Tigers prospect Matt Manning strikes out 9 in his season debut

Indianapolis Indians 5, Toledo Mud Hens 3 (box)

The Hens kicked this one off right, with back-to-back home runs by Matt den Dekker and JaCoby Jones. However the offense fizzled from that point on. They had a decent excuse, as Tyler Glasnow had his A-game, punching out 11 en route to a short but dominant outing. Anthony Vasquez pitched one-run ball through five, but fell apart in the sixth, surrendering three runs. He had help, as Jeff Ferrell came on after Vasquez loaded the bases and allowed all three to score. Joe Jimenez surrendered the Indians’ final run in his second outing since returning to the Mud Hens. den Dekker hit a second solo shot late to complete the scoring.

den Dekker: 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 HR, BB, SO
Jones: 2-4, R, RBI, HR
Vasquez (L): 4 ER, 4 H, 5 BB, 2 SO

Coming Up Next: Drew VerHagen (4-4, 4.50 ERA) looks to salvage the final game of the series against the Indians.

Erie SeaWolves 6, Portland SeaDogs 4 (box)

A.J. Ladwig was hit hard early, surrendering four runs, but he hung in there long enough to get the win. The SeaWolves backed him with six runs over the first three innings. Quality relief work from Sean Donatello, Bryan Garcia, and Jairo Labourt locked this one up.

Stewart: 1-3, 2 RBI, SO
Watkins: 3-4, 2 R, RBI, HR, 2B
Ladwig (W): 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 11 H, HR, BB, 4 SO

Coming Up Next: Myles Jaye (1-6, 3.92 ERA) has slowly turned his season around. He’ll take on the SeaDogs at noon on Wednesday.

Dunedin Blue Jays 2, Lakeland Flying Tigers 1 (box)

Sandy Baez continues to come on strong. The righthander was nearly unhittable on Tuesday, striking out 11 to just two hits. He allowed just one run, but the Flying Tigers couldn’t get anything going. Zac Shepherd had the lone RBI for the Tigers, while Jeff Thompson allowed the Blue Jays to walk this one off in the ninth.

Baez: 7.0 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, 11 SO

Coming Up Next: Kyle Dowdy (4-4, 2.57 ERA) looks to continue his fine season against the Blue Jays on Wednesday evening.

Connecticut Tigers 9, Tri-City ValleyCats 0 (box)

The Tigers’ prized possession, top prospect Matt Manning, made his season debut on Tuesday and he did not disappoint. Manning was electric from the start, striking out six of the first seven hitters he faced. The Tigers will slowly look to build his pitch counts, but Manning was set at a hard cap of 75 on Tuesday. He went 4 ¹⁄₃ innings, racking up nine strikeouts to one walk with three hits allowed. The relief work was stellar, as the pitching staff combined to no-hit the ValleyCats the rest of the way. The Tigers’ 2017 second round pick, Reynaldo Rivera, picked up a pair of walks and scored a run. Randel Alcantara and Hector Martinez homered for the Tigers, while Sam Machonis racked up three RBI as the Tigers cruised in their opener.

Machonis: 2-3, R, 3 RBI, 2B, BB
Martinez: 2-5, R, RBI, HR, SO
Manning: 4.1 IP, 3 H, BB, 9 SO

Coming Up Next: The Tigers will take on the Aberdeen Ironbirds on Wednesday evening.

The West Michigan Whitecaps were off Tuesday for the Midwest League All-Star Game. They will get back in action on Thursday, sending Eudis Idrogo (3-2, 2.86 ERA) to the mound against the Lansing Lugnuts.