Mud Hens lose despite a Victor Reyes grand slam

Columbus Clippers 11, Toledo Mud Hens 10 (F/10) (box)

The game was a general debacle from the perspective of the two pitching staffs, but hey, the position players enjoyed themselves. The Mud Hens mounted a furious middle innings rally to overcome a disastrous start by Kyle Funkhouser. Funkhouser was lifted after just two outs and 36 pitches, with four runs scored. Tyler Alexander came on and struck out six in four innings, but allowed two more runs to cross home plate. The Hens fought back with two in the fourth, and then erupted for a seven-run fifth inning. This included Hens hitters drawing five walks, and was capped by a grand slam to right field off the bat of Victor Reyes. Unfortunately, Zac Houston blew up late and allowed the Clippers to send it to extras where Eduardo Paredes took the loss in 10 innings.

Reyes: 1-5, HR, R, 4 RBI, SO
Woodrow: 2-4, 2 R, RBI, BB, SO
Cameron: 1-3, 2B, R, 2 BB, SO
Funkhouser: 0.2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, BB, 2 SO

Coming up next: The two clubs meet up again on Saturday at 5:05 p.m. ET. Beau Burrows appears on schedule to get the start.

Erie SeaWolves (postponed)

The SeaWolves and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies were rained out on Friday. The postponement marked the fourth game of the young season between these two squads that has been washed out due to inclement weather. They will play two on Saturday to try and get their season schedule back in some kind of shape.

Lakeland Flying Tigers (postponed)

From Pennsylvania to Florida, it was a rough day for baseball. The Flying Tigers and the Dunedin Blue Jays were rained out on Friday as well. The game has been rescheduled for May 19. The two clubs will attempt to play baseball again on Saturday night at 6:00 p.m. ET.

The Tigers have also placed outfielder Brock Deatherage on the 7-day injured list.

West Michigan Whitecaps 12, Fort Wayne TinCaps 3 (F/7) (box)

This had to be a satisfying win for the ‘Caps. Wilkel Hernandez blanked the TinCaps for five innings, and the offense got loose, scoring eight runs in the first three innings to run away with the victory. It was a big night at the plate for Parker Meadows in particular. The Whitecaps loaded the bases in the first, and Ulrich Bojarski reached on an error while Reece Hampton raced home with the first run of the game. Meadows followed with a two-run single to score Perez and John Valente. A wild pitch allowed Bojarski to score and the lead was 4-0. They got right back after it in the second inning when Bojarski doubled home two runs and later scored from third on a passed ball. The rout was on, with Meadows capping the scoring in the seventh with a towering solo shot to right off the Tin Caps’ second baseman working in mop-up duty.

Meanwhile, Hernandez took a no-hitter into the fifth inning. He got a lot of routine fly balls in this one, though he only punched out four TinCaps. The wheels came off a bit in the sixth, as Hernandez allowed a pair of runs and was lifted with one out. Sandel De La Cruz took it the rest of the way, allowing just one hit.

Meadows: 2-4, HR, R, 3 RBI, SO
Bojarski: 2-5, 2B, 2 R, 4 RBI
Hampton: 3-3, 3B, R, RBI, 2 BB
Hernandez (W, 2-1): 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO

Fort Wayne TinCaps 2, West Michigan Whitecaps 1 (F/7) (box)

The nightcap was a much tighter affair. Carlos Guzman was solid overall, but allowed a two-run second inning that proved to be the difference. Three times in the inning, Guzman lost a hitter in a 3-2 count, and the walks came back to bite him. A based loaded forceout plated the first run against him, while Luis Almanzar stole home as part of a double-steal later in the frame. Jose King doubled home Wenceel Perez in the third, and that was a wrap for the scoring as the Whitecaps just couldn’t muster much of a rally the rest of the way.

King: 1-2, 2B, RBI
Perez: 1-2, R, SB
Guzman (L, 1-2): 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO

Coming up next: Gio Arriera starts for the Whitecaps on Saturday, while lefty Ramon Perez goes for the TinCaps. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. ET.