luke French's shutout in July 2006.
Wednesday's Highlights ...
TRIPLE A: Toledo 4, Indianapolis 3
Highlights: Freddy Guzman had a walk-off homer and earlier belted a double and Erick Almonte had two hits for the Mud Hens, who blew a 3-0 lead over the final two innings before prevailing. Joel Zumaya pitched an inning and allowed his first earned run of his rehab stint. He gave up two hits and two walks while fanning one.
Winning pitcher: Blaine Neal (1-0)
Losing pitcher: T.J. Beam (2-1)
Fun fact: Blaine Neal blew his first save opportunity in 18 chances.
DOUBLE A: Erie 7, Portland 2
Highlights: Jeff Frazier had two hits and two RBIs, and Will Rhymes, Danny Worth and Deik Scram each added a pair of hits for the SeaWolves, who put it away with a five-run third inning. Luke French got the start for Erie and he went six innings, allowing 12 hits but only two earned runs. He walked two and fanned three.
Winning pitcher: Luke French (4-6)
Losing pitcher: Matt Goodson (3-4)
Save: Marcelo Perez (2)
Fun fact: Marcelo Perez got the save by working a perfect three innings of relief.
CLASS A: Lakeland 7, Brevard County 4
Highlights: Brennan Boesch was a homer short of the cycle and finished with four RBIs for the Flying Tigers, who put up a six-run fifth inning. Lakeland sent 10 batters to the plate that inning. Ramon Garcia got the start for Lakeland and pitched six scoreless innings. He walked three and struck out four.
Winning pitcher: Ramon Garcia (2-1)
Losing pitcher: Jeremy Jeffress (2-3)
Not-so-fun fact: Jordan Tata's woes continued: 0.2 innings, four runs, five walks.
CLASS A: West Michigan 4, Lansing 1
Highlights: Chris Carlson had an RBI triple and Alfredo Figaro was sharp again for the Whitecaps, tho moved into a tie for the Midwest League first-half wild-card lead. Figaro went seven innings, allowing one earned run on three hits. He walked four and fanned five.
Winning pitcher: Alfredo Figaro (8-2)
Losing pitcher: Chi-Hung Cheng (3-3)
Save: Noah Krol (7)
Fun fact: The Whitecaps stole a season-high six bases.
