Lakeland Flying Tigers win Alex Faedo’s professional debut

Toledo Mud Hens 6, Louisville Bats 4 (box)

Ryan Carpenter had another rough outing in the Mud Hens’ season opener. Fortunately the pitching staff was able to get the game under control long enough for Mike Gerber to take it over. He and 3B Ronny Rodriguez combined for five RBI, with Gerber lacking only a triple for the cycle. Christin Stewart also homered in this one, while Victor Alcantara, Blaine Hardy and Johnny Barbato were excellent in relief. Zac Reininger struggled, but ultimately closed it out for the save.

Gerber: 3-4, R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR, BB
Rodriguez: 2-5, 3 RBI, SO
Alcantara: 2.1 IP, BB, SO

Coming Up Next: The Mud Hens will stay in Louisville through the weekend. Saturday’s game time is 6:30pm ET. No starters are announced as of yet.

Erie SeaWolves 4, Reading Fightin’ Phils 1 (box)

Sandy Baez was a monster in his first start of the Eastern League season. Baez only went 4 ²⁄₃ innings but he struck out 10 along the way to just a walk and three hits. Gabriel Quintana homered, while Jake Robson, Dominic Ficociello and Jake Rogers each batted in a run. Kyle Dowdy gave the SeaWolves some solid middle relief before turning things over to side-arm sensation John Schreiber, who had zero trouble picking up the save.

Quintana: 2-4, R, RBI, HR, SO
Alcantara: 3-4
Baez (W): 4.2 IP, 10 K, BB, 3 H

Coming Up Next: Spencer Turnbull draws a tough matchup, taking on Jojo Romero at 6:15pm ET, as the weekend road series in Reading continues.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 6, Tampa Bay Tarpons 5 (box)

The Tigers number one pick in the 2017 draft, Alex Faedo, made his professional debut on Friday. It went alright, despite Faedo giving up a pair of solo shots, one of them to a good Yankees prospect in Estevan Florial, in the first inning. He settled in to go five, punching our four and retiring the final 13 hitters he faced in order.

The Flying Tigers’ middle relief struggled to hold an early lead, but the offense picked them up. Blaise Salter had a pair of doubles, while Isaac Paredes tallied an RBI single. Daz Cameron and Derek Hill combined to draw five walks from the Yankees’ farmhands, though both were caught stealing in this one. Catcher Andres Sthormes smacked a two run double in the sixth and scored on a double from Jose Azocar which proved the margin of victory. Eduardo Jimenez settled the leaky bullpen and picked up the save.

Salter: 2-4, RBI, 2 2B
Gibson: 2-4, R, 2B
Faedo: 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 SO, 2 H

Coming Up Next: The Flying Tigers will host Tampa again on Saturday, with Austin Sodders battling Jonathan Loaisiga at 6:30pm ET.

West Michigan Whitecaps: No game

The West Michigan Whitecaps had their game with the South Bend Cubs postponed due to high winds, cold and rain. Eudis Idrogo will take on Javier Assad on Saturday night at 7:00pm ET instead.