Tigers Prospect Daily: Lakeland Flying Tigers score 15 runs in victory

Charlotte Knights 8, Toledo Mud Hens 4 (box)

Former Tigers starter Brad Penny held the Mud Hens in check for six innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits. He walked two and only struck out one, and was aided by a hot Knights offense that put up six hits and five runs on Toledo starter Tim Melville. The 25-year-old righthander suffered his fourth loss of the season as his ERA ballooned to 5.93. The bullpen wasn't much better, as Melvin Mercedes and Kenny Faulk combined to allow three runs in four innings. Josh Zeid finished the night with a scoreless frame.

Offensively, the Mud Hens were led by Xavier Avery and Manny Piña, who had three hits apiece. The back-to-back pairing (Piña hit ninth, Avery first) paid off, as Piña scored three times while Avery had two RBI. Dixon Machado and Steven Moya added two hits each, while Mike Hessman reached base three times.

Avery: 3-5, 2B, 2 RBI
Piña: 3-4, 2B, HR, 3 R, RBI
Moya: 2-4
Machado: 2-4, 2B, RBI
Hessman: 1-2, 2 BB
Fields: 1-4, BB
Melville (L): 4.0 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO

COMING UP NEXT: The Mud Hens and Knights finish off their three game series today at 2:00 p.m. Thad Weber (2-3, 8.10 ERA) will start for Toledo against Erik Johnson (3-2, 3.74 ERA).

Erie SeaWolves 10, Reading Fightin' Phils 9 (box)

The SeaWolves didn't need a walk-off last night, but they won their second consecutive shootout over the Fightin' Phils with 10 runs on 14 hits. Reading took a 3-0 lead off Erie starter Derek Hankings in the first inning and led 7-3 after the top of the fourth, but Erie pulled within one with a three-run fourth inning. They took the lead with two runs in the sixth then again in the seventh, and Guido Knudson notched his second save of the year with two innings in relief.

Wynton Bernard was the star of the show offensively, collecting four hits and two RBI in five at-bats. Bernard had two doubles, but was caught stealing twice. Jason Krizan had a pair of extra base hits, including his first home run of the season. James Robbins also had a pair of doubles, two of the seven two-baggers Erie had on the night. The bottom of the order -- Connor Harrell, Harold Castro, and catcher Austin Green -- combined for five hits, five runs, and four RBI.

Bernard: 4-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 CS
Krizan: 2-4, 2B, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB
Robbins: 2-4, 2 2B, 2 R
Castro: 3-3, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
Harrell: 1-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI, BB
Hankins: 4.0 IP, 8 H, 7 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO
Robowski (W): 3.0 IP, 5 H, ER, 4 SO

COMING UP NEXT: Erie will go for the three-game sweep of the Phils today with righthander Chad Green (1-3, 6.65 ERA) on the mound. The SeaWolves have their work cut out for them, as they will face 2014 first round pick Aaron Nola (3-2, 2.27 ERA), one of the top prospects in the Philadelphia Phillies' farm system.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 15, Dunedin Blue Jays 1 (box)

If you did a double take when you saw that score, you're not alone. The Flying Tigers put up eight runs in the top of the first inning, chasing Blue Jays starter Justin Schafer from the game after just 1/3 of an inning. Things didn't get much better for the Blue Jays from there, as the Flygers scored four more runs in the second inning and tacked on a 13th run in the third before the Jays got on the board. The Flying Tigers' bullpen combined to work all nine innings, allowing one run on nine hits.

Everyone got in on the action offensively, as the Flying Tigers had 15 hits on the evening. All nine starters had a base hit, and six reached base multiple times. Raph Rhymes had two home runs, while Francisco Martinez added a homer and a double. Martinez and Curt Powell tied for the team lead with three RBI apiece. Rhymes and catcher Grayson Greiner each scored three runs.

Martinez: 3-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, SO
Greiner: 2-5, 3 R, RBI
Powell: 1-4, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, SO
Rhymes: 2-4, 2 HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 SO
Hanover: 2-4, 2 R, RBI
Ficociello: 2-5, R, 2 RBI, SO
Felix (W): 3.0 IP, H, 0 ER, SO

COMING UP NEXT: The Flying Tigers are off tomorrow and will be back in action on Monday. Righthander Tommy Collier (3-1, 1.52 ERA) will face off against the Jupiter Hammerheads (12-18), who are in last place in the Florida State League South Division.

Dayton Dragons 2, West Michigan Whitecaps 1 (box)

Michael Gerber scored Ross Kivett on an RBI single in the top of the first inning to give the Whitecaps a 1-0 lead in last night's matchup against the Dragons. Unfortunately, that's all the offense Dayton's pitching staff would allow, and the Whitecaps dropped another close game in a pitcher's duel. Dayton starter Tejay Antone was the star of the show, holding the Whitecaps to the lone unearned run in six innings of work, striking out seven. The Whitecaps had plenty of runners on base with eight hits and four walks, but were doomed by a 1-for-10 performance with runners in scoring position.

Gerber: 3-4, 2B, 3B, RBI
Shepherd: 2-4
Kivett: 1-4, R
Hill: 0-4, 3 SO
Pankake: 0-4, SO
Perez (L): 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO

COMING UP NEXT: The Whitecaps will also get Mother's Day off. They will return home on Monday to face righthander Brent Honeywell (2-1, 1.61 ERA) of the Bowling Green Hot Rods. Ross Seaton (3-1, 3.12 ERA) will start for West Michigan.