Tigers Prospect Daily: West Michigan snaps three-game losing streak

Toledo Mud Hens 6, Charlotte Knights 2 (box)

Tim Melville kept the Mud Hens in the lead with a scoreless six-inning outing, then the offense broke the game open in the later innings. Melville only allowed one hit, but walked four batters and struck out five, lowering his ERA to 3.80. Rafael Dolis allowed both runs, but Alberto Cabrera and Jose Valdez combined to slam the door. Knights starter Brad Penny took the loss despite allowing just one run in four innings. Daniel Fields and Steven Moya led the way in a balanced offensive effort, as the Mud Hens finished with 13 hits.

Fields: 4-5, 3B, 2 R
Moya: 3-4, RBI
Machado: 2-4, R, RBI, BB
Marte: 2-5, R, SO
Hessman: 1-5, 2B, RBI, SO
Melville (W): 6.0 IP, H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 5 SO

COMING UP NEXT: The Mud Hens continue their series against the Knights this morning at 11:05 a.m. Thad Weber (2-1, 5.63 ERA) will start for the Mud Hens against Erik Johnson (2-1, 0.75 ERA).

Bowie Baysox 8, Erie SeaWolves, 2 (box)

The SeaWolves lost their eighth consecutive game yesterday, the last six of which have been by three runs or more. Derek Hankins took the loss for Erie, allowing five runs on nine hits in six innings. Edgar De La Rosa wasn't much better in relief, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks in two innings. Brendan Harris and Jeff McVaney had two hits apiece for Erie, who had more strikeouts (11) than hits (8). Harris' RBI double in the fifth inning was the SeaWolves' only extra base hit on the evening.

Harris: 2-4, 2B, R, RBI, SO
McVaney: 2-4, 2 SO
Bernard: 1-5, R, 2 SO
Castro: 1-3, BB, SO
Hankins (L): 6.0 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, BB, 4 SO
De La Rosa: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, SO

COMING UP NEXT: Breaking up the losing streak won't be easy today, as the SeaWolves face Orioles top prospect Dylan Bundy (0-2, 4.00 ERA) in a game starting at noon. Chad Green (0-2, 6.39 ERA) will start for Erie.

West Michigan Whitecaps 8, South Bend Cubs 5 (box)

You can call it a struggle or a losing streak, but to the West Michigan Whitecaps Tuesday's campaign against the South Bend Cubs was business as usual. 25-year-old Ross Seaton (3-0 2.70 ERA) has been golden for West Michigan coming into Tuesday, posting 18 strikeouts and allowing six earned runs in 20 innings pitched. The Cubs made it clear early on that they came to play, taking Seaton to task in the first inning, scoring off an RBI single. Seaton plunked the next batter he faced, raising a bit of concern. Seaton continued to battle, holding South Ben scoreless in the second and third. West Michigan answered back in the second, scoring Franklin Navarro off an RBI single by Francisco Contreres.

A combination of shaky defense by South Bend and a bit of West Michigan thinking on the fly, the Whitecaps broke loose in the third. Ross Kivett posted his fifth stolen base and went on to score off an RBI single by Michael Gerber. Gerber has collected eight hits over his last four games. Seaton worked through seven innings, allowing eight hits and five earned runs, while striking out three. Relieving Seaton, righthander Johan Belisario worked two strong innings for West Michigan, walking one and striking out four. Belisario closed the door on South Bend in the ninth, earning his second save and breaking the three-game slide for West Michigan. With the win tonight, the Whitecaps (9-10) move into a fourth place tie with South Bend in the Eastern Division.

Shepherd: 2-4, R, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, SO
Gerber: 2-3, R, RBI
Navarro: 2-4, 2 R, 2B, SO
Kivett: 1-4, R, 2B, 3 RBI, SB
Hill: 1-3, R, 2 BB, SO, SB
Seaton (W): 7.0 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 3 SO

COMING UP NEXT: West Michigan moves into game two with South Bend Wednesday at noon, pitting Whitecaps starter Jeff Thompson (0-2 7.82 ERA) against the Cubs' Jeremy Null.

★★★

Advanced-A Lakeland was postponed due to rain. Their next game is not until Thursday, when they start a four-game series against the Tampa Yankees. Tommy Collier (2-0, 1.00 ERA) is slated for the start for the Flying Tigers.