Dean Green remains offensive force in Erie SeaWolves victory

Louisville Bats 1, Toledo Mud Hens 0 (box)

Toledo fans got their first glimpse of newly-acquired southpaw Matt Boyd as he took the hill for the Mud Hens (45-62) for game two of their road series against the Louisville Bats (54-55). Working off an enforced pitch limit, Boyd maneuvered two innings for the Mud Hens, walking three, striking out one, and holding the Bats scoreless. Toledo worked against Louisville righty Matt Buschmann (8-9, 4.05 ERA), who had a full game of work up his sleeve, holding the Mud Hens to a four-hit shutout and striking out four for the evening. Steven Moya posted two of the four Toledo hits, but struggles on the base path and a run allowed by the Mud Hens in the sixth by Toledo reliever Angel Nesbitt (0-4, 6.00 ERA) closed the door on the Mud Hens with the loss.

Jones: 1-4, SO
Moya: 2-3
Fields: 1-3
Boyd: 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 BB, SO
Nesbitt (L): 2.0 IP, 2 H, ER, 3 SO

COMING UP NEXT: The Bats will host Toledo again for the series finale at Louisville Slugger Field on Sunday, with the Mud Hens working to avoid a three-game series sweep before returning to Fifth Third Field.

Erie SeaWolves 7, New Britain Rock Cats 4 (box)

Coming into Saturday, the SeaWolves (41-65) found themselves down two games in their four-game road series with the Rock Cats (51-55). Erie looked to Derek Hankins (5-7, 5.40 ERA) to set the tone. Hankins was forced to an exit almost as quickly as he entered, working only one inning for the SeaWolves, allowing three runs (one earned) off three hits. The Erie offense came out like a shot in support, led by another electric performance from Dean Green who posted three hits and four RBI, including a solo blast in the second inning. Harold Castro added a double and a triple and Jason Krizan tried a little long ball of his own, going deep in in the fifth inning with his fourth home run this season. A scoreless set of three innings of relief for lefty Joe Mantiply (2-2, 2.89 ERA) gave the SeaWolves enough insurance to secure the win.

Bernard: 2-5, R, RBI
Green, D: 3-4, HR, R, 4 RBI, BB, SO
Krizan: 2-5, HR, R, RBI
Castro: 2-3, 2 R, 2B, 3B, BB, SO
Hankins: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R (1 ER)
Mantiply (W): 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 SO

COMING UP NEXT: The SeaWolves prepare to close out the finale of their four-game series with the Rock Cats on Sunday before enjoying a day off. Newest prospect Michael Fulmer is projected to make his debut with the SeaWolves on Tuesday at Jerry Uht Park.

Fort Wayne TinCaps 4, West Michigan Whitecaps 3 (box)

As West Michigan (52-52) works their way through another glamorous session of bus life, the desire for a win over Fort Wayne (53-51) was stronger than ever after dropping game one of their three-game series. Righthander Jeff Thompson (4-9, 4.20 ERA) got the call and worked six solid innings for West Michigan, allowing a pair of unearned runs and striking out five. For Michael Gerber, it was another day at the office as he cranked his 10th home run of the year, along with a double. Kade Scivicque, who has showed no signs of a rookie slump, decided to go deep as well, blasting his second home run since joining up with West Michigan. The 3-2 lead was broken when the TinCaps snagged the tying run off Johan Belisario (2-2, 2.30 ERA), followed by the go-ahead run in the ninth off Gabe Speier (3-2, 2.95 ERA), handing Speier the loss.

Gerber: 2-2, 2 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB
Scivicque: 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, SO
Stewart: 2-4, 2B, SO
Gonzalez: 1-4, 2B, SO
Thompson: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 5 SO
Speier (L): 0.1 IP, 3 H, ER, SO

COMING UP NEXT: The TinCaps will face West Michigan for their series finale on Sunday, as the Whitecaps will have to avoid a series sweep. West Michigan is off on Monday and will return to action on Tuesday for their next stretch of action at Fifth Third Ballpark.

West Virginia Black Bears 7, Connecticut Tigers 6 (box)

Though the fur may not have been flying in the battle between the Tigers (18-21) and Black Bears (22-19) on Saturday, fans were treated to quite the offensive showing from both dugouts. Connecticut and West Virginia combined for 13 runs and 22 hits. Tigers' starter Spenser Watkins (3-2, 2.88 ERA) was tagged for five runs off seven hits through his four innings from the hill. Shane Zeile was the man of the hour for the Tigers, cranking a three-run shot in the second inning, part of a six-run inning for Connecticut. Cam Gibson continued his steady work at the plate, adding three hits. The Black Bears successfully slid in a few insurance runs against Gerson Moreno (2-4, 4.57 ERA) and it was more than Connecticut could counter. Connecticut right hander Drew Smith (2-0, 0.36 ERA) worked the home stretch of the night, holding the Black Bears scoreless with four strikeouts through three innings. Moreno shoulders the loss, his fourth for the season.

Gibson: 3-5, R, RBI
Pirtle: 2-4, BB, SO
Zeile: 2-4, HR, R, 3 RBI, SO
Watkins: 4.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R (4 ER), BB
Moreno (L): 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R (0 ER), BB, 2 SO

COMING UP NEXT: Connecticut will conclude their three-game series at home with the Black Bears on Sunday before hitting the road for their next stretch of travel, beginning with a three-game series against the third-place Aberdeen IronBirds.

★★★

Wet grounds were the cause for a postponement between the Lakeland Flying Tigers and the Charlotte Stone Crabs on Saturday. The two teams will return to Joker Marchant Stadium for a double header to make up for Saturday's scheduling change. First game is slated to kick off at 12:00 p.m. ET.