Tigers’ Daniel Norris dazzles in Mud Hens win

Toledo Mud Hens 7, Louisville Bats 1 (box)

Daniel Norris buzzed his way through the Bats lineup on Thursday, limiting Louisville to just one run on five hits in seven innings. Norris struck out seven and did not walk a batter, which lowered his FIP to 2.69 in International League action this season. The Mud Hens offense gave Norris a 3-0 lead to work with before he even took the mound in the first inning, and tacked on more runs shortly after. Catcher Miguel Gonzalez drove in three runs for Toledo, and Dixon Machado added a pair of RBI.

Jones: 2-2, 2B, 2 R, 3 BB
McGehee: 2-5, R, SO
Diaz: 2-5, R
Gonzalez: 1-3, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 BB
Norris (W): 7.0 IP, 5 H, ER, 7 SO

Coming up next: Matt Crouse (5-4, 2.78 ERA) will take on Trevor Williams (6-5, 2.88 ERA) and the Indianapolis Indians on Friday as the Mud Hens travel to Indy for a four-game series.

Erie SeaWolves 9, Portland Sea Dogs 3 (box)

Led by Anthony Gose, the Erie offense racked up nine runs on 13 hits in an easy win over Portland. Gose hit two doubles and a home run, and scored three times in his biggest game yet for the SeaWolves. He was assisted by Jason Krizan, who had three hits and a pair of RBI. Grayson Greiner and Kody Eaves also homered for Erie. Starter Tommy Collier only worked four innings, but the bullpen combined to limit Portland to a run on three hits over the final five frames. Paul Volker had a strong game with four strikeouts in two innings.

Gose: 3-5, 2 2B, HR, 3 R, RBI
Krizan: 3-5, HR, R, 2 RBI, SO
Greiner: 2-5, 2B, HR, R, RBI
Eaves: 1-2, HR, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB, SO
Collier: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 4 SO

Coming up next: The SeaWolves will travel to New Hampshire to take on the FisherCats on Friday. Taylor Cole (2-4, 4.23 ERA) will start for New Hampshire.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 10, Tampa Yankees 5 (box)

The Flying Tigers broke a tie game open with seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, chasing Yankees starter Yefrey Ramirez to the showers. Ben Verlander and Wade Hinkle both hit three-run homers in the inning to lead the way. Kade Scivicque continued to swing a hot bat with two more hits, and Christin Stewart drove in a run as well. Starter Jeff Thompson only worked four innings, but struck out six. Gabe Hemmer picked up the win in relief.

Hinkle: 2-4, HR, R, 4 RBI, SO
Scivicque: 2-4, R, RBI, SO
Verlander: 1-4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB, SO
Kivett: 1-4, 2 R, RBI, BB
Thompson: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO

Coming up next: Lakeland’s Trent Szkutnik (0-3, 7.52 ERA) will take on Shane Watson (3-4, 4.32 ERA) as the Flying Tigers open up a road series with the Clearwater Threshers on Friday.

West Michigan Whitecaps 9, Dayton Dragons 2 (box)

The Whitecaps took a 3-0 lead in the early innings, and broke out for six more runs in the fourth to salt away their game against Dayton. The middle of the Whitecaps’ lineup came through in a big way, as Will Maddox, Will Allen, and Brett Pirtle (their No. 3-5 hitters) combined for five hits and seven RBI. Derek Hill reached base three times and scored twice; he is batting .265/.314/.352 this season. Sandy Baez had a solid game, allowing a run on four hits in six innings for his sixth win of the year.

Hill: 2-4, 3B, 2 R, BB, SO
Maddox: 2-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, 3 SO, 2 SB
Pirtle: 2-3, 2 RBI
Baez (W): 6.0 IP, 4 H, ER, 2 SO

Coming up next: Fernando Perez (3-5, 5.49 ERA) will take the mound on Friday as West Michigan goes for a four-game sweep over Dayton. Alex Webb (0-1, 3.00 ERA) will start for the Dragons.

Batavia Muckdogs 9, Connecticut Tigers 1 (box)

The Tigers were limited to just five singles and three walks, and failed to make it a clean sweep for Detroit’s farm system on Thursday. Starter Austin Sodders threw three shutout innings, but relievers Oswaldo Castillo and John Schreiber had rough outings, allowing a combined eight runs (six earned) in 3 1/3 innings. Daniel Pinero had the lone RBI for Connecticut.

Pinero: 1-3, RBI, 2 SO
Bauml: 1-4, SO, SB
Sodders: 3.0 IP, 0 ER, SO
Castillo (L): 1.2 IP, 2 H, 5 R (4 ER), BB, 2 SO

Coming up next: Kyle Funkhouser (0-1, 3.60 ERA) will start against Batavia’s Jose Diaz (0-3, 6.39 ERA) on Friday at Dodd Stadium.