SeaWolves squander another strong start from Tarik Skubal

Columbus Clippers 15, Toledo Mud Hens 7 (box)

Spenser Watkins gave up 12 runs in four innings of work, and the Hens really had no chance in this one. They lead 2-0 after the first inning, but a spectacular eight run third inning against Watkins, featuring two home runs, marked another tough night against International League hitters as the soon to be 27-year-old right-hander hasn’t been able to keep the ball in the park. The Hens pushed across four runs in the middle innings, and Frank Schwindel hit a solo home run in the ninth inning to make the score more respectable.

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

Stewart: 1-3, R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, SO, SB

Watkins (L, 5-4): 4.0 IP, 12 ER, 12 H, 4 BB, 4 SO

Coming Up Next: Tim Adleman (7-4, 3.57 ERA) starts against the Clippers on Saturday at 7:15 pm ET.

Harrisburg Senators 2, Erie SeaWolves 1 (box)

Tarik Skubal is already getting ace-level run support from his offense and took the loss after another outstanding performance on a night when the second place Bowie Baysox lost. Derek Hill led off the game with a double and scored on a Josh Lester double later in the inning. That was all the offense could muster on the day, and they left it to Skubal to make the one run lead hold up. The tall left-hander gave it a good go, racking up 11 strikeouts over 5 ²⁄₃ innings of work. He allowed a leadoff triple in the fourth that led to a run, and a leadoff walk, the only one he issued on the night, led to another run for the Senators. But it was another overpowering performance nonetheless. Alex Lange was excellent in relief and finished the game off in no-hit style, but the SeaWolves couldn’t take advantage.

Lester: 2-4, 2 2B, RBI, SO

Hill: 1-4, 2B, R, 2 SO

Skubal (L, 2-2): 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, 11 SO

Coming Up Next: The SeaWolves send Anthony Castro (5-2, 4.21 ERA) to the mound on Saturday at 6:00 pm ET.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 7, Tampa Tarpons 1 (Gm 1)(F/7)(box)

John Valente blew this one wide open with a bases clearing triple in the second inning and the Flying Tigers rolled in the first game of Friday’s doubleheader. They also got an excellent start from Elvin Rodriguez, who continues to quietly impress. Rodriguez went the distance, allowing one run on three hits and two walks. The Flygers scored three more runs in the fifth with a Reece Hampton solo shot the dagger.

Valente: 1-3, 3B, R, 3 RBI

Hampton: 1-1, HR, R, RBI, 2 BB

Rodriguez (W, 11-8): 7.0 IP, ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 SO

Lakeland Flying Tigers 6, Tampa Tarpons 1 (Gm 2)(F/7)(box)

Another strong offensive performance and excellent work from the bullpen brought the Flygers a sweep in game two. They put up a four run fourth inning with key RBI hits from Brady Policelli, Ulrich Bojarski, and John Valente after Jared Tobey gave them three innings of one run ball to start. The Flying Tigers used four more relievers, with an excellent two inning stint from Jason Foley being the highlight. The victory seized a share of first place in the North Division, tying the Flying Tigers with the Dunedin Blue Jays, while dealing a blow to the third place Tarpons.

Bojarski: 2-4, 2B, R, RBI, SO

Simcox: 2-4, R, BB, SO

Valente: 2-4, R, RBI

Foley: 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 3 SO

Coming Up Next: Tom de Blok (2-11, 4.00 ERA) gets the start against the Tarpons’ Daniel Bies (0-1, 5.79 ERA) on Saturday at 6:30 pm ET.

West Michigan Whitecaps 1, Great Lakes Loons 0 (box)

The Loons’ Jose Chacin and the ‘Caps Brad Bass locked up in a good pitching duel on Friday. Chacin struck out 10 Whitecaps but allowed the lone run of the game in the sixth. Wenceel Perez led off the inning with a triple and later scored on a Corey Joyce single. For his part, Brad Bass shut out the Loons for seven innings while striking out six. Yaya Chentouf and Zach Hess finished the job with no trouble.

Perez: 2-4, 3B, 2B, R

Meadows: 1-4, 2B

Bass (W, 5-4 ): 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, BB, 6 SO

Coming Up Next: Wilkel Hernandez (8-7, 3.97 ERA) welcomes in the Fort Wayne TinCaps on Saturday at 7:05 pm ET.

Brooklyn Cyclones 4, Connecticut Tigers 0 (Gm 1)(F/7)(box)

Brooklyn Cyclones 5, Connecticut Tigers 0 (Gm 2)(F/7)(box)

The Tigers didn’t do anything offensively in either of Friday’s games, so there isn’t much to say about it. Nick Quintana and Jake Holton both doubled in game one, but the lineup managed just three hits and four walks overall. In game two, Jack O’Laughlin shut the Cyclones out for six innings with six strikeouts, only to see the bullpen lose the game in the seventh. The Tigers managed just three hits and four walks in this one.