Tigers prospect Matt Manning rolls with a scoreless Eastern League debut

Indianapolis Indians 4, Toledo Mud Hens 3 (box)

In a back-and-forth contest, the Indians added a run in the sixth and held on to even this three-game set. In the process, they reopened a 1 ¹⁄₂ game lead in the wild card hunt over the Hens in the West division, though the Columbus Clippers have won three in a row to seize the divisional lead overall. Warwick Saupold surrendered all four runs in six innings of work. Christin Stewart cracked home run number 22, a two-run shot in the fifth. He also collected a double to lead the offense. Daz Cameron tripled and scored twice.

Stewart: 2-4, 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI, BB, SO
Cameron: 2-5, 3B, 2 R, 2 SO
Saupold (L): 6.0 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, SO

Coming up next: Jacob Turner duels Alex McRae on Thursday in the deciding game of the series.

Harrisburg Senators 5, Erie SeaWolves 4 (box)

The SeaWolves lost, but Matt Manning was awesome in his Double-A debut. Watching Jake Rogers lead him felt like a glimpse of better days to come for the Detroit Tigers. Manning punched out eight and scattered three hits and a walk in six innings of work. In the process, he showcased perhaps the best command we’ve seen yet. He also featured more changeups than he typically throws, and they were much improved in terms of armspeed and command from the offering we saw just five days ago, eliciting numerous whiffs on the pitch. Let me just pause for a cold shower...

The SeaWolves scored one in the fourth and two in the fifth, with Dominic Ficociello, Sergio Alcantara and Isaac Paredes picking up the RBI. Manning left with a 3-0 lead, but the bullpen quickly began leaking oil. Nolan Blackwood allowed single runs in the seventh and eighth, and then John Schreiber uncharacteristically blew up in the bottom of the ninth to lose it.

Rogers: 2-4, 2B, R
Paredes: 1-3, 2B, R, RBI, BB, SO
Manning: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, BB, 8 SO

Coming up next: Alex Faedo gets the ball on Thursday night, as he takes on the Senators’ Wil Crowe.

Lakeland Flying Tigers

Another doubleheader with the St. Lucie Mets was completely washed out on Wednesday. Four rainouts. Two days. At least the Gulf Coast Championship game was able to be played. The Mets and Flying Tigers will try to play two again on Thursday.

West Michigan Whitecaps 6, Dayton Dragons 2 (box)

The ‘Caps jumped out to an early lead and kept building it while Brad Bass kept the Dragons in check. Bass went six innings, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk. Jordan Pearce paced the offense with a three-hit game, driving in two and scoring a pair of runs as well. John Valente was on four times with three singles and a walk. Wenceel Perez tripled home Brady Policelli in the third for the eventual game winner.

Pearce: 3-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI
Rivera: 1-3, R, RBI, 2 SO
Bass (W): 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, BB, 2 SO

Coming up next: Wilkel Hernandez toes the slab on Thursday, while the Dragons send Mac Sceroler to oppose him.

Aberdeen IronBirds 6, Connecticut Tigers 1 (F/7) (box)

Aberdeen rocked Tigers starter Carlos Guzman, tagging him with five earned runs in five innings of work. Avery Burks had a hit and walked twice, while Parker Meadows singled and scored the only Tigers run.

Burks: 1-2, 2 BB
Meadows: 1-3, R
Guzman (L): 5.0 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, BB, 5 SO

Aberdeen IronBirds 6, Connecticut Tigers 1 (F/7) (box)

It was deja vu all over again in the nightcap. The IronBirds knocked Alfredo Silva out of the game in the third after dropping five on him in the inning. Dayton Dugas doubled home Cam Warner in the top of the seventh for the Tigers only run. Alexis Garcia added two hits for the Tigers.

Dugas: 1-3, 2B, RBI
Garcia: 2-3, SO
Silva (L): 2.2 IP, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO

Coming up next: Stevie Ledesma gets the start for the Tigers on Thursday as they tangle with the IronBirds again.

Gulf Coast Championship

GCL Tigers West took down the GCL Cardinals on Wednesday to win the Gulf Coast Championship on Wednesday by a score of 9-2. Brayan Peña’s boys bathed themselves in minor league glory by jumping all over the Cardinals early. The Tigers scored three in the first and five in the third to put the Cardinals in a deep hole. Shortstop Ildemaro Escalona completed a fine series with a double, a triple, a run scored, and a whopping five runs driven in to lead the way. Starter Chavez Fernander was excellent, punching out nine in 5 ²⁄₃ innings of work. He allowed just one run on four hits and two walks.