It was (almost) all about the pitching on Tuesday night as we saw three shutouts, a near no-hitter, and a walk-off hit by pitch. All five affiliates won, which is a nice treat for Tigers fans who had to endure a rainout. Check out the details below!
Toledo Mud Hens (Triple-A)
Final: Toledo 5, Iowa 4
Top Performers:
Matt Vierling (rehab): 1-for-2, HR, 2BB, K
Jahmai Jones: 1/4, RBI, K, R, RBI
Ryan Kreidler: 1/3, 2B, BB, 2K, R
Andrew Navigato: 1/4, 2B, K, 2RBI
Pitchers:
Wilkel Hernandez: 5IP 7H 2ER 2BB 6K
John Brebbia: 0.2IP H ER BB
Bailey Horn: 1.1 IP H BB K
Matt Seelinger: IP 2BB K
Game Notes:
The Mud Hens are the hottest team in the International League, and they sent Wilkel Hernandez to the mound, who came into the game with a 2.70 ERA, good for the 10th best in the IL. The Hens got on the board early thanks to an opposite-field homer from the rehabbing Matt Vierling. But Iowa tied it when a miscommunication between Hens outfielders led to a leadoff double, and Reese McGuire stroked a 2-out RBI single in the top of the 2nd.
The scored stayed that way until the top of the 5th when Iowa’s Owen Caissie blasted a solo homer to right center. But that was all the damage against Hernandez, who managed to pitch around seven hits and two walks to keep the Mud Hens in the game. And Toledo tied it right away thanks to a walk and steal from Ryan Kreidler, and an RBI double from Andrew Navigato. The Hens kept threatening, but Iowa managed to stifle the threat by striking out Akil Baddoo with men on the corners, and then cutting down Hao-Yu Lee with the bases loaded.
A rehabbing John Brebbia came in to relieve Hernandez in the 6th, but that didn’t work out terribly well. He gave up a walk, a ground out, and a single to help Iowa retake the lead, then left the game after 20 pitches. But the Mud Hens came back again, scoring the tying run on a wild pitch, and the go-ahead run on a routine grounder by Navigato. Toledo was all set to win 4-3, but Jonathan Long had other ideas, tying the game with a 2-out solo homer in the 9th. Ryan Kreidler led off the bottom of the 9th with a double, but he went no farther, and the teams headed to extras.
Both teams managed to load the bases with two outs in the 10th. Hao -Yu Lee made a diving stop to make sure Iowa didn’t score. Toledo’s half of the inning had a little bit of everything, including catcher’s interference. And then Jahmai Jones was hit by a pitch with the sacks packed to force in the winning run and end the game. The Mud Hens have now won 11 of their last 13 games, and they move to 16-18 on the season.
🚨Mud Hens Walk-Off Win🚨
Jahmai Jones is hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Toledo wins 5-4 in the 10th. pic.twitter.com/a37LSz3ORO
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 7, 2025
Erie SeaWolves (Double-A)
Final: Erie 3, Altoona 0
Top Performers:
Trei Cruz: 2-for-4, K
Justice Bigbie: 1-for-3, BB, R
Chris Meyers: 2-for-4, 2B, 2K, R
Eduardo Valencia: 2-for-4, 2K, 2RBI
Pitchers:
Jaden Hamm: 5IP H 0R 2BB 4K
R.J. Petit: 2IP 4K
Dylan Smith: 2IP H 2K SV
Game Notes: Jaden Hamm took the hill against the Altoona Curve and pitched a gem. He didn’t do it alone, though, getting plenty of help from some strong defense, including a great leaping catch at the wall by Chris Meyers. Meyers also got Erie’s offense going with a 2-out double to the gap, and the steady Eduardo Valencia drove him in with a soft liner to right.
Rain began to fall in the 3rd inning, and that seemed to lead to some control issues in the 4th for Hamm. He walked two of the first three batters he saw before the grounds crew came out to add some dry dirt to the mound, and clear the mud from Hamm’s cleats. Then Hamm rolled up his 2nd double play of the game to end the inning. The weather may have been a factor in Erie’s second run of the game, as Altoona pitcher J.C. Flowers airmailed a pickoff throw to second base, and then Sammy Siani booted the ball in center to allow Justice Bigbie to score.
Hamm completed five scoreless frames, and then the game was delayed because of the rain. The delay lasted for about an hour, and then the SeaWolves bullpen took over. R.J. Petit was dominant, striking out four over two scoreless innings, and Dylan Smith tossed the final two frames to earn his first save of the season. Valencia added another RBI knock for good measure to make it a 3-0 final. Erie moves to 18-10 on the year.
Shenanigans in Erie. The SeaWolves took a 2-0 lead when Altoona’s pitcher and center fielder made errors on the same play. @Greg_Gania and @SamLebowitz_ describe the action. pic.twitter.com/KPGKdPozx4
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 6, 2025
West Michigan (High-A)
Final: West Michigan 2, Lansing 0
Top Performers:
Max Clark: 2-for-4, 2B, R, RBI
Seth Stephenson: 1-for-4, RBI
Josue Briceno: 1-for-4, 3B, K
Jack Penney: 1-for-3, BB, K
Archer Brookman: 1-for-3, R
Pitchers:
Andrew Sears:Â 5IP 0H 0R BB 6K
Marco Jimenez: IP K
Micah Ashman: 2IP H 2K
Trevin Michael: 1.1 IP H K
Game Notes: The Whitecaps returned home after a two-week road trip to take on their in-state rivals from Lansing, who are nipping at their heels in the standings. Andrew Sears was hoping to improve upon his last outing, in which he hit his pitch limit and failed to complete the first inning. Mission accomplished. Sears was practically perfect, retiring the first 14 batters he faced before allowing a two-out walk in the 5th. No worries though, as Sears finished his night by striking out the next batter to complete the best start of his pro career.
It looked like the Whitecaps might get off to a fast start, with Max Clark punching one of his patented singles into center field. But Clark was forced out on a Seth Stephenson grounder, Josue Briceno flew out, and then Seth Stephenson was erased trying to steal 2nd. But Clark and Stephenson couldn’t be denied in the bottom of the 3rd. Clark doubled to right center to score Archer Brookman from 1st, and then Stephenson knocked him in to make it a 2-0 lead.
Then the Whitecaps bullpen took over. Marco Jimenez worked a perfect 6th, and Micah Ashman retired the next five hitters before allowing Lansing’s first hit. He struck out the next batter, though, and Trevin Michael came in to close out the game in the 9th. The Whitecaps move to 18-10 on the season, and a perfect 10-0 at home.
Max Clark rips an RBI double to right center to score Archer Brookman and put the Whitecaps on top. @ThatDanHasty calls it. pic.twitter.com/8yhZGWJeWz
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 6, 2025
Lakeland (Low-A)
Final: Lakeland 4, Bradenton 2
Top Performers:
Bryce Rainer: 2-for-5, K, R
Jackson Strong: 1-for-3, BB, 2K, R, RBI
Garrett Pennington: 2-for-4, HR(3), 2RBI
Pitchers:
RJ Sales: 5IP 3H ER BB 3K
Ronny Chalas: 1.2 IP K
Moises Rodriguez: IP H SV(4)
Game Notes: Lakeland kicked off a lengthy road trip with a trek to Bradenton, with R.J. Sales coming in boasting a 2.50 ERA, but still in search of his first pro win. The offense gave him an early 3-0 lead thanks to a single from Bryce Rainer, a walk from Franyerber Montilla, and RBI knocks from Jackson Strong, Carson Rucker, and Garrett Pennington.
Meanwhile, Sales was doing his best Andrew Sears impression, retiring the first 8 batters he faced before allowing a two-out hit in the 3rd. He then cut down the next six batters he saw before things unraveled a bit. Sales allowed a run on a bloop single and a sharp double to left. But he managed to limit the damage by striking out Konnor Griffin to end the 5th inning.
Garrett Pennington quickly pushed the lead back to three with his 3rd home run of the season. We saw a bit of a scary moment in the top of the 7th when the typically aggressive Montilla drew a wild pickoff throw to 2nd, but was hit in the back of the neck as he ran to 3rd. He left the game after the inning and is probably headed for a day off on Wednesday.
Then things got dicey in the bottom of the 7th when Jorger Petri loaded the bases with Marauders and just one out. But Ronny Chalas came out of the bullpen to get two outs while allowing just one run to score. Chalas also worked a scoreless 8th, and Moises Rodriguez closed out the 9th to earn his 4th save of the year. Lakeland moves to 16-12 on the season.
Busy night for Bryce Rainer, with eight (mostly routine) defensive chances at shortstop. pic.twitter.com/iESV7BrAhd
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 7, 2025
FCL Tigers (Florida Complex League)
Final: Tigers 2, Blue Jays 0Â (7 Innings)
Top Performers:
Jesus Pinto: 1-for-4, 2B, 2K
Ronald Ramirez: 1-for-2, BB, K, RBI
Jose Dickson: 1-for-3, K
Maikol Orozco: 1-for-2, BB, 2K, R
Pitchers:
Freddy Pacheco (rehab): 2IP 3K
Wuilberth Mendez: 3IP H 2K
Eliseo Mota: IP BB K
Bryce Alewine: IP K SV
Game Notes: Rehabbing reliever Freddy Pacheco made his first professional appearance since last June 22, and just his third appearance since late 2022. We don’t know how he looked, but his results were strong. He retired all six batters he faced, and struck out three, all swinging.
The Blue Jays sent out a rehabbing reliever of their own in the form of Ryan Burr, who has spent most of the past four seasons in Triple-A. And what we got was a fairly typical early-season FCL game, with a mix of dominant pitching, wildness, and sloppy play.
The Tigers loaded the bases with no outs against Adam Macko in the 2nd inning, but he struck out the next two batters before balking in the first run of the game. The score stayed 1-0 into the 5th, when the FCL Tigers struck again. A Maikol Orozco walk, followed by a two-out double from Jesus Pinto and walks from Jude Warwick and Ronald Ramirez made the game 2-0.
And that’s the way the score stayed. Early eyebrow-raiser Wuilberth Mendez worked three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out two. Then Eliseo Mota tossed a scoreless 6th, and Bryce Alewine threw a perfect 7th in his pro debut to earn the save.
Emily Waldon 
Joe Rampe 
Rogelio Castillo