Tigers prospect Matt Manning notches 1st win for Connecticut Tigers

Columbus Clippers 4, Toledo Mud Hens 1 (box)

Michael Almanzar drove in a run to give Toledo an early 1-0 lead, but that’s all the offense the Mud Hens could muster on Sunday. They finished with just four hits on the game, two of which came from infielder Argenis Diaz. Meanwhile, Anthony Vasquez ran into trouble in the fourth, allowing three runs. Vasquez made it through six, but allowed four runs in the loss. Blaine Hardy and Joe Jimenez threw scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

Diaz: 2-4
Krizan: 1-3, 2B, BB
Vasquez (L): 6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO
Jimenez: IP, 0 ER, SO

Coming up next: Drew VerHagen (5-4, 4.15 ERA) will start for the Mud Hens on Monday evening as they kick off a series against the Gwinnett Braves.

Erie SeaWolves 3, Bowie Baysox 2 (F/7) (box)

The SeaWolves bullpen combined to hold Bowie to just two runs (one earned) in seven innings on Sunday. Victor Alcantara gave up four hits in two innings as the starter, but only ceded an unearned run. Jairo Labourt gave up the lone earned run, a solo shot off the bat of Baltimore Orioles prospect Adam Brett Walker. Mike Gerber, Zach Cox, and Kody Eaves drove in runs for Erie.

Gerber: 2-3, 2B, R, RBI
Eaves: 2-3, RBI
Spomer (W): 2.0 IP, 0 ER, BB, 3 SO
Labourt: 1.2 IP, 2 H, ER, 2 SO

Bowie Baysox 5, Erie SeaWolves 3 (F/7) (box)

Tyler Alexander went the distance in a seven-inning game, but gave up five runs on eight hits in the loss. He struck out eight and walked one on 107 pitches. Christin Stewart provided most of Erie’s offense with a pair of solo home runs, his 17th and 18th of the season. Mike Gerber also drove in a run for the SeaWolves. Ross Kivett and Gabriel Quintana each had a pair of hits in the loss.

Stewart: 2-3, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, SO
Gerber: 1-3, RBI, BB
Alexander (L): 7.0 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, BB, 8 SO

Coming up next: Artie Lewicki (4-3, 4.30 ERA) will get the start on Monday as the SeaWolves head out for a four-game road series at Akron.

Bradenton Marauders 5, Lakeland Flying Tigers 2 (box)

A two-run home run from Blaise Salter tied the game at two in the bottom of the eighth, but Jason Foley gave up three runs on four hits in the bottom of the ninth to blow the game for Lakeland. Anthony Gose worked 1 ¹⁄₃ innings in relief, striking out two without allowing a run. Offensively, the Flying Tigers had plenty of chances, but went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Jake Robson led the way with three hits, including a double and a triple.

Robson: 3-4, 2B, 3B, R
Pankake: 2-4, 2B, SB
Salter: 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, 2 SO
Baez: 4.2 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 8 SO

Coming up next: The Flying Tigers are off on Monday. Kyle Dowdy (5-4, 2.48 ERA) will get the start as they get back to action on Tuesday.

West Michigan Whitecaps 5, Lansing Lugnuts 2 (box)

Spenser Watkins worked 7 ¹⁄₃ strong innings while allowing just two runs in another Whitecaps win on Sunday. Watkins and reliever John Schrieber combined to give up a run in the top of the eighth, which tied the score at two. However, the Whitecaps offense came through with three runs in the bottom of the eighth to steal the win. Josh Lester homered and drove in two runs for West Michigan, and red-hot catcher Austin Athmann added two RBI.

Pereira: 2-4, R
Longley: 2-3, 2B, RBI
Lester: 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI
Watkins: 7.1 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO

Coming up next: Tom de Blok (0-0, 1.62 ERA) will start for the Whitecaps on Monday as they kick off a series against the Dayton Dragons.

Connecticut Tigers 6, Lowell Spinners 0 (box)

Top prospect Matt Manning struck out five in five scoreless innings to earn his first win of the season for Connecticut. Manning scattered three hits and two walks during his outing, but he and the rest of the Connecticut staff combined for a four-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts. Relievers Will Vest and Wladimir Pinto both struck out the side in their lone innings of work. Offensively, Connecticut was led by right fielder Teddy Hoffman, who homered and had two RBI. Colby Bortles and Junnell Ledezma also had two hits.

Hoffman: 2-5, 2B, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, SO
Bortles: 2-4, R, RBI, BB
Ledezma: 2-4, 2B, R, BB, SO
Manning: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO

Coming up next: The Tigers will finish up their series against Lowell on Monday. Prospect Derek Hill will return to game action for the first time after having Tommy John surgery last year.