Whitecaps erupt with 25 hit onslaught to bail out Gregory Soto

Durham Bulls 5, Toledo Mud Hens 3 (box)

The Mud Hens had this one in hand early, but the offense fizzled and things got away from the pitching staff in the later innings. Drew VerHagen authored another fine start, going seven innings, allowing three earned runs. He left a tie ballgame only to see Blaine Hardy and Bruce Rondon each surrender a run. The offense did well against a tough opponent in Blake Snell, but couldn’t break through against the Bulls’ pen. Bryan Holaday launched a two-run shot, and shortstop Brendan Ryan a solo blast to account for the Mud Hens’ offense.

Jones: 2-4, SO

VerHagen: 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, HR, 6 SO

Rondon: 1.0 IP, ER, 2 H, SO

Coming Up Next: Matt Boyd (1-0, 3.65 ERA) continues his quest to find his groove on Saturday night.

Trenton Thunder 4, Erie SeaWolves 2 (box)

Myles Jaye bent, but didn’t break, giving up three earned, four total, with the help of a bit of sloppy defense. Four walks had him dealing with a lot of extra traffic on the basepaths. Christin Stewart doubled, and A.J. Simcox rapped a pair of singles on a quiet night for the SeaWolves offense. Zac Reininger and Adam Ravenelle pitched a pair of clean innings in relief with a strikeout apiece.

Stewart: 1-4, RBI, 2B, 2 SO

Jaye (L, 1-6): 6.0 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 5 H, HR, 4 BB, 5 SO

Coming Up Next: Tyler Alexander (3-4, 5.01 ERA) goes in game one of the double-header Saturday evening.

West Michigan Whitecaps 15, Lansing Lugnuts 8 (box)

Gregory Soto finally had a rough night. The lefty has been dominant so far, but surrendered six earned on 10 hits in just 3 ²⁄₃ innings. There must have been something in the air, because his teammates rose up and just destroyed Lugnuts pitching in this one. They hammered out a freakish 25 hits, drawing seven walks and filling up and cleaning the bases again and again. 3B Josh Lester had three doubles, Blaine Salter, Chad Sedio and Danny Woodrow each added two apiece for a grand total of 11 on the night.

Salter: 4-7, 2 R, RBI, 2B, SO

Woodrow: 5-5, 4 R, 2 RBI, 2 2B, 2 BB

Lester: 3-6, R, 6 RBI, 3 2B

Soto: 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 10 H, HR, 2 BB, 6 SO

Coming Up Next: Spenser Watkins (3-1, 1.93 ERA) looks to extend the Whitecaps three game winning streak on Saturday evening in Lansing.

The Lakeland Flying Tigers are idle for the Florida State Leagues’s North vs. South All-Star game on Saturday evening. The Tigers’ home, Joker Marchant Stadium is the venue for this one, with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m. Beau Burrows was the only Flying Tigers’ representative selected before his promotion to Double-A Erie.