Derek Hill and Isaac Paredes power Whitecaps’ comeback win

Toledo Mud Hens 4, Syracuse Chiefs 2 (GM 1)(F/7) (box)

Buck Farmer avoided barrels and spared the bullpen for 6 ¹⁄₃ innings in the first game of Monday’s double-header. He scattered five hits, striking out two. Jason Krizan paced the Hens’ attack with a three-hit game and a pair of runs driven in. Blaine Hardy cleaned up the final two outs to earn his third save.

Krizan: 3-3, 2 RBI

Ficociello: 1-3, R, RBI, 2B, SO

Farmer (W): 6.1 IP, 2 R, ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 2 SO

Syracuse Chiefs 4, Toledo Mud Hens 2 (GM 2)(F/7)(box)

The Mud Hens mustered a bullpen day for the nightcap, sending Ruben Alaniz to the mound. He lasted just 2 ²⁄₃ innings, surrendering four runs with four strikeouts. Jairo Labourt and Jeff Ferrell stopped the bleeding, allowing no hits over the final 2 ¹⁄₃ innings, though they combined for three walks. The offense just couldn’t get much going. Efren Navarro launched a solo home run, while JaCoby Jones doubled and scored a run.

Navarro: 2-4, R, RBI, HR

Jones: 2-4, R, 2B, SO

Labourt: 2.1 IP, 2 BB, SO

Coming Up Next: Josh Turley (1-0, 2.81 ERA) starts for the Mud Hens on Tuesday.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 13, Bradenton 3 (box)

Cam Gibson was the star of the show in this one as the Tigers just hammered Marauders’ pitching. Gibson hit for the cycle, showing off his raw speed and power while racking up five hits and four RBI. Jose Azocar tripled and then added a two-run shot in the seventh. Josh Lester had a pair of doubles among his three hits. You get the idea. The game was actually close until the bottom of the sixth when the Tigers dropped seven runs on the Marauders to blow the game open. Sandy Baez went five innings before that point, giving up a pair of runs. Zac Houston and Johan Belisario each had three strikeouts in relief.

Gibson: 5-5, 3 R, 4 RBI, 2B, 3B, HR

Baez (W): 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, HR, 2 SO

Coming Up Next: Gregory Soto will make his debut for the Flying Tigers on Tuesday. The left-hander was outstanding for the West Michigan Whitecaps this season, compiling a 2.25 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 96 IP.

West Michigan Whitecaps 9, Lake County Captains 5 (F/10)(box)

The Whitecaps are 31-12 in the second half and just continue to pour it on. Even a rough debut from Matt Manning on Monday couldn’t stop them. The Tigers number one prospect lasted just 1 ²⁄₃ innings, surrendering four runs. He struck out three, but his control was not in evidence. Trent Szkutnik came on and briskly gave the Caps five innings of one-run ball. Meanwhile, the offense clawed their way back into the game and then broke out the late game heroics. Derek Hill tripled and scored in the eighth to pull within one. Isaac Paredes led off the ninth with a single to eventually scored the tying run. And, in the tenth, Derek Hill walked, stole second and came around to make it 6-5 Whitecaps, their first lead of the day. Four batters later, Paredes smoked a three-run shot that put the game out of the Captains’ reach.

Hill: 2-4, 2 R, RBI, 3B, SB, BB, SO

Paredes: 2-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR, BB

Pereira: 2-5, 2 2B

Manning: 1.2 IP, 4 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 3 SO

Coming Up Next: No starters are announced for the finale of this unusual five game series.

The Erie SeaWolves begin a three game series with Binghamton on Tuesday. Tyler Alexander (6-6, 5.21 ERA) gets the start.

The Connecticut Tigers and Auburn were rained out on Monday. They’ll get back at it on Tuesday with Ryan Castellanos (4-2, 4.03 ERA) going for the Tigers.