Tigers prospect Beau Burrows tallies 8 strikeouts in Whitecaps win

Toledo Mud Hens 7, Columbus Clippers 3 (box)

The Mud Hens scoed two runs in the top of the first and added a couple more in the next two innings to take an early 4-1 lead over Columbus. A three-run fifth boosted their lead to 7-1, and the Toledo bullpen worked 2 ²⁄₃ scoreless innings to preserve a win over the Clippers. The Mud Hens tallied 13 hits off Columbus pitching, including four home runs. Alex Presley, Chad Huffman, Dean Green, and Dixon Machado all went yard for Toledo. Donn Roach earned his third win after scattering nine hits and three runs (two earned) over 6 ¹⁄₃ innings.

Green: 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 SO
Machado: 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, SO
Presley: 2-5, HR, R, RBI, SO
Moya: 2-5, R, RBI, SO, SB
Roach (W): 6.1 IP, 9 H, 3 R (2 ER), BB, 6 SO

Coming up next: Mike Pelfrey (0-0, 3.00 ERA) will make another rehab start for the Mud Hens on Saturday. He will face Columbus’ Shawn Morimando (5-1, 2.62 ERA).

Erie SeaWolves 2, Binghamton Mets 0 (box)

Tyler Alexnader held the Mets to two runs in six innings to earn his second win since being called up to Double-A. Alexander was uncharacteristically wild, walking three batters, but he struck out five. Christin stewart broke a scoreless tie with a solo home run in the fifth, his fourth at the Double-A level. Kody Eaves doubled the lead with an RBI single in the seventh, one of his two hits on the game. The Erie bullpen combined to throw three scoreless innings to cap off the win.

Eaves: 2-3, RBI, SO
Stewart: 1-4, HR, R, RBI
Jones: 1-3, 2B, BB
Alexander (W): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO

Coming up next: The SeaWolves continue their series with Binghamton on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. ET.

Lakeland Flying Tigers vs. Tampa Yankees: postponed

Those following these recaps this week — or, you know, the weather — will not be surprised to hear that the Flying Tigers had yet another game postponed due to rain. The Flygers and Yankees will try to play a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1:00 p.m. ET. Spencer Turnbull (1-1, 3.38 ERA) will start the first game for Lakeland.

West Michigan Whitecaps 3, South Bend Cubs 0 (box)

Beau Burrows struck out a career-high eight batters in five innings and lowered his ERA to 3.15 after not allowing a run. The Whitecaps offense didn’t score until the bottom of the sixth, though, so reliever Toller Boardman picked up the win. Boardman was arguably more impressive than his more heralded teammate, limiting the Cubs to just one hit and one walk in four innings. The Whitecaps only had two extra base hits, but picked up enough offense to clinch the win. Will Maddox and Arvicent Perez had two hits apiece.

Maddox: 2-3, R, BB, SB
Perez: 2-4, 2B, R, RBI
Burrows: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 8 SO
Boardman (W): 4.0 IP, H, 0 ER, BB, 5 SO

Coming up next: The Whitecaps and Great Lake Loons will play a doubleheader on Saturday. The first game is the completion of a suspended game from July 7. Trent Szkutnik (3-3, 2.40 ERA) will start the nightcap.

Lowell Spinners 5, Connecticut Tigers 3 (F/7) (box)

The Tigers entered the bottom of the seventh down 5-1, but scored a pair of runs to make things close before ultimately losing their 33rd game of the season. Jacob Robson struck the big blow in the seventh with a two-run double, but Austin Athmann popped out to end the game. Robson was Connecticut’s only offensive threat, reaching base three times. Josh Lester also drove in a run for Connecticut.

Robson: 1-2, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, SO
Woodrow: 1-4, R
Bauml: 1-4, R, BB
Sodders (L): 3.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R (2 ER), 3 SO

Lowell Spinners 3, Connecticut Tigers 1 (F/7) (box)

Kyle Funkhouser limited the Spinners to one hit and one walk in three scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to 2.65 in 37 ¹⁄₃ professional innings this season. Alfred Gutierrez was roughed up for three runs in the sixth, and the Tigers could only manage to answer with a single run. Josh Lester drove in the run for Connecticut on a double, but was picked off of second base to end the inning. Lowell closer Dioscar Romero picked up his sixth save with a scoreless seventh.

Robson: 2-3
Athmann: 1-3, 2B, R, SO
Lester: 1-3, 2B, RBI, SO
Funkhouser: 3.0 IP, H, 0 ER, BB, 2 SO

Coming up next: Ryan Castellanos (7-6, 5.18 ERA) will start for the Tigers against Red Sox first round pick Jason Groome (0-0, 3.38 ERA) on Saturday.