Michael Fulmer strikes out 6 in electric Erie SeaWolves debut

Lehigh Valley IronPigs 5, Toledo Mud Hens 1 (box)

Making their way through the "Breakfast Battle" with Lehigh Valley (50-61), Toledo (45-65) found themselves in the red after Monday's series opener. A cluster of base hits gave the IronPigs a jump over Toledo in the first inning as Mike Belfiore (5-10, 5.25 ERA) proceeded to battle through seven innings, allowing four runs off eight hits with just a single strikeout. Aaron Altherr went deep for the IronPigs with a solo shot off Belfiore in the seventh inning. A soft-spoken offensive effort by Toledo was led by Steven Moya, who posted a pair of hits, bringing his hit streak to seven games. The newly returned Jeff McVaney knocked a double for the Mud Hens and was the lone Toledo representative to cross the plate. With the Lehigh Valley victory, Toledo drops their fourth consecutive loss, dropping the first half of their "Food Fight."

Moya: 2-4, 2 SO
McVaney: 1-4, 2B, R, SO
Krauss: 0-4, 3 SO
Belfiore (L): 7.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R (3 ER), 4 BB, SO

COMING UP NEXT: The IronPigs and Mud Hens are back at it on Wednesday at Fifth Third Field for game three of their four-game battle. New Toledo righty Luis Cessa (7-7, 3.98 ERA) is projected to make his Triple-A debut for the Mud Hens.

Erie SeaWolves 3, Portland Sea Dogs 0 (box)

Following a day off on Monday, the Erie SeaWolves (43-65) kicked off a new home stand against the Portland Sea Dogs (40-70) at Jerry Uht Park. For the first time in 120 games, SeaWolves fans were finally able to witness a shutout directed towards the opposition, courtesy of a lights-out debut from new pitching transplant Michael Fulmer (7-2, 1.75 ERA). Delivering 98 pitches in his campaign, Fulmer worked through 6 2/3 innings, holding Portland scoreless and allowing two hits while fanning six. Supported by solid relief work from the Erie pitching staff, the SeaWolves went 7-29 at the plate, led by a pair of hits from both Austin Green and James Robbins. Wynton Bernard posted a double, his 24^th this season.

Bernard: 1-4, 2B, R
Jones: 1-2, 2 R, RBI, BB
Robbins: 2-3, 2 RBI
Green, A: 2-3
Fulmer (W): 6.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 6 SO

COMING UP NEXT: Jerry Uht Park will welcome the Sea Dogs back on Wednesday for game two of the three-game series, which will pit Erie right hander Tommy Collier (3-1, 3.23 ERA) against Portland righty Aaron Wilkerson, making his Double-A debut for Portland.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 8, Clearwater Thrashers 0 (box)

As the Flying Tigers (42-61) took to the field to face off against Clearwater (60-49) on Tuesday, the Thrashers quickly realized that they were about to get a taste of some vintage Kevin Ziomek (6-9, 4.01 ERA). The Lakeland lefty was in absolutely dominant form as he commanded eight solid innings for the Flying Tigers. He silenced the Clearwater bats, allowing just a pair of hits while tallying a ridiculous 11 strikeouts. Ziomek now leads the Florida State League with 111 strikeouts on the year. Lakeland did their share at the plate, led by Jiwan James and Raph Rhymes who were responsible for six of the 11 Lakeland hits between them. James decided to send one deep with a two-run blast in the eighth inning, his sixth this season.

James: 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
Rhymes: 3-4, R, 2 RBI, BB
Hanover: 2-2, 2B, 3 R, 2 BB
Ziomek (W): 8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 11 SO

COMING UP NEXT: The two teams return to Bright House Field on Wednesday to tackle game two of their three-game series, set to kick off at 7:00 p.m. ET.

West Michigan Whitecaps 5, Clinton LumberKings 4 (box)

West Michigan (53-53) welcomed the LumberKings (34-73) to town for the start of a three-game series between the two clubs at Fifth Third Ballpark on Tuesday evening. Ross Seaton (9-5, 3.63 ERA) held the hill for five innings, allowing just one run off a pair of hits. The latest draft class members continue to build a case for themselves as Christin Stewart sent a pitch over the wall in the third inning for his second Whitecaps home run drive this season. Michael Gerber and David Gonzalez each posted a double and Will Kengor wrapped the night in a bow, punching a two-run shot out of the park to hand West Michigan the series opener. Adam Ravenelle (1-0, 5.82 ERA) earned his first win for the Whitecaps, working two scoreless innings in relief and fanning four.

Gerber: 1-4, 2B, R, 2 SO
Stewart: 1-4, HR, R, RBI
Pankake: 1-2, 2 R, 2 BB
Kengor: 2-3, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB
Gonzalez: 3-4, 2B, RBI
Seaton: 5.0 IP, 2 H, ER, BB, 7 SO
Ravenelle (W): 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 4 SO

COMING UP NEXT: The LumberKings will make a go at evening the three-game series in West Michigan as the two clubs face off again on Wednesday evening at Fifth Third Ballpark.

Aberdeen IronBirds 6, Connecticut Tigers 5 (F/14) (box)

Keeping with what seems to have become tradition as of late, the Connecticut Tigers (20-22) tried their hand at playing extended baseball against the hosting Aberdeen IronBirds (21-22) on Tuesday evening. Ryan Castellanos (0-0, 3.14 ERA) toed the rubber for the Tigers, working four innings and allowing five runs (three earned) off seven hits. Corey Baptist and Victor Padron led the Connecticut offense with a pair of hits each. Cam Gibson placed some extra power at the plate, punching a two-run shot in the fourth inning, his fifth long ball this season with the Tigers. Tying the contest at five, the two clubs cycled through a combined 10 pitchers, posting 23 hits and working through 14 innings of play. A pair of walks and two hit batsmen by Oswaldo Castillo (1-1, 2.77 ERA) sent the winning run across the plate for the IronBirds and Connecticut falls in game two, evening the series at a game apiece.

Padron: 2-5, 2B, R, BB, 2 SO
Gibson: 1-6, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, SO
Baptist: 2-6, 2B, R, 2 RBI, 2 SO
Jones: 1-6, 2B, 2 SO
Castellanos: 4.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R (3 ER), BB, 2 SO
Castillo (L): 2.1 IP, 0 H, ER, 3 BB, 3 SO

COMING UP NEXT: It's a repeat of Tuesday and the IronBirds clash with the Tigers for the game three finale of their series, slated to begin at 7:05 p.m. ET.