Indianapolis Indians 5, Toledo Mud Hens 4 (box)
The Mud Hens had this one in the bag, but Junichi Tazawa blew up for three runs in the ninth to lose it. Tyler Alexander pitched around nine hits, allowing two runs in 5 1⁄3 innings. Edwin Espinal and Christin Stewart each launched solo shots in the losing effort. In the seventh, they loaded the bases, and a walk, followed by a wild pitch, allowed two Hens to score to make it a 4-2 lead before the game slipped away.
Espinal 1-3, 2 R, RBI, HR, BB, SO
Stewart: 2-4, R, RBI, HR, BB
Alexander: 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 9 H, 2 BB, 6 SO
Coming Up Next: First pitch is set for 12:05pm ET on Tuesday as the Indians and Hens get back at it.
Reading Fightin Phils 1, Erie SeaWolves 0 (box)
Sandy Baez fought through battle after battle to go 5 2⁄3 innings on Monday. He only allowed two hits and one earned run, but four walks and five strikeouts testifies to some long at bats. Baez threw 63 of 106 pitches for strikes. Unfortunately the offense couldn’t get much going. Dominic Ficociello had three hits, while Danny Woodrow reached base three times, but the big hits never came.
Ficociello: 3-3, BB
Woodrow: 2-3, BB, SO
Baez (L): 5.2 IP, ER, 4 BB, 5 SO
Coming Up Next: Liarvis Breto was scheduled as of yesterday, but Matt Hall is now set to take on Jojo Romero Tuesday night in Reading, with first pitch set for 7:15pm ET.
Lakeland Flying Tigers
The Flying Tigers welcome in the Charlotte Stone Crabs on Tuesday night at 6:30pm ET. They were idle on Monday.
West Michigan Whitecaps 4, South Bend Cubs 2 (box)
Tom de Blok gave the Whitecaps a strong outing, and the offense roared to life with a three-run eighth to take the first of three games with the Cubs. De Blok allowed a run in the fifth, but went six innings, with five strikeouts. Joey Morgan launched a solo shot in the third inning to get the Whitecaps on the board. In the eighth, the Whitecaps rallied with speed. Brock Deatherage walked and stole second to lead off the inning. Jose Azocar then singled to score Deatherage. After Reynaldo Rivera walked, he was replaced by Eric De La Rosa as a pinch runner at first, and he and Azocar raced home on an errant throw on a Garrett McCain grounder. Will Vest helped Felix Viloria out of a jam in the eighth, and then closed out the ninth with authority to earn his third save.
Azocar: 2-4, R, RBI, 2 SB
Pereira: 2-4, 2 2B
de Blok: 6.0 IP, ER, BB, 5 SO
Coming Up Next: Matt Manning takes on Brendon Little in South Bend at 7:05pm ET.
Hudson Valley Renegades 11, Connecticut Tigers 1 (box)
Carson Lance was hit hard in a short start on Monday. Isrrael De La Cruz had a hit and a walk, scoring on a Sam McMillan RBI single. Jose King racked up his fourth double in eight games. Otherwise, there wasn’t a whole lot else to report in this one.