Tigers prospect Gregory Soto strike out 12 in Whitecaps win

Indianapolis Indians 8, Toledo Mud Hens 7 (box)

As sometimes happens in the minor leagues, Buck Farmer had something of a rollercoaster week and it showed on Saturday. The righthander, who was just optioned back to Toledo on Saturday morning, surrendered six earned runs in six innings of work. Still, the Mud Hens had a one run lead after a Brendan Ryan double scored Logan Watkins in the top of the sixth. Edward Mujica came on in relief after Farmer after command hit a batter and then walked the next without recording an out in the seventh. Mujica allowed both to score and gave up another pair of runs on top of it, putting the Mud Hens in a hole they couldn’t recover from.

Holaday: 4-4, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2B
Jones: 1-2, 2 R
Ryan: 3-3, RBI, 2 2B, BB
Farmer (L, 1-3): 6.0 IP, 6 ER, 7 H, HR, BB 7 SO
Rondon: 1.0, H, BB, SO

Coming Up Next: William Cuevas (2-3, 4.24 ERA) gets the ball in Indianapolis on Sunday afternoon.

Altoona Curve 4, Erie SeaWolves 1 (box)

Artie Lewicki gave the SeaWolves a solid outing, but the offense never found its footing in this one. Lewicki gave up a pair of runs in 5 ²⁄₃ innings, striking out five. Harold Castro had four singles on the day, and Dominic Ficociello had two hits, including a triple, but the offense was silent for the most part. Waldis Joaquin closed the door on hopes of a comeback, allowing a pair of runs in relief in the eighth.

Castro: 4-4, R
Stewart: 0-2, 2 BB
Lewicki (L, 2-2): 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, BB, 5 SO

Coming Up Next: The SeaWolves look to stop their losing streak Sunday evening, but have yet to announce a starter.

Clearwater Threshers 6, Lakeland Flying Tigers 5 (box)

In the conclusion of Friday’s rain delayed contest, the Flying Tigers held a late lead, but closer Mark Ecker blew his first game of the season. Burrows threw two scoreless on Friday before the rains came, and Fernando Perez succeeded him with four innings and just a run allowed. Meanwhile, the Flying Tigers offense was busy crushing baseballs. Zac Shepherd, Wade Hinkle and Arvicent Perez all homered in the losing effort.

Shepherd: 1-4, R, RBI, HR, 2 SO
Hinkle: 3-5, R, 2 RBI, HR, 2 SO
Ecker (BS, 1)(L, 1-3): 1.1, 3 ER, 4 H, BB, 2 SO

Clearwater Threshers 5, Lakeland Flying Tigers 1 (box)

Jose Azocar tripled and scored in the second inning, and that was all the Flying Tigers’ offense could muster in this one. Starter Sandy Baez was knocked around again. He gave up four runs in four innings on nine hits. Wade Hinkle had two of the Flying Tigers five hits.

Azocar: 1-3, R, 3B
Baez (L, 0-4): 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 H, 3 SO
Warner: 2.0 IP, ER, 3 H, SO

Coming Up Next: Kyle Funkhouser (4-1, 3.16 ERA) will make his first start at Advanced-A ball after being promoted from the West Michigan Whitecaps.

West Michigan Whitecaps 6, Lake County Captains 2 (box)

The Captains offense was just wheat to the thresher against Gregory Soto on Saturday. Soto punched out 12 batters in seven sterling innings to run his record to 4-0 on the season. He allowed just one run on five hits and a walk. The offense came through with a lot of timely hitting, scoring pairs of runs in three separate innings. Doubles from Blaise Salter, Cole Bauml and Drew Longley plated two in the second inning. Jacob Robson drove in a pair of his own, and the Whitecaps cruised with an eleven hit attack and six walks on the day.

Longley: 3-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B, SO
Salter: 2-3, R, RBI, 2B, 2 BB
Soto (W, 4-0), 7.0 IP, ER, 5 H, BB, 12 SO

Coming Up Next: The Whitecaps will go for the three game sweep against the Captains on Sunday.

Even with the promotion of Kyle Funkhouser to the Lakeland Flying Tigers, the Class-A West Michigan Whitecaps appear to have plenty of starting pitching to burn. Their lefties have formed a formidable trio through the first quarter of the season. Austin Sodders ranks second in the Midwest League in ERA at 0.73, while Gregory Soto is fifth at 1.26 after his victory on Saturday. The pair are a combined 9-0 with 95 strikeouts to just 30 walks across 72 ²⁄₃ innings. Rotation mate Eudis Idrogo isn’t far off the pace with a 2.49 ERA, though his strikeout totals are much more pedestrian.