Jeimer Candelario and Christin Stewart power another Mud Hens romp

Toledo Mud Hens 11, Indianapolis Indians 3 (box)

Kyle Funkhouser faded late in an otherwise strong start, but the Hens batters were having none of it on Tuesday night. They mashed five home runs in the contest, erupting in the final two frames to bury Indianapolis. The win was the Hens fourth in a row, and while they’re not in the postseason picture in the International League, they are finishing strong in August despite a depleted rotation.

Jeimer Candelario, Christin Stewart, and Frank Schwindel have been a force in the middle of the lineup during this run and all three homered in this one. So did Grayson Greiner and Chad Sedio.

Funkhouser spun 5 strong innings, but leaked three runs in the sixth. He did punch out seven, allowing four hits and four walks, but no home runs. In the process he squandered an early 3-0 lead. The hero was Jeimer Candelario once again. With the game tied in the eighth, the third baseman stepped to the plate with a runner on and cracked a home run to right center field. The long ball gave the Hens the lead and opened the floodgates as they scored another run in the inning and then five more in the top of the ninth. Newcomer Matt Wotherspoon struck out three in a two inning appearance to close out the game.

Schwindel: 3-5, HR, R, 4 RBI, SO

Candelario: 1-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB

Stewart: 1-3, HR, 3 R, RBI, 2 BB

Funkhouser: 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 4 BB, 7 SO

Erie SeaWolves, Richmond Flying Squirrels (postponed)

With a suddenly depleted starting rotation, it’s might be for the best that the SeaWolves and Squirrels were rained out in Erie on Tuesday. Hopefully they rested and recharged for the final push. Lefty reliever Jose Fernandez is set to spot start in game one as the two clubs play a doubleheader at 4:35pm ET on Wednesday. Tarik Skubal gets the ball in game two. The Bowie Baysox defeated the Reading Fightin Phils on Tuesday, and now hold a half-game lead in the Western Division’s second half standings. The SeaWolves have seven games left in the regular season, while the Baysox play six. Neither team has an off day.

Clearwater Threshers 5, Lakeland Flying Tigers 3 (box)

Paul Richan had a shaky outing, and the offense let too many chances go to waste in this one. The Threshers got to Richan in the second inning, using a parade of doubles to score three. The Flying Tigers scratched out a pair of runs in the four, but Richan allowed a pair of singles to start the fifth, and Jason Foley came unglued trying to escape the jam, uncorking two wild pitches in the inning with runners on base. The Threshers scored two and held on to win.

Valente: 3-4, RBI, CS

Rosoff: 2-4, 2B

Richan (L , 2-2): 6.0 IP, 5 R, 4 ER, 11 H, 0 BB, 5 SO

Coming Up Next: Elvin Rodriguez (11-8, 3.67 ERA) gets the start on Wednesday night for the Flying Tigers.

Fort Wayne TinCaps 1, West Michigan Whitecaps 0 (box)

Robert Klinchock threw an excellent game and the ‘Caps got a fine relief appearance from converted 3B, Zac Shepherd, but the offense came up short in their final home game of the 2019 season. Klinchock only struck out three, but went six innings and allowed only one run. Shepherd handled the final three frames in style, punching out three and allowing just one hit and one walk. Dayton Dugas had a two hit game, and the Whitecaps drew five walks, but they couldn’t capitalize, going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

Dugas: 2-4, SO

Lipcius: 0-2, 2 BB

Klinchock (L, 0-1): 6.0 IP, ER, 5 H, BB, 3 SO

Coming Up Next: Carson Lance gets the start on Wednesday night as action shifts to Lansing and a matchup with the Lugnuts.

Hudson Valley Renegades 3, Connecticut Tigers 0 (box)

Starter Marco Jimenez was effective on Tuesday night, but the lineup was not. They managed just three hits and struck out 11 times. Jimenez tossed five innings of one-run ball, but couldn’t get any help. Kyle Thomas allowed a pair of late runs to seal it.

Jimenez (L, 3-2): 5.0 IP, ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 SO

Coming Up Next: The Tigers head to Vermont next to tackle the Lake Monsters on Wednesday night.