Joey Wentz debuts with a solid effort for the Erie SeaWolves

Toledo Mud Hens 12, Louisville Bats 0 (box)

Kyle Funkhouser’s return to Triple-A went well, and the Hens’ offense blew the Bats away on Sunday. Funkhouser still showcased pretty weak control at times from someone the Tigers want to take starts at the major league level down the stretch. However, he limited the hard contact and poured it in there when he had to, touching 97 mph while striking out six and issuing two free passes in a five inning outing. The offense got the jump on the Bats right from the beginning, as they loaded the bases in the first and saw Dawel Lugo clear them with a double. Frank Schwindel plated Lugo with a single moments later, and the Hens had all the offense they’d need. A two-run single from Josh Harrison in the fourth, and then a three-run bomb from Schwindel in the fifth, put this one on ice.

Schwindel: 2-4, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB

Lugo: 4-5, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI

W. Castro: 4-5, 2 R, 2 RBI

Funkhouser (W, 2-5): 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 6 SO

Coming Up Next: The Hens are off on Monday. They’ll welcome in the Buffalo Bisons on Tuesday night with Beau Burrows (1-5, 4.91 ERA) on the mound.

Erie SeaWolves 3, New Hampshire Fisher Cats 2 (box)

Joey Wentz made a nice debut in the Tigers organization on Sunday. Wentz showcased good command and an above average changeup that had the Fisher Cats off balance in this one. The slurvy curveball isn’t very impressive and Wentz’ cross-stepping delivery seems to force him to cut it off without the extension, depth and tight spin we’d like to see. There is plenty to work with though, and we’ll see if the Tigers can improve his breaking ball. Still, Wentz allowed a solo shot in the second inning and not much else, punching out six in five innings of work with four hits and two walks allowed.

Josh Lester gave the SeaWolves the lead with a two-run shot, his 15th on the year, in the fourth inning. Derek Hill singled home Sergio Alcantara in the fifth for a run that turned out to be crucial. Newly minted reliever Alex Lange punched out three in his two innings of work, but did allow a run to allow the Fisher Cats to close the gap to one run. Nolan Blackwood punched out the side in the eighth, and Drew Carlton locked down his 14th save with a solid ninth inning.

Lester: 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, 2 SO

Eaves: 1-2, 3B, BB

Wentz (W, 1-0): 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 6 SO

Coming Up Next: The SeaWolves are off on Monday as they travel to Portland, Maine to battle the Sea Dogs in a three-game set starting at 7:00pm ET on Tuesday night.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 8, Fort Myers Miracle 7 (box)

Paul Richan’s debut for the Flying Tigers did not go well at all, but the Flying Tigers returned the favor by mauling the Miracle bullpen in the late innings to win on Sunday. Richan’s stuff was reportedly as fringy as advertised, and he surrendered two home runs on the day. Ultimately he didn’t walk anyone and punched out four, but allowed six runs, five earned, in five innings of work.

Kody Clemens got the Flygers on the board with an RBI double in the first inning. The offense was quiet thereafter until the seventh inning, when Jordan Pearce launched a solo shot that made it 7-2 Miracle. Things looked bleak, but the Flying Tigers were just getting loose. Cole Peterson and Kody Clemens each homered in the eighth as they scored three in the inning. Luke Sherley got things started with a double to lead off the ninth, and rode home on a one-out Brock Deatherage double. Peterson singled Deatherage to third where he scored on a wild pitch. The Miracle changed pitchers after Chad Sedio drew a walk, and then they intentionally walked Clemens to load the bases. The strategy backfired when catcher Brady Policelli drew a walk that forced home the game winner.

Peterson: 4-5, HR, 3 R, RBI

Clemens: 2-4, HR, 2B, R, 3 RBI, BB

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

Richan: 5.0 IP, 6 R, 5 ER, 9 H, 0 BB, 4 SO

Coming Up Next: Elvin Rodriguez (9-6, 3.68 ERA) gets the call as the Flying Tigers welcome in the Tampa Tarpons on Monday at 6:30pm ET.

Fort Wayne TinCaps 8, West Michigan Whitecaps 0 (box)

Jesus Rodriguez kept the Whitecaps in this one until the late innings, but the offense was a study in futility. Rodriguez didn’t strike out many, but limited the TinCaps to one run over six innings. The bullpen completely blew up, but we’ll pass on the gory details because the offense struck out 13 times and only Daniel Reyes managed a hit as 19-year-old Joey Cantillo of the TinCaps continued his dominant season in the Padres organization.

Coming Up Next: Brad Bass (3-2, 1.78 ERA) takes on the TinCaps on Monday night at 7:05pm ET.

Connecticut Tigers 9, Batavia Muckdogs 2 (box)

Carson Lance threw a good game and the Tigers erupted early to take down the Muckdogs on Sunday. The key blow in this one was Avery Tuck’s grand slam as part of a six-run third inning. Moises Nunez added a two-run shot in the eighth to finish the scoring. As for Lance, he went six innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on six hits and two walks. He punched out six on the day. The end of the Tigers’ lineup were very productive, with Nunez and Andrew Navigato each raking up multi-hit games and playing a big part in the scoring.

Nunez: 2-3, HR, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI

Navigato: 3-4, 2B, 3 R

Kreidler: 2-4, 2B, RBI

Lance (W, 2-3): 6.0 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 6 SO

Coming Up Next: The Tigers welcome in the Aberdeen IronBirds on Monday night at 7:05pm ET.