Tigers prospect Derek Hill has a big night, leads Whitecaps to victory

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders 7, Toledo Mud Hens 5 (box)

Mud Hens righthander Thad Weber gave up six runs (four earned) in 5 2/3 innings of work, resulting in his fifth loss of the season. Weber and the Mud Hens had a lot of trouble with Yankees top prospects Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez, who combined for four hits (including a home run), three walks, three runs scored, and three RBI. The Mud Hens nearly evened the score with a four-run fifth inning, but couldn’t cap off the comeback in the later innings. Casey McGehee had a three-hit game, and Dixon Machado and JaCoby Jones added two hits apiece.

McGehee: 3-4, 2B, 2 R
Jones: 2-4
Machado: 2-5, RBI
Gose: 0-4, 2 SO
Weber (L): 5.2 IP, 9 H, 6 R (4 ER), 4 BB, 2 SO

Coming up next: Dustin Molleken (1-2, 3.57 ERA) will get a spot start for Toledo as they face former Tigers prospect Luis Cessa (0-1, 4.60 ERA) on Wednesday.

Erie SeaWolves 9, Akron RubberDucks 5 (box)

Erie jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first courtesy of an RBI single from Dean Green. After Akron knotted the score in the second, the SeaWolves scored seven unanswered runs to take a commanding lead and win their 27th game of the season. Green finished the night with three hits, including a home run, and five RBI to lead the way for Erie. Wynton Bernard homered from the leadoff spot and scored three times, while Corey Jones added three hits, two of which were doubles. Starter Tommy Collier was effectively wild, working around four walks to make it through five innings for his sixth win of the season.

D. Green: 3-5, HR, R, 5 RBI
Jones: 3-5, 2 2B, SO
Bernard: 2-4, HR, 3 R, RBI, BB, SB
McVaney: 2-3, 2B, 3 R, SO, SB
Collier (W): 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, SO

Coming up next: Anthony Fernandez (0-3, 5.18 ERA) searches for his first win of the season as the SeaWolves and RubberDucks continue their series. D.J. Brown (3-2, 3.40 ERA) will start for Akron.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 8, Fort Myers Miracle 3 (box)

Kade Scivicque, Michael Gerber, and Joey Pankake hit back-to-back-to-back home runs in the first inning off Fort Myers starter Tyler Jay, and the rout was on. The Flying Tigers added four more runs in the third and fourth innings with Gerber and Pankake doing more of the heavy lifting, then coasted the rest of the way to an easy 8-3 win. Wade Hinkle added an RBI and A.J. Simcox scored twice. Starter Artie Lewicki struck out seven, but only made it through four innings so he did not qualify for the win.

Gerber: 2-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SO
Pankake: 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI
Simcox: 1-3, 2B, 2 R, BB
Scivicque: 1-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
Lewicki: 4.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 7 SO

Coming up next: A.J. Ladwig (8-3, 2.32 ERA) goes for a Florida State League-leading ninth win of the season against Fort Myers’ Felix Jorge (5-3, 1.64 ERA).

West Michigan Whitecaps 7, Fort Wayne TinCaps 4 (box)

The Whitecaps jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to two walks, a balk, and a throwing error from Fort Wayne catcher Austin Smith. They added runs in the third and fourth, then salted away the win with one more run in the eighth. Derek Hill led the way at the top of the Whitecaps lineup, collecting three hits and an RBI. Jose Azocar added a pair of hits and two RBI, and shortstop Leonard Laffita also drove in two. Starter Trent Szkutnik wasn’t particularly sharp, allowing four runs on eight hits in six innings, but he earned the win nonetheless. Reliever Drew Smith struck out all five batters he faced.

Hill: 3-5, R, RBI, 2 SO
Azocar: 2-3, R, 2 RBI, BB
Laffita: 1-4, 2 RBI, 2 SO
Szkutnik (W): 6.0 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, BB, 2 SO

Coming up next: Beau Burrows (5-3, 1.99 ERA) and Fort Wayne’s Jacob Nix (0-3, 3.92 ERA) square off in a battle of top prospects at ParkView Field at 7:05 p.m. ET.