Tommy Collier shines in return to Erie despite loss to Baysox

Louisville Bats 4, Toledo Mud Hens 3 (box)

After taking six of the previous nine meetings against the Louisville Bats, Toledo entered Tuesday evening at Louisville Slugger Field in hopes of securing yet another victory. Unfortunately for left-handed starter Mike Belfiore (1-7, 7.03 ERA), Louisville zoned in on his delivery, and they did it quickly. The Bats roughed up Belfiore for 10 hits and four earned runs throughout his six innings of work. Steven Moya and Jefry Marte steered the Toledo offense, combining for the only three runs scored by the Mud Hens. The six hits produced by Toledo wouldn't be enough to overpower Louisville and the Mud Hens fell 4-3, giving them their fourth loss to the Bats this season. With the loss, Belfiore falls to 1-7 on the year. Toledo is currently seven and a half games out of first place.

Moya: 2-4, 2B, 2 R, SO
Marte: 1-4, R
Wilson: 1-3, 2B, BB
Fields: 1-2, 2 BB, SO
Rondon: 1.0 IP, 1 H
Belfiore (L): 6.0 IP. 10 H, 4 ER, BB, 3 SO

COMING UP NEXT: Toledo (19-26) will place their newest arrival, righthander Derek Hankins, on the hill for Wednesday's series finale against the Bats (23-23). Hankins went 2-4 this season with a 4.93 ERA during his time spent with Double-A Erie. Hankins (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will toe the rubber against Louisville righty Donovan Hand (0-2, 3.62 ERA).

Bowie Baysox 4, Erie SeaWolves 2 (box)

The SeaWolves (16-28) welcomed a familiar face to the hill on Tuesday evening as they kicked off their three-game road series with the Bowie Baysox (23-22). Righty Tommy Collier made his first appearance for Erie after going 4-7 with a 5.88 ERA for the Seawolves in 2014 and it was something to behold. The former Flying Tiger commanded six impressive innings, holding the Baysox to five hits while allowing one earned run and striking out five. Erie worked to support Collier from the plate, combining for eight hits. Wynton Bernard added another double to his resume. The Green factor played a role as well with Austin Green and Dean Green each posting a double of their own for Erie. Bowie made a move following the entrance of Erie reliever Whit Mayberry (2-3, 3.38 ERA), tagging him for three earned runs off four hits, which proved to be more than Erie was able to handle. With the loss, the SeaWolves drop their third consecutive contest and fall to 16-28 on the year.

Castro: 2-3, R, BB
Bernard: 2-4, 2B
Green, A: 1-4, 2B, SO
Green, D: 1-4, 2B, R, BB
Collier: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO
Mayberry (L): 2.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 SO

COMING UP NEXT: The Seawolves will face rehabilitating Orioles pitcher Bud Norris for game two of the three-game series on Wednesday. Norris is 1-4 with a 9.88 ERA over six outings with Baltimore.

St. Lucie Mets 6, Lakeland Flying Tigers 3 (box)

The Flying Tigers returned to action on Tuesday as they began the opening to a four-game road series against the St. Lucie Mets. Lefthander Ryan Longstreth toed the rubber for the Flying Tigers and found out quickly that his work would be cut out for him. The Mets struck Longstreth for four earned runs off six hits in the bottom of the first, sparked by a three-run double from St. Lucie's Dominic Smith. The Lakeland pitching staff handed the Mets a team-record 10 walks on the day. Longstreth maneuvered through five innings and struck out three. Fresh off the disabled list, righty Will Clinard worked one inning for the Flying Tigers, but issued four walks in his return. Lakeland designated hitter Bobby Borchering posted the only extra base hit with a double, one of six hits totaled by the Flying Tigers. With the loss, Lakeland falls to 21-23.

Borchering: 1-3, 2B, BB, 2 SO
Betancourt: 1-4, R
Ficociello: 1-4, RBI, SO
Greiner: 1-4, RBI, SO
Longstreth (L): 5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO

COMING UP NEXT: Lakeland will face off against St. Lucie again on Wednesday for game two of the four-game series. The Flying Tigers will continue the extended road trip with five additional travel dates before returning to Joker Marchant Stadium.

West Michigan Whitecaps 5, Lake County 1 (box)

West Michigan (24-22) entered their three-game road series with Lake County (24-22) riding a strong of extra inning victories and looking to keep the string intact. There was no need for free baseball last night, as the Whitecaps went to work at the plate, compiling 13 hits, five of which were extra base drives for West Michigan. Starter A.J. Ladwig (4-4, 4.40 ERA) worked six solid innings for the Whitecaps, holding Lake County to one run and striking out three. Left fielder Austin Schotts launched a two-run drive over the left field wall, scoring Zach Shepherd. Riding strong pitching and an electric showing at the plate, the Whitecaps posted their third consecutive win and moved into a three-way tie for third place in the Midwest League with Lake County and the Dayton Dragons.

Shepherd: 2-3, 2 2B, 2 R, BB, SO
Kivett: 3-5, 2B, R
Hill: 2-5, R, RBI
Schotts: 1-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, SO
Ladwig (W): 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 3 SO

COMING UP NEXT: The Whitecaps will look to advance in the standings as they put their record on the line against Lake County for a morning slot for game two of their three-game road series.