Toledo Mud Hens 11, Lehigh Valley IronPigs 4 (box)
Ryan Carpenter threw a good game, and the Hens’ offense erupted late in this one to power them to victory. Dustin Peterson and Mikie Mahtook each homered as the Hens racked up 13 hits, scoring four runs in both the sixth and the eighth innings. Carpenter struck out nine and spun 5 1⁄3 innings of one run ball to keep the IronPigs’ offense in check until the offense broke through. Zac Reininger allowed three runs in an inning of work but John Schreiber, Bryan Garcia, and Jose Cisnero had no issues taking it to the house.
Peterson: 3-5, 2 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
Cameron: 2-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI, SO
Castro: 1-3, 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB
Carpenter (W, 2-4): 5.1 IP, ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 9 SO
Coming Up Next: Drew VerHagen starts for the Hens on Thursday night in Lehigh Valley aiming for the series sweep.
Erie SeaWolves 3, Portland Sea Dogs 2 (box)
Anthony Castro made a bit of a statement on Wednesday. The 24-year-old has been in and out of the Erie SeaWolves’ rotation in his first real tour of the Double-A level. Castro had command of both slider and changeup, and got plenty of whiffs on each, ultimately striking out 11 Sea Dogs in seven innings of work. He needed just 91 pitches to do it and actually started the eighth. A leadoff walk brought manager Mike Rabelo out with the hook, and reliever Drew Carlton allowed the inherited runner to score for the only blemish on Castro’s portion of the scorecard.
The SeaWolves’ offense gave Castro some early cushion when they loaded the bases with one out but only pushed across one run in the second inning. They came back for more in the third on a two-run shot from Josh Lester. Carlton was a little shaky, but was not at all helped by Cam Gibson mistakenly throwing the ball into the stands after a catch in foul territory in the belief that it was the third out of the inning. Alas, it was only the second out, which is embarrassing, and allowed the second run in the eighth for Portland. Trent Szkutnik came on in the ninth and picked up his first save of the season.
Lester: 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI
Alcantara: 2-3
Castro (W, 2-1): 7.0 IP, ER, H, BB, 11 SO
Coming Up Next: The SeaWolves are off Thursday as action moves to Akron for a weekend set with the RubberDucks.
Hat tip to TigersProspectsVideo on Twitter, who brings you Castro’s 11 strikeouts in highlight form.
Here are Anthony Castro’s 11 SO’s from his start today!
— TigersProspectsVideo (@ProspectsVideo) June 19, 2019
Line:
7 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 11 SO, 0 HR
Everything was working today for Castro. His command was excellent, controlling all 3 of his pitches (FB,SL,CH). He also mixed speeds and had tons of life on his 95-97 MPH fastball! pic.twitter.com/Qv2Xq6UZKu
St. Lucie Mets 5, Lakeland Flying Tigers 1 (box)
Brock Deatherage posted a two-hit game out of the leadoff spot, but the Flygers offense otherwise did little to back starter Jesus Rodriguez. The Mets got to Rodriguez for two runs in the second inning, and then two more in the fifth to knock him out of the game. He struck out six but walked three on the day. Angel De Jesus punched out five in 2 1⁄3 innings work for the Flying Tigers, while Austin Sodders got an inning of work and allowed a run as he works his way back from injury.
Rodriguez (L, 2-9): 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 6 SO
Coming Up Next: The Flying Tigers meet up with the Charlotte Stone Crabs for a road series on Thursday night. Garrett Hill gets the start for Lakeland.
West Michigan Whitecaps (idle)
The Whitecaps will kick off the Midwest League’s second half with a road series against the Lake County Captains. Lefty Adam Wolf gets the start with first pitch set for 7:00pm ET.
Staten Island Yankees 3, Connecticut Tigers 1 (Gm 1)(F/7)(box)
Jack O’Loughlin struggled through four innings of work in the day game of an improvised doubleheader, and the offense couldn’t get anything going. O’Loughlin allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits and a walk. Rodolfo Fajardo tossed two good innings in relief. Eric De La Rose singled home Jose King for the Tigers’ only run in the sixth.
O’Loughlin (L, 0-1): 4.0 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 H, BB, 2 SO
Staten Island Yankees 6, Connecticut Tigers 4 (Gm 2)(F/7)(box)
Some sloppy defense cost the Tigers in the nightcap and spoiled a decent outing from Carson Lance. Lance tossed four scoreless innings before the wheels came off in the fifth. A passed ball and a wild pitch contributed as Lance allowed a pair of runs and turned the game over to Wes Noble, who allowed both inherited runners to score. The Tigers got to work in the sixth once Yankees’ starter Wellington Diaz was mercifully out of the game. A Jose King doubled was sandwiched between a pair of hit batters to load the bases. Jordan Verdon and Jose Quero each doubled from there as the Tigers tied things up at four apiece. Zac Shepherd immediately turned the lead back over to the Yankees, allowing a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth which proved the difference.
Verdon: 1-3, 2B, R, 2 RBI, SO
King: 1-4, 2B, R
Lance: 4.1 IP, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 6 SO
Coming Up Next: The Tigers and Yankees will wrap the series at 7:00pm ET on Thursday.