Tigers prospect Tyler Alexander promoted to Double-A Erie

The Detroit Tigers promoted prospect Tyler Alexander from Advanced-A Lakeland to Double-A Erie after game action on Wednesday, August 3. Alexander, a left-handed pitcher selected in the third round of the 2015 MLB amateur player draft, had a stellar 2.13 ERA and 2.90 FIP in 101 1/3 innings for the Flying Tigers this season. He struck out over seven batters per nine innings and only walked 15, resulting in a 5.47 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Alexander also limited opponents to an excellent 1.00 WHIP.

Alexander was considered a bit of a reach when the Tigers drafted him out of TCU in 2015. A soft-tossing lefty, Alexander relies primarily on his four-pitch mix and command of his off-speed offerings to get opponents out. The folks at TigsTown were high on Alexander heading into the season, ranking him as the No. 10 prospect in the Tigers’ system; MLB Pipeline currently has him ranked seventh on their most updated list.

The Double-A level will be a strong test for Alexander. Most crafty lefthanders are able to breeze their way through the minors with above average off-speed stuff, but run into trouble when they start to face more advanced hitters. Alexander’s dominant numbers certainly warranted a promotion, and it will be interesting to see how he fares down the stretch with the SeaWolves.

Toledo Mud Hens 9, Louisville Bats 5 (box)

The Mud Hens offense managed just two runs on five hits against Louisville starter Robert Stephenson, but the floodgates opened soon after. Toledo scored four runs in the top of the seventh and three more in the eighth to break the game wide open and give their own leaky bullpen some room for error. Chad Bell picked up his eighth win of the season after allowing just one run in 5 1/3 innings. Steven Moya homered and drove in four runs, and Argenis Diaz added a solo shot. Moya’s home run was his 16th of the year while Diaz’s was his first of the season.

Moya: 2-4, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB, SO
McGehee: 2-5, 2 2B, R, RBI
Diaz: 2-5, HR, 2 R, RBI
Huffman: 1-5, 2B, 3 RBI, SO
Bell (W): 5.1 IP, 6 H, ER, BB, 5 SO

Coming up next: Daniel Norris (4-7, 4.88 ERA) will start for the Mud Hens on Thursday as they finish up their series with Louisville. Amir Garrett (2-2, 3.31 ERA) will start for the Bats.

Portland Sea Dogs 5, Erie SeaWolves 4 (box)

The SeaWolves scored a few early runs to take a 3-1 lead after three innings, but Portland came back with a four-run fourth to take a 5-3 lead they would not relinquish. Starter David Martinez lasted just four innings for Erie, allowing five runs on seven hits and a walk. The Erie offense out-hit Portland 10-9, but went just 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Anthony Gose drove in two runs, but also struck out three times in four at-bats. He is batting just .127/.273/.182 in 17 games with the SeaWolves.

Jones: 2-4, 2B
Bernard: 2-4, 2B
Gerber: 1-4, SO
Gose: 1-4, 2 RBI, 3 SO
Martinez (L): 4.0 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, BB, 4 SO

Coming up next: Tommy Collier (7-6, 2.99 ERA) will start against Portland’s Mitch Atkins (3-5, 4.90 ERA) as the SeaWolves look to avoid a three-game sweep against the Sea Dogs.

Tampa Yankees 2, Lakeland Flying Tigers 1 (box)

Matt Hall tossed five scoreless innings for the Flying Tigers, but took a no-decision as his offense could not come up with any runs while he was on the mound. The two teams played six scoreless innings before Tampa broke through against Lakeland reliever Austin Kubitza, scoring a pair of runs. Lakeland answered in the eighth when Ross Kivett hit a solo home run, his ninth of the season. However, a comeback was not in the cards, as the Flying Tigers left the game-tying run in scoring position in the ninth.

Scivicque: 3-4
Kivett: 1-3, HR, R, RBI, BB
Hall: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO
Kubitza (L): 2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 SO

Coming up next: Jeff Thompson (7-5, 3.80 ERA) and the Flying Tigers will continue their series against Yefrey Ramirez (2-3, 1.96 ERA) and the Yankees on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. ET.

West Michigan Whitecaps 4, Dayton Dragons 1 (F/7) (box)

The Whitecaps took an early 1-0 lead on a Cam Gibson RBI single, but needed three runs in the bottom of the sixth to win the first game of a doubleheader against the Dragons. Will Maddox and Will Allen drove in the other runs for the Whitecaps, who notched their 57th win of the season. Eudis Idrogo threw a complete game, limiting the Dragons to a run on just three hits with no walks.

Allen: 1-3, 2 RBI
Maddox: 1-2, R, RBI, SO
Azocar: 1-3, 2B, R, SO
Idrogo (W): 7.0 IP, 3 H, ER, 4 SO

West Michigan Whitecaps 3, Dayton Dragons 2 (F/7) (box)

The Whitecaps managed just four hits, but also drew three walks and were able to scrape across enough runs to sweep their doubleheader with Dayton. Brett Pirtle had the lone RBI for West Michigan, which tied the game at 2 in the bottom of the seventh. He stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error, then scored the winning run on a wild pitch. Toller Boardman picked up the win in relief, but starter Jordan Smith was the real star. He struck out nine in 5 2/3 innings while allowing two unearned runs on three hits.

Pirtle: 1-2, R, RBI, BB, SO, SB
Zambrano: 1-2, R, SB
Smith: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R (0 ER), BB, 9 SO

Coming up next: Fernando Perez (3-5, 5.49 ERA) will take the mound for the Whitecaps as they continue their series with Dayton on Thursday. Tanner Rainey (3-9, 5.73 ERA) will start for Dayton.

Connecticut Tigers 5, Batavia Muckdogs 0 (box)

Gregory Soto blazed his way through the hapless Muckdogs lineup, striking out eight while allowing just three hits in six shutout innings. Soto picked up his first win of the season, though this was only his third outing long enough to qualify for a ‘W.’ The Tigers offense racked up five runs on nine hits against Batavia pitching, and went 4-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Junnell Ledezma and Cole Bauml each had two hits.

Bauml: 2-4, SO
Ledezma: 2-3, 2B, R, RBI, SO
Havrilak: 1-4, 2 RBI, 2 SO, SB
Soto (W): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO

Coming up next: Austin Sodders (0-2, 2.95 ERA) will start for the Tigers against Batavia’s Ryan McKay (1-3, 4.09 ERA).