Tigers Prospect Daily: West Michigan Whitecaps split doubleheader in Lansing

Pawtucket Red Sox 6, Toledo Mud Hens 1 (box)

The PawSox jumped all over Mud Hens starter Mike Belfiore, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning and four in five innings. Belfiore struck out seven, but gave up a three-run homer to Travis Shaw in the losing effort. Ian Krol pitched two scoreless innings, but walked two batters and didn't look very sharp in person (Mud Hens beat writer and BYB contributor Cameron Kaiser described him as "meh").

Offensively, the Mud Hens threatened on multiple occasions, but only came away with one run. They had seven hits and three walks as a team, including a pair of hits from Dixon Machado. Corey Jones had a double and a single, while Steven Moya's sacrifice fly in the fourth resulted in the only RBI of the night for Toledo.

Machado: 2-4, SO
Jones: 2-4, 2B
Collins: 1-3, BB, SO
Fields: 0-3, R, BB, SO
Moya: 0-3, RBI, SO, SF
Belfiore (L): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 7 SO
Krol: 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO

COMING UP NEXT: Toledo and Pawtucket will finish up their series this morning with a 10:30 a.m. start at Fifth Third Field. Buck Farmer (3-1, 4.10 ERA) will face Red Sox starter Keith Couch (1-4, 5.47 ERA).

Trenton Thunder 9, Erie SeaWolves 1 (box)

Unfortunately, Erie's win streak was shorter than its last losing streak. The SeaWolves lost in a laugher last night, largely due to a six-run fifth inning from the Thunder off Erie starter Austin Kubitza. The 23-year-old righthander allowed seven runs (six earned) on five hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings. He was partially hurt by reliever Whit Mayberry, who allowed all three inherited runners to score after Kubitza was pulled.

Ironically, the SeaWolves outhit the Thunder 12-9. Erie was just 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position on the evening, and left 12 runners on base. Jason Krizan led the team with three hits, including a triple. Dean Green and Wade Gaynor added a pair of hits apiece, while Wynton Bernard singled and walked.

Krizan: 3-5, 3B, R
Green: 2-5, RBI, SO
Gaynor: 2-4, SO
Bernard: 1-4, BB
Kubitza (L): 4.2 IP, 5 H, 7 R (6 ER), 4 BB, 7 SO

COMING UP NEXT: Erie and Trenton finish off their four-game series this morning at Arm & Hammer Park. Warwick Saupold (0-1, 8.53 ERA) will start for Erie, while Miguel Sulbaran (2-1, 3.09 ERA) will be the Thunder starter.

Daytona Tortugas 3, Lakeland Flying Tigers 2 (box)

The Flying Tigers coughed up a late lead against the Tortugas tonight, snapping a three-game win streak. After taking a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning, Flying Tigers reliever Montreal Robertson gave up a pair of runs in the eighth inning -- hey, sounds familiar -- to give the Tortugas a 3-2 lead. Both teams struggled with runners in scoring position, but the Flygers were particularly inept, with just two hits in 14 at-bats with runners in scoring position.

Ficociello: 2-3, 2 BB
Betancourt: 1-4, RBI, BB
Salgado: 1-5, SO
Greiner: 1-5, SO
Powell: 1-3, R, BB, SO
St. John: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 5 SO
Robertson (L): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, BB, SO

COMING UP NEXT: The Flying Tigers kick off a series against the Dunedin Blue Jays tomorrow evening at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Kevin Ziomek (2-3, 4.88 ERA) will start against Brad Allen (0-3, 6.12 ERA).

Lansing Lugnuts 7, West Michigan Whitecaps 2 (box)

The Whitecaps dropped the first game of their doubleheader with the Lugnuts today, falling behind 7-0 before getting a couple of runs back later on. Whitecaps starter Jeff Thompson gave up four runs (three earned) on seven hits in just three innings, then Josh Heddinger gave up the other three. The Whitecaps continued the organizational theme of the night by going 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position. Ross Kivett had a pair of hits, while Michael Gerber extended his hit streak with a single.

Kivett: 2-4
Gerber: 1-4
Kengor: 1-3, 2B, BB, SO
Zeile: 1-3, R, BB, SO
Shepherd: 1-3, R, SO
Thompson (L): 3.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 3 SO

West Michigan Whitecaps 6, Lansing Lugnuts 2 (box)

The Whitecaps were able to earn a split with an early barrage of runs in the nightcap. They scored two runs in the first inning off Lugnuts starter Chase De Jong, then added four more later on. Spencer Turnbull got the win for West Michigan, allowing two runs in five innings. Michael Gerber had three hits and three RBI, extending his hit streak to 12 games. Will Kengor added a pair of RBI, while Ross Kivett scored three runs.

Kivett: 2-3, 2 2B, 3 R, SO
Gerber: 3-4, 2 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI
Kengor: 2-3, 2 RBI, BB
Shepherd: 2-3, 2B
Hill: 0-3, BB, SO
Turnbull (W): 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO

COMING UP NEXT: The Whitecaps kick off a three-game series with the Dayton Dragons tonight at 7:00 p.m. A.J. Ladwig (1-3, 7.20 ERA) will start for West Michigan against Tyler Mahle (2-2, 4.73 ERA) of Dayton.