Toledo Mud Hens continue to struggle with depleted options

Durham Bulls 9, Toledo Mud Hens 1 (box)

Following a dismal 15-run deficit loss from Wednesday evening, Toledo (51-74) looked to Kyle Lobstein (0-2, 12.00 ERA) to maneuver the Mud Hens to a victory against the Durham Bulls (61-66). To put it simply, the Bulls had their own plan in mind and it didn't take kindly to Toledo. In three short innings, the Bulls took Lobstein to task with six earned runs off 12 hits overall for the night. The Toledo offense was in short supply, but Dixon Machado covered the extra base work for the Mud Hens with a pair of doubles on the night. Manny Pina also posted two hits. The powering Durham offense concluded the night with 18 hits, handing Lobstein and the Mud Hens their second consecutive loss in the series.

Machado: 2-5, 2 2B, SO
Pina: 2-4, RBI
Lobstein (L): 3.2 IP, 12 H, 6 R (6 ER), 2 BB, 1 SO

COMING UP NEXT: The Mud Hens will work to avoid the series sweep on Friday in their series finale on the road with the Bulls. Luis Cessa (1-1, 6.61 ERA) will take the hill for Toledo, facing off with Durham lefty Scott Diamond (10-5, 3.56 ERA).

Erie SeaWolves 8, New Britain Rock Cats 7 (box)

The Erie SeaWolves (51-71) had not seen a series sweep in their favor this season, and found themselves on the verge of snapping the streak with a pair of wins already in their pocket from the start of their three-game series with New Britain (57-65). Chad Green (3-14, 4.44 ERA) toed the rubber for the SeaWolves, working six innings and allowing four runs off six hits and fanning six. At the plate, Erie came out swinging and everyone got in on the action. Wynton Bernard and Dominic Ficociello added a triple, while Wade Gaynor posted his second multi-hit game adding a double to the mix. Key hitting for the SeaWolves played a major role in securing the victory for Erie, handing them their very first series sweep this season.

Bernard: 3-5, 3 R, 3B
Ficociello: 2-5, R, 3B, RBI, 2 SO
Green, A: 3-4, 2B, RBI, BB
Gaynor: 2-4, R, 2B, SO
Green: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 6 SO
Mercedes (W): 1.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 SO

COMING UP NEXT: The SeaWolves kick off a three-game series with the Akron RubberDucks (66-58) beginning Friday evening. Erie's leader in wins, Josh Turley (10-7, 3.50 ERA) will take on Akron starter D.J. Brown (0-1, 7.20 ERA) in game one.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 4, Dunedin Blue Jays 1 (box)

Baseball made its way back to Joker Marchant Stadium on Thursday, as the Flying Tigers (46-73) welcomed the Blue Jays (53-69) for the start of their three-game home series. Endrys Briceno (1-2, 3.54 ERA) was solid through five innings of work, holding Dunedin to one unearned run off three hits. Thanks to a few multi-hit performances from the Flying Tigers, Lakeland posted 12 hits on the night. Jared Reaves and Javier Betancourt knocked a double and Ben Verlander went yard with a two-run drive in the fifth inning. Tyler Ford (0-0, 1.85 ERA) and Whit Mayberry (1-3, 1.09 ERA) combined for four scoreless innings of relief with seven strikeouts to secure the win for Lakeland.

Rhymes: 2-4
Betancourt: 3-4, R, 2B
Reaves: 2-3, R, 2B, RBI, BB
Verlander: 1-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, 2 SO
Briceno (W): 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 1 SO

COMING UP NEXT: The Flying Tigers are back to work with the Blue Jays on Friday with Brennan Smith (4-5, 3.20 ERA) slated to take the hill against Dunedin righty Brad Allen (1-3, 4.38 ERA).

West Michigan Whitecaps 6, Great Lakes Loons 4 (box)

Big right hander Spencer Turnbull (10-3, 3.20 ERA) took the hill for West Michigan (64-56) as the Whitecaps looked for the sweep against the Great Lakes Loons (60-60) on Thursday evening in their three-game series. Turnbull began his attack early, holding the Loons to one run off six hits and fanning four through his three innings of work. Newest addition to West Michigan Victor Padron made his debut, punching an RBI double for his one hit for the night. Francisco Contreras was the man of the hour for West Michigan, launching a pair of doubles and driving in two RBI. West Michigan finished the night with five doubles. Dominic Moreno (1-1, 1.96 ERA) helped to end the show for the Whitecaps in relief, fanning four in his two innings to earn the victory and the series sweep against Great Lakes.

Padron: 1-5, 2B, RBI, 2 SO
Scivicque: 1-4, R, 2B, SO
Stewart: 1-2, 2 R, 2B, RBI, BB
Contreras: 2-4, 2 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, SO
Turnbull: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R
Moreno (W): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 SO

COMING UP NEXT: West Michigan hits the road for Lake County (26-25) to begin a three-game series on Friday. A.J. Ladwig (10-8, 3.82 ERA) takes his 10 wins to the hill for West Michigan against Lake County righty Jordan Milbrath (4-10, 4.97 ERA).

Connecticut Tigers 6, Hudson Valley Renegades 1 (box)

The Tigers (27-28) entered Thursday's campaign with the Renegades (28-29), hoping to split their two-game travel series at a game apiece. Sandy Baez (3-3, 3.98 ERA) continued his solid performance for Connecticut, working six innings for the Tigers and holding Hudson Valley to a single unearned run for the night. In their eight hits overall, the Tigers made the most of their time at the plate, posting a pair of doubles, triples and home runs with both doubles coming courtesy of Josh Lester. Corey Baptist and Joey Havrilak both went deep for Connecticut, securing their series split with the 6-1 victory.

Gibson: 1-4, R, 3B, RBI
Baptist: 1-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, 2 SO
Lester: 2-4, R, 2 2B, SO
Havrilak: 2-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, SO
Baez (W): 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 5 SO

COMING UP NEXT: The Tigers welcome the Vermont Lake Monsters (25-32) to town on Friday for the start of a three-game home stand. Tyler Alexander (0-2, 0.96 ERA) will have the start for game one against Vermont lefty Evan Manarino (3-1, 3.54 ERA).

With Daniel Norris and Anibal Sanchez both making their way to the DL for Detroit, the Tigers dipped into the Triple-A pool, calling upon Jose Valdez and closer Guido Knudson to join the Tigers bullpen. Knudson has 10 saves with a 2.52 ERA and Valdez stands at 4-4 with a 3.44 ERA for the Mud Hens.

As an addition piece to the transfer at Triple-A, the Erie SeaWolves punches a ticket for pitchers Joe Mantiply and Warwick Saupold to fill the void for the Mud Hens. This is Mantiply's first move to Toledo, while Saupold has seen action with the Mud Hens earlier this year.

In moves at the Single-A level, 2015 3^rd round selection Drew Smith, alongside fellow pitcher Gerson Moreno will be transitioning to West Michigan from Connecticut.