Tigers Prospect Daily: Clutch hitting boosts Erie SeaWolves to victory

Toledo Mud Hens 5, Gwinnett Braves 4 (box)

The Mud Hens took a 4-0 lead into the ninth inning of yesterday's series finale with the Braves, but a bullpen meltdown led to four Gwinnett runs, tying the game. Ryan Perry was charged with a pair of earned runs, but Alberto Cabrera was the guilty party. Cabrera threw two wild pitches and walked a batter before allowing a game-tying three-run home run to Gwinnett second baseman Elmer Reyes.

After the fireworks subsided, Ian Krol and Guido Knudson combined to throw three scoreless innings. The Mud Hens finally pushed a run across in the bottom of the 12th after a two-out rally. Xavier Avery led the way with three hits, including a double that led to the game-winning run. Toledo starter Thad Weber deserved the win after tossing eight shutout innings, but came away without a decision.

Avery: 3-6, 2B, R, 2 SO
Wilson: 2-6, R, RBI, SO
Lennerton: 2-4, R, RBI, BB
Marte: 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB, SO
Jones: 1-4, 3B, R, RBI, BB, SO
Weber: 8.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 5 SO
Knudson (W): 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 SO

COMING UP NEXT: The Mud Hens welcome the Buffalo Bisons into town tonight, kicking off a four-game weekend series. Mike Belfiore (1-6, 7.36 ERA) will look to rebound from a rocky start against Bisons starter Andrew Albers (2-5, 2.34 ERA).

Erie SeaWolves 5, Richmond Flying Squirrels 2 (box)

A big two-out rally in the bottom of the fifth inning led to four runs, propelling the SeaWolves past the Flying Squirrels for a series victory. Harold Castro reached base on a throwing error that allowed Connor Harrell to score, resulting in a 2-1 lead. Three consecutive hits later, the SeaWolves led 5-1, a comfortable margin for starter Chad Green. The big righthander earned his second win of the year, allowing two runs over 6 2/3 innings while striking out five. Harrell had three hits for Erie, but Jason Krizan's two-RBI single was the big hit of the day. Krizan and Wynton Bernard had a pair of hits apiece.

Harrell: 3-4, 2B, R, SO
Bernard: 2-4, R
Krizan: 2-4, R, 2 RBI
Green, D.: 1-4, RBI, 2 SO
Green, C. (W): 6.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 5 SO

COMING UP NEXT: The SeaWolves are off today. They will return to action on Friday against the Trenton Thunder, the New York Yankees' Double-A affiliate. Righthander Brady Lail (1-2, 3.58 ERA) is Trenton's scheduled starter.

Daytona Tortugas 1, Lakeland Flying Tigers 0 (box)

It took 11 innings for someone to score in this game, but the Tortugas were finally able to break the deadlock in the bottom of the 11th. After a triple and a walk, Lakeland reliever Montreal Robertson struck out Daytona leadoff hitter Phillip Ervin. The next batter, Junior Felix Arias, hit a ground ball to shortstop David Gonzalez, but was able to beat out the throw to first base, preventing a double play. The runner on third base scored on the play, giving Daytona their second win in a row over the Flying Tigers. Ryan Longstreth was Lakeland's unfortunate starter, as he was saddled with a no decision after eight shutout innings.

Ficociello: 2-5, 2 SO
Verlander: 1-5, SO
Betancourt: 0-5, 2 SO
Greiner: 0-4, 2 SO
Longstreth: 8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, BB, 5 SO
Robertson (L): 2.2 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 BB, 2 SO

COMING UP NEXT: The Flying Tigers will welcome the Bradenton Marauders into town for a four-game weekend series starting tonight. Luis Heredia (0-0, 67.50 ERA) will start for Bradenton against Lakeland's Tommy Collier (3-3, 1.90 ERA).

Bowling Green Hot Rods 9, West Michigan Whitecaps 2 (box)

Bowling Green got to Whitecaps starter A.J. Ladwig early, scoring two runs in the first and four more in the third inning of last night's game. Ladwig ended up working six innings, but West Michigan paid the price, as they lost in a laugher. Reliever Josh Heddinger did not have any better luck, allowing three runs in his two innings of work. The Whitecaps offense wasn't much help either, striking out more times (11) than they reached base safely (8). Ross Kivett had a pair of hits and scored a run.

Kivett: 2-4, 2B, R
Gerber: 1-3, 2B, RBI, BB
Pankake: 1-3, BB, 2 SO
Shepherd: 0-3, BB, SO
Ladwig (L): 6.0 IP, 8 H, 6 R (5 ER), 2 BB

COMING UP NEXT: The Whitecaps will try to split their series with Bowling Green in a 7:35 p.m. start tonight. Trent Szkutnik (3-0, 3.93 ERA) will start for the Whitecaps against Chris Pike (5-1, 2.91 ERA) of the Hot Rods.