Bruce Rondon has another shaky rehab outing for Toledo Mud Hens

Toledo Mud Hens 4, Columbus Clippers 1 (box)

The Mud Hens scored three of their four runs in the later innings, cruising to their fifth consecutive victory. They were backed by a strong start from Ross Seaton, who worked six shutout innings while allowing just two hits and two walks. Bruce Rondon had another shaky rehab outing, allowing a run on two hits in 1 1/3 innings. On a positive note, he struck out three batters. The Toledo offense collected 10 hits, eight of which came off Clippers starter Michael Roth. The Mud Hens are undefeated since Justin Verlander's rehab start on Sunday.

Avery: 2-4, 2B, R, RBI
Marte: 2-4, HR, R, RBI
Hessman: 2-4, HR, R, RBI, SO
Moya: 1-4, RBI, SO
Seaton (W): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO
Rondon: 1.1 IP, 2 H, ER, BB, 3 SO

COMING UP NEXT: The Mud Hens and Clippers conclude the first of two series between the teams this week with a late morning start at Huntington Park. Tim Melville (2-4, 5.60 ERA) will take the mound for Toledo against former Colorado Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin (1-2, 4.10 ERA).

Reading Fightin' Phils 10, Erie SeaWolves 2 (box)

The SeaWolves held a 2-1 lead for most of this contest, then saw everything fall apart in the later innings. Starter Tommy Collier was excellent, allowing just one run on six hits in seven innings of work. The SeaWolves offense plated a pair of runs after loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the third, but only managed four hits on the evening. Erie lefthander Joe Rogers was unable to hold the lead in the top of the eighth, allowing a pair of runs on three hits. The floodgates opened in the ninth inning, when Zac Reininger and Ryan Robowski combined to allow seven runs (four earned) on seven hits and a pair of walks.

Green: 1-3, 2 RBI, BB
Castro: 0-1, R, 2 BB, SO
Bernard: 1-4, 2B, SO
Collier: 7.0 IP, 6 H, ER, 2 BB, 5 SO
Rogers (L): 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 SO

COMING UP NEXT: The SeaWolves will get another crack at Reading starter Ben Lively (4-2, 3.81 ERA) tonight, who threw seven shutout innings in their last meeting. Lively was roughed up for four runs on 10 hits in his last start, a loss to the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

★★★

The Lakeland Flying Tigers and Tampa Yankees were postponed yesterday due to rain. The two teams will play a doubleheader today, with the first game starting at 5:00 p.m. ET. Locke St. John (2-2, 3.21 ERA) will start the opener against Yankees righthander Gabriel Encinas (1-1, 2.83 ERA). Kevin Ziomek 4-4, 4.95 ERA) will start the nightcap for Lakeland. Following today's games, the Flying Tigers will begin a three-game home series against the Daytona Tortugas.

The West Michigan Whitecaps were off yesterday following their big win over the Fort Wayne Tincaps on Monday night. They kick off a six-game homestand tonight, beginning with a three-game series against the Quad Cities River Bandits. Trent Szkutnik (3-0, 3.42 ERA) will start for the Whitecaps against Jorge Perez (0-0, 0.00 ERA).

Bruce Rondon's latest rehab outing is only compounding the difficult decision the Tigers will have to make when they determine he is ready to come off the disabled list. Rondon has allowed five runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings at Triple-A Toledo during this rehab assignment, a 7.94 ERA. He has only issued one walk, but has looked wild and inconsistent by all accounts. His velocity is not quite near the triple-digit heat we saw from him in 2013, but that is not a cause for concern this early in his return to the mound. While his health is the main priority right now, the Tigers have to question whether Rondon is ready to be thrown into the fire for major league duty. He still has minor league options remaining, and may benefit from a bit more seasoning before earning a call-up later in the year.