Flying Tigers sweep Hammerheads behind a bunt ‘home run’

Toledo Mud Hens, Indianapolis Indians (postponed)

The Hens will send Kyle Funkhouser (3-6, 7.50 ERA) to the mound on Wednesday at 5:35pm ET in game one of a doubleheader. The two clubs were rained out on Tuesday night.

Erie SeaWolves 1, Richmond Flying Squirrels 1 (suspended)

Matt Manning ripped through four strong innings of work before rain caused a lengthy delay on Tuesday night. Manning allowed a solo shot and a walk, striking out five. Overall he looked in excellent form again, punching out a solid prospect in Heliot Ramos, and a really good one in catcher Joey Bart, along the way. The Tigers are trying to keep Manning’s workload light as he works beyond his 2018 innings total, so a shortened start just fits the program in the end. Cam Gibson lifted his seventh home run, also a solo shot, in the second inning to account for the SeaWolves lone run.

Play was suspended in the eighth inning, and they’ll resume action at 5:00pm ET on Wednesday, before moving on to tonight’s regularly scheduled contest. The Bowie Baysox lost on Tuesday night, and now trail the SeaWolves by 2 ¹⁄₂ games in the Western Division.

In other news, Daniel Pinero has hit the 7-day injured list. Kody Clemens has been promoted from Lakeland to take his place.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 2, Jupiter Hammerheads 1 (Gm 1)(F/8)(box)

The Flying Tigers pulled out a close fought game one as the two clubs made up a rainout from back on August 15th. Billy Lescher and Liarvis Breto combined on a bullpen day to throw six innings of one-run ball. Breto was charged with the only run, but also punched out five Hammerheads in 3 ¹⁄₃ innings of work. Reece Hampton got things started for the Flying Tigers with an inside the park home run, kinda...on a bunt.

Even after watching the play, it’s defies belief. What vortex did the ball disappear into after the catcher threw down the first base line? Apparently the ball went all the way down deep into the right field corner, and Hampton can run. Upon seeing where the throw was headed, Hampton turns on the jets and never stops. Technically this is a bunt single and an error, despite early reports of home cooking from the official scorekeeper, but either way that’s a play you don’t see too often.

Jupiter did score against Breto in the sixth of this scheduled seven-inning contest. So things went to extra inning rules after the seventh. Jason Foley threw two good innings of relief to earn the win as the Flygers finally scored again in the eighth. With Clark Brinkman at second base, A.J. Simcox came through with an RBI single to walk off the Hammerheads.

Hampton: 1-2, HR, R

Valente: 2-3

Breto: 3.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 SO

Lakeland Flying Tigers 2, Jupiter Hammerheads 0 (Gm 2)(F/7)(box)

Jake Thompson came up with an excellent start to lead Lakeland to the sweep. The once and again Tigers’ prospect tossed six innings of shutout ball. He allowed four hits and two walks with five strikeouts to his credit. Brock Deatherage came through with an RBI single in the third inning. Brady Policelli added an insurance run with his 11th home run of the year in the sixth inning. Angel De Jesus was a bit shaky in the seventh, but came through in the end to earn his fifth save with the Flygers.

Policelli: 1-3, HR, R, RBI

Hampton: 1-2, R, SB

Thompson: 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 SO

Coming Up Next: Garrett Hill (5-5, 2.61) takes the ball on Wednesday at 6:30pm ET as the Flygers look to make it three straight over the Hammerheads.

Lake County Captains 3, West Michigan Whitecaps 0 (box)

Robbie Welhaf threw a solid game, but the offense was stifled by Captains pitching on Tuesday. Welhaf allowed just a run on two hits over seven innings of work. The offense managed just three hits and two walks, with no one reaching base more than once. There were a couple of scoring opportunities, and the ‘Caps only struck out four times, but the ball wasn’t dropping for them in this one.

Welhaf (L, 4-7): 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 SO

Coming Up Next: The Whitecaps are in Midland, Michigan on Wednesday night as they meet up with the Great Lakes Loons at 7:05pm ET.

Connecticut Tigers (idle)

The New York-Penn League All Star Game takes place on Wednesday at 7:00pm ET. The Tigers will get back to regular action with a doubleheader against the Brooklyn Cyclones on Thursday.