Whitecaps fall despite Elvin Rodriguez’s strong outing

Durham Bulls 6, Toledo Mud Hens 3 (box)

Toledo jumped out to an early lead in this one on RBI singles from Dawel Lugo and Christin Stewart in the first inning. All was well until the fifth when a decent Tyler Alexander outing turned sour. Alexander coughed up four runs there, pitched a clean sixth, and went back out for the seventh, where the Bulls got to him again for two more runs. A Jarrod Saltalamacchia sac fly plated Mikie Mahtook in the ninth, but the rally ended there.

Gerber: 2-4, 2B
Robson: 1-3, R, BB
Alexander (L): 6.1 IP, 10 H, 6 R (5 ER), 2 SO

Coming Up Next: Matt Hall looks to continue his roll as the Hens head to Norfolk. The Tides send Jimmy Yacabonis to the mound.

Erie SeaWolves: postponed

The SeaWolves and RubberDucks were rained out on Thursday. They’ll get the four-game set underway on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. ET, with a double-header planned for Saturday.

Clearwater Threshers 10, Lakeland Flying Tigers 7 (box)

Franklin Perez was expected to make his last rehab start, but it didn’t go so well. Perez allowed a two-run shot in the first, and worked just two innings before being pulled. No word yet on his next appearance, but that was a shorter outing than his previous effort, raising a bit of concern. The Flygers came back with two in the fourth and then pushed across four runs in the sixth inning to seize the lead. A two-RBI single from Luke Burch was the big blow in the inning. Unfortunately, Eudis Idrogo, Burris Warner and some sloppy play coughed the lead up in the seventh and Lakeland couldn’t muster a comeback.

Burch: 2-4, 2 RBI
Simcox: 1-2, R, RBI, 2 BB
Perez: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, SO

Coming up next: The two clubs get back at it on Friday night at 6:30pm ET.

Lake County Captains 2, West Michigan Whitecaps 0 (box)

Elvin Rodriguez pitched a great game, but the offense continued to sputter on Thursday. Rodriguez struck out six, walked three, and allowed just one run over six innings of work. Meanwhile the bats managed just four singles on the day.

Rivera: 1-3, SO
Bortles: 1-3, BB
Rodriguez (L): 6.0 IP, 3 H, ER, 3 BB, 6 SO

Coming up next: The two teams meet up again on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. ET.

State College Spikes 6, Connecticut Tigers 0 (box)

Carlos Guzman and Jack O’Loughlin each struggled in this one, combining for six innings and five runs scored. Darwin Alvarado and Wenceel Perez had the only two hits for the Tigers.

Alvarado: 1-4, 2B, 2 SO
Perez: 1-4
Guzman (L): 3.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO

Coming up next: The Tigers travel to Auburn to start a three-game set with the Doubledays. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. ET.