Gwinnett Stripers 6, Toledo Mud Hens 0 (box)
Spencer Watkins was hit hard on Thursday night, while the Braves farm system flexed some pitching muscle on the Hens. Watkins went five innings and was tagged for six runs, including a pair of home runs. The Hens’ bullpen settled things down, with new acquisition Carlos Torres contributing a scoreless inning, but the offense just couldn’t get going. Dustin Peterson cracked a double, but the Hens manage just two other baserunners on the night. With the loss, the Stripers take the series two games to one.
Watkins (L, 4-1): 5.0 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
Coming up next: The Hens welcome in the Charlotte Knights for a weekend set with first pitch on Friday set for 7:05 p.m. ET.
Erie SeaWolves 0, Reading Fightin Phils 0 (suspended)
This one was suspended after just one inning of play on Thursday. The SeaWolves will welcome the Akron RubberDucks on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. ET.
Bradenton Marauders 7, Lakeland Flying Tigers 3 (box)
Jesus Rodriguez threw a pretty good game, but the offense just couldn’t get going until the ninth inning when it was too late and the margin too great. Rodriguez struck out 10, and allowed three runs on five hits and a walk over six innings of work. Angel De Jesus blew up in relief, allowing four runs in the bottom of the eighth to put this one out of reach.
Meanwhile, the Marauders Cody Bolton was dominating the Flygers’ offense, one-hitting them through six innings with 10 K’s of his own. In the ninth, Brady Policelli led off with a single, just the third hit on the night for Lakeland. A hit-by-pitch and three walks pushed across two runs, and a Colby Bortles sacrifice fly made it 7-3, but the rally crashed there.
Rosoff: 1-3, RBI, BB, SO
Policelli: 1-4, R, SO
J. Rodriguez (L, 2-6): 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, BB, 10 SO
Coming up next: The Fort Myers Miracle comes to Lakeland Friday night at 6:30 p.m. ET for a weekend set.
Fort Wayne TinCaps 1, West Michigan Whitecaps 0 (box)
Hugh Smith made his home debut on Thursday and it went quite well. Unfortunately, the TinCaps’ pitching was even better as they shut out the Whitecaps. Smith struck out seven in five innings of work, allowing the lone TinCaps’ run on four hits and two walks. The Whitecaps had their scoring opportunities, but they were few and far between and they never managed to get the leadoff man on in an inning. In the ninth, an error by TinCaps’ pitcher Henry Henry — you’re welcome, you’re welcome — allowed Rey Rivera to reach with no outs. Jordan Pearce struck out, but Parker Meadows drew a walk to move Rivera into scoring position and Jose King came on to run for the big man. Avery Tuck and Jeremiah Burks each struck out to end the threat and the game.
Meadows: 1-2, BB, SO
Rivera: 1-4, 2B
Perez: 1-4, 2 SO, SB
Smith (L, 0-2): 5.0 IP, 4 H, ER, 2 BB, 7 SO
Coming up next: Kacey Murphy gets the start on Friday night as the Whitecaps travel to East Lake, OH to take on the Lake County Captains.