Tigers prospect Gregory Soto shuts down the Lugnuts in Whitecaps victory

Scranton-Wilkes/Barre RailRiders 7, Toledo Mud Hens 5 (box)

After an early RailRiders lead, the Mud Hens roared back with a four-run fourth inning to take command. Three doubles and the punctuation of a two-run shot from third baseman Michael Almanzar did the damage. Anibal Sanchez allowed his third run in the bottom of the inning and the score was 4-3 Toledo. Sanchez night ended after a leadoff double in the fifth and Victor Alcantara proceeded to blow up for four runs (three earned). The Railriders cruised to victory from there.

Almanzar: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, HR, BB
Navarro: 1-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B, BB, SO
Sanchez: 4 ER, 7 H, HR, BB, 5 SO
Rondon: 1.0 IP, BB, 2 SO

Coming Up Next: Drew VerHagen (3-3, 4.89 ERA) goes up against Luis Cessa (2-5, 4.76 ERA) on Saturday evening.

Erie SeaWolves 4, Harrisburg Senators 0 (box)

A.J. Ladwig spun a gem on Friday, striking out eight over six scoreless innings. He scattered four hits and a walk to earn the victory. Jairo Labourt continues to open eyes with his superb relief work and newfound control. He cleaned up the Senators with three perfect innings and three strikeouts to pick up his first save. Mike Gerber and Zack Cox provided the punch for the SeaWolves.

Gerber: 2-4, 2 R, SO
Ladwig (W, 2-1): 6.0 IP, 4 H, BB, 8 SO

Coming Up Next: Myles Jaye (0-4, 4.22 ERA) gets the start in the first game of a Saturday evening doubleheader. A.J. Achter (0-0, 5.06 ERA) will handle duties in game two.

West Michigan Whitecaps 1, Lansing Lugnuts 0 (box)

There is a war among the Whitecaps’ starting pitchers. Who can dominate the most from turn to turn? With Kyle Funkhouser in Lakeland, Gregory Soto has taken over as the top dog and he refused to relinquish that honor on Friday night. His control wasn’t at its usual level, but seven scoreless innings will do just fine any time, despite four walks. Tom de Blok and Jason Foley’s 100 mile-per-hour fastball did the rest, with Foley earning save number five. First baseman Drew Longley had three hits and drove in Anthony Pereira for the deciding run.

Longley: 3-4, RBI, 2B, SO
Soto (W, 5-1): 7.0 IP, 5 H, 4 BB, 5 SO

Coming Up Next: Spenser Watkins (2-1, 1.57 ERA) gets the ball on Saturday evening.

The Lakeland Flying Tigers were rained out on Friday. Kyle Dowdy (3-3, 2.53 ERA) gets the start on Saturday evening instead.