Connecticut Tigers move above .500 with win over Batavia Muckdogs

Lehigh Valley IronPigs 7, Toledo MudHens 4 (box)

Kyle Ryan's abysmal season in Toledo continued last night, as was pounded for seven runs in less than five innings. The loss was mitigated somewhat by a home run from slugger Mike Hessman, who hit another home run to bring him up to 431 on his minor league career. He sits just one dinger shy of the all-time minor league home run record.

Ryan (L, 0-8): 4.2 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 2 BB, 3 SO
VerHagen: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO
Hessman: 2-3, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB
Casilla: 2-3, R, BB

Up Next: Buck Farmer (7-3, 4.13 ERA) takes the mound in Lehigh Valley, starting at 7:05 p.m. EDT.

Altoona Curve 8, Erie SeaWolves 6 (box)

Derek Hankins was roughed up by Altoona as he gave up eight runs in six innings. He struck out nine guys and walked just two, but gave up two homers. Wynton Bernard, who has been a total force in Erie, reached base four times and added a solo home run. Jeff McVaney and Jason Krizan also collected two hits and Montreal Robertson had two lockdown innings of relief.

Hankins (L, 4-7): 6 IP, 10 H, 8 R, 2 BB, 9 SO
Robertson: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO
Bernard: 1-2, HR, 3 BB, 2 R, RBI
McVaney: 2-5, 2 R

Up Next: Erie heads home tonight to play Richmond. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. EDT.

West Michigan Whitecaps 5, Dayton Dragons 4 (box)

The Whitecaps stole a win away from Dayton, scoring three in the ninth to erase a 3-2 deficit. The big blow was a two-run single by star Michael Gerber to score Rashad Brown and his partner in crime, Ross Kivett. Johan Belisario ran into trouble in the ninth, but Joe Jiminez bailed him out for the save. Zach Shepherd chipped in three hits for West Michigan.

Belisario (W, 2-2): 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 SO
Jiminez (SV, 11): 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO
Lewicki: 6.0 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
Gerber: 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI
Brown: 2-4, 2 R, BB

Up Next: West Michigan's ace Spencer Turnbull (8-2, 2.95 ERA) gets the start at Fifth Third Field tonight at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

Connecticut Tigers 7, Batavia Muckdogs 6

Connecticut climbed over .500 with a wild come-from-behind win. Sandy Baez coughed up a 5-0 lead, but Cam Gibson homered in the sixth to tie the game 6-6. Then Gibson scored on a throwing error in the eighth to score the winning run. A.J. Simcox reached base three times and Drew Smith pitched three scoreless innings for the win.

Smith (W, 2-0): 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO
Shull (SV, 3): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO
Baez: 5 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 1 BB, 2 SO
Gibson: 2-4, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB
Simcox: 2-4, 3B, RBI, R, BB

Up next: Connecticut sends Josh Heddinger (0-0, 3.38) to the mound tonight against Batavia at 7:05 p.m. EDT.