Michael Gerber’s grand slam delivers Flying Tigers win over Clearwater

Columbus Clippers 3, Toledo Mud Hens 2 (box)

Dean Green hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 2, but Columbus scored a run in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good. Toledo out-hit the Clippers 7-5, but left seven runners on base in the loss. Chad Huffman had two hits and an RBI, and Casey McGehee doubled and scored a run. Starter Matt Crouse worked 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits. The loss dropped Toledo to 36-48 on the season.

Huffman: 2-3, RBI, BB
McGehee: 2-4, 2B, R
Green: 1-4, HR, R, RBI, SO
Crouse (L): 6.1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 SO

Coming up next: Thad Weber (5-8, 4.00 ERA) will start for the Mud Hens as they continue their series with Columbus.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 10, Clearwater Threshers 5 (box)

The Flying Tigers fell into an early 3-0 hole, but climbed out of it with a four-run third inning against Clearwater starter Yacksel Rios. The two teams went back and forth for a couple more innings, and it wasn’t until Lakeland scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth that the score became as lopsided as the box score indicates. A.J. Ladwig earned his ninth win of the season for Lakeland, and Gabe Hemmer worked a three-inning save. Michael Gerber hit a grand slam to open Lakeland’s scoring in the third, and A.J. Simcox had three hits and scored three times.

Simcox: 3-5, 3 R, RBI, SO
Pankake: 2-4, R, RBI
Gerber: 1-3, HR, R, 5 RBI, BB, SO
Stewart: 1-1, R, 3 BB
Ladwig (W): 6.0 IP, 10 H, 5 ER, 5 SO

Coming up next: The Flying Tigers and Threshers continue their series on Tuesday in a 7:00 p.m. ET start at Bright House Field.

West Michigan Whitecaps 8, Great Lakes Loons 5 (box)

The Whitecaps offense was clicking all night, collecting 16 hits in an easy win over the Loons. Will Maddox led the way for West Michigan, reaching base four times and driving in a run. Every Whitecaps starter had at least one hit, and the top three batters in their order went a combined 8-for-15. Sandy Baez wasn’t particularly efficient, but earned the win after five innings of work. Drew Smith tallied his third save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning.

Maddox: 4-5, RBI
Hill: 2-5, R, RBI, 2 SO
Gonzalez: 2-5, R, RBI, SO
Pirtle: 2-3, 2B, R
Baez (W): 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, BB, 6 SO

Coming up next: Beau Burrows (5-4, 2.79 ERA) will start for West Michigan against the Loons’ Michael Boyle (5-5, 2.56 ERA) on Tuesday at Fifth Third Ballpark.

Connecticut Tigers 3, Williamsport Crosscutters 1 (box)

Starter Locke St. John was dominant, holding the Crosscutters to just three hits in six shutout innings. He struck out four and notched his second win of the season for the Tigers. The bullpen continued the excellent pitching performance, with only one run allowed in three innings. Recent draftee Mark Ecker struck out two in the ninth for his first save of the season. Offensively, the Tigers managed eight hits. Joey Havrilak tripled and drove in a run.

Havrilak: 2-3, 3B, R, RBI, BB
Bauml: 2-3, R, RBI, BB
Lester: 2-4, 2B
St. John (W): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO

Coming up next: Gregory Soto (0-0, 3.65 ERA) will take the mound for Connecticut against Williamsport’s Ranger Suarez (1-0, 3.45 ERA) at Dodd Stadium on Tuesday.

★★★

The Erie SeaWolves saw their game against the Harrisburg Senators postponed due to rain. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Tuesday starting at 5:00 p.m. ET. Tommy Collier (7-5, 3.22 ERA) will start Game 1 for Erie against Harrisburg's Greg Ross (3-1, 0.53 ERA). Calvin Drummond (0-1, 8.79 ERA) is scheduled to start the nightcap for the SeaWolves.

Prior to Tuesday's action, the Tigers have announced that they will recall right-handed pitcher Buck Farmer from Triple-A Toledo. No corresponding move has been announced yet, as the Tigers are likely waiting to determine whether lefthander Daniel Norris will need to be placed on the disabled list after leaving Monday's game with an oblique injury.