Tigers prospect Kyle Funkhouser suffers first loss in professional ball

Durham Bulls 8, Toledo Mud Hens 2 (box)

The Mud Hens were up 2-0 after the top of the fourth inning, but a five-run frame from the Bulls was too much for a lackluster Toledo offense to handle. The Mud Hens tallied just four hits, including a solo home run from Steven Moya in the fourth. They added five walks as a team, but were unable to capitalize, going 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Toledo starter Cory Riordan was roughed up in the fourth and allowed five runs in five innings of work. The bullpen didn’t fare much better, with Joe Mantiply and Logan Kensing also allowing runs.

Moya: 1-4, HR, R, RBI, 2 SO
Presley: 1-4, 3B
Jones: 1-4, 3B, 3 SO
Riordan (L): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO

Coming up next: Buck Farmer (2-4, 5.25 ERA) will start for the Mud Hens on Tuesday as they continue their series against the Bulls. Justin Marks (4-9, 4.03 ERA) will start for Durham.

Altoona Curve 3, Erie SeaWolves 2 (box)

The SeaWolves managed nine hits agains Altoona pitching, but eight of them were singles and the team couldn’t get the big hits they needed with runners in scoring position. Wynton Bernard and Jason Krizan had two hits apiece, and Krizan drove in one of Erie’s runs (Harold Castro had the other RBI). Artie Lewicki scattered nine hits in six innings and allowed two runs. He was saddled with his third loss of the season thanks to a SeaWolves batting order that could only muster one run until the final inning.

Bernard: 2-3, R
Krizan: 2-4, 3B, RBI
Castro: 1-3, RBI
Lewicki (L): 6.0 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 5 SO

Coming up next: Myles Jaye (4-7, 3.96 ERA) will start against Altoona’s Clay Holmes (8-6, 4.54 ERA) as the SeaWolves and Curve continue their series.

West Michigan Whitecaps 4, Burlington Bees 3 (box)

The Bees and Whitecaps traded blows over the final two frames, with each team scoring to tie or take the lead in their respective half innings. After Burlington scored the game-tying run in the eighth, Franklin Navarro singled home Azocar to take a 3-2 lead. The Bees tied the score again in the ninth, only to see Derek Hill score the game-winning run off a Will Allen single in the bottom of the inning. Speedsters Hill and Rashad Brown were menaces all evening long; Hill swiped his 31st base of the season, and Brown was on base four times.

Brown: 2-3, R, 2 BB
Hill: 2-5, R, SO, SB
Allen: 2-5, 2 RBI, SO
J. Smith: 3.0 IP, 3 H, ER, SO

Coming up next: The Whitecaps will enjoy a day off on Tuesday. Spenser Watkins (3-0, 3.21 ERA) will start for West Michigan as they kick off a series against the Fort Wayne TinCaps on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. ET.

Mahoning Valley Scrappers 3, Connecticut Tigers 2 (F/7) (box)

Mahoning Valley scored three runs in the first inning off Connecticut’s Kyle Funkhouser, who allowed seven hits in three innings of work. Mark Ecker and Clate Schmidt had scoreless outings in relief of Funkhouser, but he still suffered his first loss thanks to Connecticut’s stagnant offense. The Tigers only had four hits in seven innings, but still managed a late rally that fell just short in the top of the seventh. Daniel Pinero drove in both of Connecticut’s runs on an RBI single in the seventh.

Bauml: 1-3, 2B, R, SO
Havrilak: 1-3, 2B, R
Pinero: 1-3, 2 RBI
Funkhouser (L): 3.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 SO

Mahoning Valley Scrappers 8, Connecticut Tigers 2 (box)

Ryan Castellanos had a rough night, allowing six runs on 10 hits in just four innings. The Scrappers managed 13 hits in all, and coasted to an easy doubleheader sweep over the Tigers. Connecticut’s offense struggled to score again, and did not plate any runs until a late rally in the top of the seventh. Anthony Pereira had two of the Tigers’ five hits and drove in both runs.

Pereira: 2-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI
Machonis: 1-2, R
Swilling: 1-3, R, SO
Castellanos (L): 4.0 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, SO

Coming up next: The Tigers and Scrappers will finish up their three-game series on Tuesday evening. Alfred Gutierrez (1-3, 3.53 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Tigers against Mahoning Valley’s Juan Hillman (2-1, 1.89 ERA).

★★★

The Lakeland Flying Tigers were off on Monday. They will travel to Dunedin to take on the Blue Jays starting at 7:05 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Trent Szkutnik (0-3, 8.84 ERA) will start for Lakeland against Dunedin’s Justin Schafer (3-5, 6.13 ERA). The Flying Tigers have a four-game series in St. Lucie scheduled immediately after they face the Blue Jays this week.