Tigers prospect Daz Cameron homers in Mud Hens loss

Indianapolis Indians 9, Toledo Mud Hens 6 (box)

It was a rough go for Kyle Funkhouser on Tuesday night. The Hens’ starter surrendered five runs overall and didn’t make it out of the fourth inning. Paul Voelker couldn’t get the Hens out of the frame without further damage, and the Indians scored four runs in the inning. Daz Cameron led off for the Hens with a solo shot, his first of the season. He also doubled as part of a three hit game, and also drew a walk in the contest. Danny Woodrow tripled, walked twice, and drove in a run, while Victor Reyes had the other Hens’ RBI. Kudos to Sandy Baez and Eduardo Paredes as they were the only two Hens pitchers not to allow a run in this one.

Cameron: 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB
Woodrow: 1-3, 3B, RBI, 2 BB, 2 SO, SB
Funkhouser (L, 0-1): 3.1 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO

Coming up next: Ryan Carpenter gets the ball for the Hens on Wednesday night, as they wrap this two-game set against the Indians. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. ET. Starting Thursday, the Hens will head out on the road for eight games in Norwich and then Indianapolis.

Erie SeaWolves 4, Altoona Curve 3 (box)

Despite plenty of offense in this one, both pitching staffs did a nice job limiting damage. Erie starter Nick Ramirez didn’t make it out of the fourth inning, but allowed just one run on six hits, punching out seven. The lone run was a solo shot off the bat of Hunter Owen in the second inning. Joe Navilhon allowed a run in relief but earned the victory with 2 ¹⁄₃ innings of one run ball. The curve led 2-1 before the SeaWolves broke out with a three-run sixth inning to pull away. They loaded the bases when Jose Azocar soft-served a single into center field to plate two. A wild pitch then allowed Daniel Pinero to score from third. Drew Carlton and Eduardo Jimenez locked down the late innings, though Jimenez allowed a solo shot in the ninth to make things interesting.

Azocar: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Lester: 2-4, 2 R, SO
Navilhon (W, 1-0): 2.1 IP, 3 H, ER, 3 SO

Coming up next: The Curve will have to deal with Matt Manning on Wednesday at 12:05 p.m. ET, with the series tied at a game apiece.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 3, Clearwater Threshers 1 (box)

The Threshers had a mountain to climb taking on the Tigers’ top prospect, starting pitcher Casey Mize. They were unable to climb it. Mize punched out seven, allowing a run on four hits in six dominant innings of work. Mize threw 50 of his 73 pitches for strikes, and as expected, handled his tune-up starts in Lakeland with no issue at all. It will be interesting to see how much longer the Tigers wait before sending him to Double-A Erie to face more appropriate competition.

As for the Flying Tigers’ offense, they were up to the task as well. After Mize allowed a run in the second, Zac Shepherd doubled home A.J. Simcox in the bottom half of the frame to tie things up again at 1-1. In the fourth, it was shortstop Cole Peterson driving in Rey Rivera and catcher Joey Morgan with a single for the eventual margin of victory. JaCoby Jones went 1-for-4 with a strikeout in his rehab appearance, while Will Vest picked up his first save of the season.

Peterson: 1-2, 2 RBI, BB, CS
Simcox: 2-4, 2B, R, SO
Mize (W, 1-0): 6.0 IP, 4 H, ER, 7 SO

Coming up next: Clearwater and the Flying Tigers lock up again on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. ET. Tarik Skubal is on schedule to start for Lakeland.

West Michigan Whitecaps 7, Lansing Lugnuts 6 (box)

Starter Kacey Murphy didn’t fare too well on Tuesday. He was knocked out of the game in the third inning with two runs in. Angel De Jesus came on in relief and quieted things down through the fifth inning, allowing just one earned run. That was long enough for the ‘Caps offense to get rolling.

Jordan Pearce mashed a two-run homer to right in the third inning. In the fourth, Wenceel Perez drew a bases loaded walk to plate a run, followed by singles from Pearce and Parker Meadows to piece together a four-run inning and take a 7-3 lead into the sixth inning. Maddux Conger was unfortunately unable to live up to his namesake in relief, allowing a three run sixth inning which made for a nail-biter in the late innings. Fortunately, Angel Reyes was able to shut the door on the sixth, and kept the Lugnuts off the board for two more innings. Yaya Chentouf picked up the save.

Pearce: 3-4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB, SO
Meadows: 1-3, RBI, 2 BB, SO
Ames: 2-5, 2B, R, SO
Murphy: 2.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, SO

Coming up next: With the four game road series even at one game apiece, the Whitecaps will send lefty Adam Wolf to the mound against Joey Murray and the Lugnuts, with first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. ET.