West Michigan Whitecaps swept by Bees in doubleheader

Toledo Mud Hens 4, Pawtucket Red Sox 3 (box)

The Mud Hens scored three runs in the seventh inning to take a 4-2 lead, and strong work from the bullpen made it stand up to avoid a four-game sweep in Pawtucket. Victor Martinez went 1-for-4 with an RBI single in the third off left-handed starter Henry Owens. Martinez was 0-for-1 in his lone left-handed at-bat. Bruce Rondon worked around a hit and a walk to pitch a scoreless inning, but it took him 22 pitches to do so. Alberto Cabrera allowed a home run in the ninth, but struck out two batters to pick up his eighth save.

Martinez: 1-4, RBI, SO
Machado: 1-4, SO
Moya: 1-4, R, 3 SO
Belfiore: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R (1 ER), 4 BB, 3 SO
Dolis (W): 1.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, SO

COMING UP NEXT: The Mud Hens travel from Pawtucket to Syracuse to open up a three-game series with the Chiefs, their second in as many weeks. Taylor Jordan (1-3, 3.71 ERA) will start for Syracuse.

Richmond Flying Squirrels 6, Erie SeaWolves 2 (box)

Richmond jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs off SeaWolves starter Josh Turley in the first inning. Turley rebounded, holding the Flying Squirrels scoreless for the next six innings while his offense chipped away at the lead. Reliever Ryan Robowski allowed two runs in the eighth to put the game out of reach. The SeaWolves actually out-hit Richmond 8-7, but were just 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Connor Harrell led Erie with three hits.

Harrell: 3-4, 2B, RBI
Bernard: 1-4, BB, SO
D. Green: 1-4, RBI, SO
Turley (L): 7.0 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 5 SO

COMING UP NEXT: The SeaWolves return home tonight to face off against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, who are in fifth place in the Eastern League's Eastern Division. Warwick Saupold (1-4, 5.16 ERA) will start for Erie.

Dunedin Blue Jays 7, Lakeland Flying Tigers 2 (box)

Lakeland had first inning troubles of their own, as the Blue Jays scored all seven of their runs in the bottom of the first. Flying Tigers starter Locke St. John did not make it out of the first inning, and suffered his fifth loss of the year. Adenson Verastegui and Montreal Robertson did some solid work in relief, holding the Jays scoreless for 7 1/3 innings. The Flying Tigers offense managed eight hits, but could not get back into the game. Raph Rhymes and Ben Verlander had an RBI apiece.

Rhymes: 1-4, 2B, R, RBI
Betancourt: 1-4
Verlander: 1-3, RBI, SO
Remes: 2-4, SO
St. John (L): 0.2 IP, 4 H, 7 ER, 4 BB

COMING UP NEXT: The Flying Tigers travel to Port Charlotte to open up a series with the Charlotte Stone Crabs. Tampa Bay Rays lefthander Matt Moore (0-0, 0.00 ERA), who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, will start for Charlotte. Kevin Ziomek (4-5, 4.74 ERA) will start for Lakeland.

Burlington Bees 11, West Michigan Whitecaps 5 (box)

The starting pitching difficulties were prevalent throughout the farm system on Sunday, as Whitecaps righthander Jeff Thompson was also knocked around. Thompson allowed six runs on nine hits in 2 1/3 innings as Burlington jumped out to a 7-2 lead early on. The Bees added four runs in the sixth to extend their lead, and a three-run rally by the Whitecaps in the seventh closed the gap somewhat.

Hill: 1-4, 3B, R, 2 RBI
Kivett: 1-4, RBI, SO
Schotts: 1-1, 2 R, 2 BB
Kengor: 1-1, R, 2 BB
Thompson (L): 2.1 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, BB, 2 SO

Burlington Bees 6, West Michigan Whitecaps 1 (box)

The Whitecaps took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but it was short-lived. Burlington cruised to the doubleheader sweep behind starter Austin Robichaux, who allowed one run on four hits in six innings. Tyler Ford was solid for the Whitecaps in 3 1/3 innings, but reliever Nate Fury was not, allowing four runs in 1 1/3 innings. Ross Kivett led the Whitecaps offense with three of their four hits.

Kivett: 3-3, R
Navarro: 1-3, SO
Ford (L): 3.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 5 SO

COMING UP NEXT: Spencer Turnbull (4-2, 2.96 ERA) will take the mound today as the Whitecaps try to avoid a three-game sweep. Burlington will send righthander Jeremy Rhoades (4-4, 3.18 ERA) to the mound.