Tigers prospect Matt Manning spins a one-hit gem for the SeaWolves

Indianapolis Indians 4, Toledo Mud Hens 3 (box)

Hens starter Ryan Carpenter had a tough time on Wednesday. The lefty surrendered three home runs and four runs total in five innings of work. The offense couldn’t offer much support. Daz Cameron plated Harold Castro with an RBI single in the third to get the Hens on the board, but they didn’t score again until mounting a two-run comeback in the bottom of the ninth that just fell short. Dawel Lugo scored on a wild pitch in the ninth, and JaCoby Jones tripled home Harold Castro to pull within one, but the rally died there.

Cameron: 2-3, RBI, BB
Jones: 2-5, 3B, RBI, SO
H. Castro: 2-4, 2 R, SO
Carpenter (L, 0-1): 5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, BB, 4 SO

Note: Reliever Paul Voelker, who was the Tigers’ 10th round selection in the 2014 draft, was released on Wednesday. There is no word yet on a corresponding move.

Coming up next: The Hens now head out on the road for a weekend series with the Norfolk Tides. Beau Burrows will duel the Tides’ Luis Ortiz on Thursday evening.

Erie SeaWolves 5, Altoona Curve 1 (box)

Matt Manning produced another dominant performance on a chilly Wednesday afternoon in Erie, Penn. to earn his second victory of the young season. Manning allowed just one hit over seven innings of work, and punched out 10 of the 22 hitters he faced. He required just 84 pitches, 63 of which were strikes. That’s a strike percentage of 75 percent if you’re scoring at home. Manning’s fastball command was generally good, though still a work in progress. Based on reports from the broadcast team, he sat between 93-95 miles per hour and topped out at 96 mph with his customary easy, low effort delivery. The curveball and changeup, however, were still pretty loose, with Manning spiking numerous curves in the dirt.

Manning now has four starts at the Double-A level. He holds a 0.88 WHIP, with 28 strikeouts to seven walks. There is plenty of work left to be done, particularly in terms of command of his secondary offerings, but he may not find much of a test until he reaches Triple-A, if then. Right now, it’s still Manning versus himself, and the Tigers may decide to just let him work at Erie most of the year, and judge his progress more by his consistency with the curve and changeup, and whether his overall command can take another step up in quality. His numbers, meanwhile, are liable to be begging for a call-up to Toledo pretty soon.

On the offensive side, the SeaWolves had another strong day at the plate. Derek Hill led off the game with a double to left field, and got the scoring started with an RBI single in the third. Cam Gibson and Sergio Alcantara added two-hit games with a double apiece. The SeaWolves scored two in the third, and two more in the sixth, staking Manning to a nice lead as he wrapped up his day in the seventh. They tacked on a run in the bottom half of that frame, and Nolan Blackwood tossed two innings of relief, allowing a run and striking out three.

Hill: 2-3, 2B, R, RBI, SO
Eaves: 2-4, R, RBI
Gibson: 2-3, 2B R, SO
Manning (W, 2-0): 7.0 IP, H, 0 ER, 10 SO

Coming up next: The SeaWolves head to Binghamton to battle the Rumble Ponies on Thursday. Alex Faedo will take on Ponies starter Anthony Kay, with first pitch set for 6:35 p.m. ET.

Clearwater Threshers 4, Lakeland Flying Tigers 0 (box)

Flygers starter Tarik Skubal is making an excellent impression in the early stages of his pro career. The hard-throwing lefty posted another strong outing on Wednesday, but his offense and relief couldn’t get the job done. Skubal punched out six, allowing one earned run on two hits and a walk. Friend of the site James Chipman had this report on him.

Things got ugly in this one after Skubal left the game. Burris Warner came on in relief and allowed three earned runs in the seventh. In the course of the frame, manager Andrew Graham, and then Warner himself were ejected by home plate umpire Jhonatan Biarreta. Brandyn Sittinger came on in relief and shut the door on the Threshers the rest of the way, but the offense managed just four hits and a walk in the contest and couldn’t avoid the shutout.

Skubal (L, 0-1): 6.0 IP, 2 H, ER, BB, 6 SO

Coming up next: The Threshers and Flying Tigers meet up again on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ET. Elvin Rodriguez is the Flying Tigers’ probable starter.

West Michigan Whitecaps 6, Lansing Lugnuts 4 (box)

Adam Wolf tossed a fine game for the Whitecaps, and the offense got on the board early with a five-run second inning as the Caps held on to win on Wednesday. Wolf allowed just one run on three hits, striking out six over six innings of work. Ulrich Bojarski kicked off the scoring with a solo shot with one out in the second inning. After Avery Tuck walked and catcher Sam McMillan singled, Jeremiah Burks doubled them both home. After Wenceel Perez struck out, John Valente walked, and he and Burks rode home on a Nick Ames double. The bullpen was shaky, but the Caps held on despite allowing a run in each of the final three innings.

Burks: 3-5, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, SO, SB
Bojarski: 2-4, HR, R, RBI
Wolf (W, 1-1): 6.0 IP, 3 H, ER, 6 SO

Coming up next: Wilkel Hernandez takes the ball for the Whitecaps as they look to take the four-game road set on Thursday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. ET.