Josh Lester stays hot in Mud Hens loss

Gwinnett Stripers 8, Toledo Mud Hens 4 (box)

The Hens’ offense jumped all over Touki Touissant in the first inning, but things quickly went south as Tyler Alexander was rocked for seven runs in just four innings of work. Alexander gave up five home runs along the way. Perhaps the switch to the major league baseball in Triple-A is boosting home run power already. Then again, the Hens only hit one. With Danny Woodrow and Willi Castro aboard in the first, Josh Lester crushed a three-run shot to center field. Unfortunately, the offense stalled from there despite recording 14 hits overall. John Schreiber and Zac Houston quieted things down in the middle innings with strong work out of the bullpen, but other than a sacrifice fly by Dawel Lugo in the fourth that scored Willi Castro, the offense couldn’t mount a comeback.

Lester: 2-5, R, 3 RBI, HR, 2 SO

W. Castro: 2-5, 2 R, 2B, 2 SO

Woodrow: 2-3, R, 2 BB, CS

Alexander (L, 0-2): 4.0 IP, 7 R, 6 ER, 9 H, BB, 3 SO, 5 HR

Coming Up Next: Ryan Carpenter was originally scheduled for Friday’s start, but is presumably now starting for the Tigers on Saturday. However, Beau Burrows was scratched from Friday’s contest as well, so who knows, but someone will take on the Stripers at 6:05pm ET on Saturday.

Erie SeaWolves (postponed)

The SeaWolves and the Trenton Thunder were rained out on Friday. They’ll play a doubleheader on Saturday. Gregory Soto is scheduled to pitch in the first game. Meanwhile, Casey Mize is tentatively set to make his debut on Monday, while Matt Manning is set to pitch on Sunday.

Charlotte Stone Crabs 2, Lakeland Flying Tigers 1 (box)

For the second day in a row, the Stone Crabs won a tight 2-1 contest in Lakeland. Dane Myers pitched a solid game, allowing two runs over five innings of work. Back-to-back doubles from Rey Rivera and Zac Shepherd plated the Flygers only run. Billy Lescher and Max Green each tossed two strong innings of relief but the offense was stifled by great work from the Stone Crabs’ bullpen.

Peterson: 2-3, SB

Rivera: 2-4, R, 2B, SO

Myers (L, 1-3): 2 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 5 SO

Coming Up Next: First pitch on Saturday is set for 6:00pm ET.

Lake County Captains 6, West Michigan Whitecaps 5 (box)

Wilkel Hernandez was staked to a nice early lead in this one, but he squandered it, allowing six earned runs in 4 ¹⁄₃ innings of work. Three hits, two walks, and two batters hit by pitches built a five-run first inning for the ‘Caps. They would ultimately tally seven hits and seven walks, but were shutout for the final eight innings. Drew Crosby was excellent in relief. Crosby punched out five against two hits and a walk over the final 4 ²⁄₃ innings of this one. The bats just couldn’t piece together another rally.

Meadows: 2-5, R, SO, CS

Ames: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, SO

McMillan: 1-2, RBI, 2 BB

Hernandez (L, 2-2): 4.1 IP, 6 R, 5 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 4 SO

Coming Up Next: The Whitecaps will look for some payback on Saturday at 4:00pm ET.