TMLR Recap 4/12: Let’s Play Two: Twice

On tonight’s TMLR recap, both Toledo and Erie had a pair of doubleheaders, West Michigan faces a new face in High-A and Akil Baddoo is ready to move onto his next rehab assignment.

Toledo Mud Hens (Triple-A)

Final in 7 innings: Game 1: Iowa 3 – Toledo 1

Top Performer(s):

Hao-Yu Lee: 2-for-3, RBI, 3B

Jace Jung: 0-for-1, 2BB

Dietrich Ennis: 4IP 4H 3ER 2BB 4K

Chase Lee 1IP, 2K

Game Notes: 

After scoring the game’s first run on a two-out triple by Lee, the Mud Hens did not threaten again until the bottom of the 7th when Jack Dunn grounded into a double play to end the game.

Hao-Yu Lee drives in Jace Jung with a triple, Toledo takes the 1-0 lead pic.twitter.com/k0CO05Nhan

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) April 12, 2025

Game 2 final in 9 innings: Iowa 4-2 Toledo 9 innings

Top Performers (s):

Wilkel Hernandez: 4.2 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Andrew Chafin: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Jason Foley: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Matt Gage: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Brendan White: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K

Game Notes:

In a game where offense was hard to come by, the Toledo pitching staff did its part to keep things competitive in a 4-2 extra-inning loss to the Iowa Cubs. Wilkel Hernandez got the start and worked through early traffic, allowing two runs across 4.2 innings before turning it over to a well-synced bullpen. The combination of Andrew Chafin, Jason Foley, Matt Gage, and Brendan White kept the game within reach, striking out 12 over the final 6.1 innings. Foley was especially effective, tossing two scoreless frames and recording three strikeouts.

Gage followed by striking out the side in the eighth, stranding the free runner and keeping momentum on Toledo’s side. The lone blemish came in the ninth, when White allowed the go-ahead RBI double and a wild pitch that extended Iowa’s lead. Despite the late slip, Toledo’s arms delivered a composed and largely effective outing, giving their offense every opportunity to catch up but Toledo struck out 16 times in a seven inning game.

Erie SeaWolves (Double-A)

Game 1: Erie 18-2 Bowie 7 innings

Top Performer(s):

Carlos Mendoza: 4-for-4, 3 R, RBI
Jake Holton: 3-for-4, 2 R, RBI, HR
Trei Cruz: 2-for-4, 3 R, 5 RBI, 2B, 
Justice Bigbie: 2-for-4, 2 R, 5 RBI, HR
Entire Lineup: 18 hits, 15 RBI, 9 walks

Jaden Hamm: 4IP 5H, 2ER, 1BB 4K

Matt Seelinger: 3IP, 1BB, 1K

Game Notes:

As Chris Brown noted earlier, Perhaps a bit lost in Erie’s 18-run outburst was another solid outing for Jaden Hamm. Had to sit for long periods of time and dealt with a little traffic, but he racked up 13 whiffs on just 61 pitches.

The SeaWolves exploded for 18 runs on 18 hits, putting together one of their most complete offensive performances of the season in an 18-2 rout over the Bowie Baysox. The scoring onslaught began early, with Justice Bigbie launching a grand slam in the first inning, his second homer of the year, setting the tone for the game. Trei Cruz was at the center of the offensive attack, going 2-for-4 with 5 RBIs, including a bases-clearing double and a walk with the bases loaded. Jake Holton added a solo shot in the fourth, while Max Anderson cleared the bases with a three-run double as part of his 2-for-4, 3-RBI night.

Carlos Mendoza continued to be a spark plug, reaching base all five times with a 4-for-4 line, scoring three runs and driving in another. The SeaWolves capitalized on Bowie miscues as well, adding runs on a wild pitch, throwing errors, and a balk. In all, nine different players reached base, and six recorded multi-hit games as Erie built an early 9-0 lead and never looked back. The top of the lineup did major damage, driving in 14 of the 15 RBIs and drawing nine walks in a relentless showing that buried the Baysox before the fifth inning.

Game 2: Bowie 4-3 Erie (7 innings)

Top Performer(s)

Chris Meyers: 1-for-2, 2B, BB, R
Roberto Campos: 1-for-2, 2 BB, R
Eduardo Valencia: 1-for-3, RBI, R
Max Anderson: 1-for-2, 2B, BB

Pitching
Matt Merrill: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Dylan Smith: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
RJ Petit: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
Drew Sommers: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Game Notes:

The SeaWolves battled back late but came up just shy in the second game of the doubleheader, 4-3.  After falling behind 4-0 through four innings, Erie finally broke through in the fifth when Chris Meyers worked a walk and came around to score on a fielder’s choice. The SeaWolves mounted their biggest threat in the seventh, stringing together a double from Meyers, a single by Roberto Campos, and an RBI knock from Eduardo Valencia to pull within one. A passed ball added another run, and Erie had the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position before a pair of outs ended the threat.

Starter Matt Merrill worked 1.2 innings before handing the ball off to Dylan Smith, who was solid in relief. Offensively, Max Anderson doubled and walked, while Campos reached base three times. The defense and pitching kept Erie in the game late, but costly early runs and missed chances on the bases — including a pickoff and a caught stealing — proved to be the difference.

Jake Miller and Garrett Burhenn, in a piggyback role, will be pitching in the series finale tomorrow.

West Michigan Whitecaps (High-A)

Lake County 5-4 West Michigan (10 innings)

Top Performer(s)

Seth Stephenson: 1-for-5, 2B, R, SB (7)
Brett Callahan: 1-for-5, RBI
Cole Turney: 2-for-5, R
Peyton Graham: 1-for-2, 2 BB, RBI
CJ Weins: 1.2IP 1H 2K

Game Notes: 

The Whitecaps dropped a tough 5-4 decision in extra innings to the Lake County Captains, despite mounting a spirited comeback after trailing 4-0 through five innings. The offense finally woke up in the sixth, with Josue Briceño, Brett Callahan, and Peyton Graham helping chip away at the deficit. Seth Stephenson delivered a key RBI and stole his seventh base of the season as part of a ninth-inning push that tied the game.

Max Clark reached base once via walk but went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, including a ground out to end a potential rally in the eighth. Cole Turney finished with a pair of hits and a run scored. On the mound, CJ Weins, Preston Howey, and Trevin Michael combined for 5.1 scoreless innings of relief to keep the game close. However, a soft bunt single and a well-placed hit in the 10th sealed the loss, as the Whitecaps finished just 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base in a game full of missed opportunities.

Lakeland Flying Tigers (Single-A)

St. Lucie 10-Lakeland 3

Top Performer(s)

Akil Baddoo (Rehab): 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB, SB
Woody Hadean: 1-for-4, 2B, R
Jackson Strong: 2-for-4, 2B, R
Nomar Fana: 1-for-3, BB, SB

Game Notes: 

The Lakeland Flying Tigers couldn’t overcome early struggles in a 1o-3 loss, despite a late push capped by a two-run homer from Akil Baddoo in the ninth as part of his rehab assignment. Baddoo also walked and stole a base, providing a bright spot in an otherwise quiet night offensively. Lakeland managed just six hits, went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position, and left nine men on base. Defensively, the team committed three errors, and the pitching staff issued seven walks across four different arms, making it difficult to gain any traction.