Tigers Minor League Recap – 8/5

Toledo Mud Hens (Triple-A)

Final: Omaha 5  – Toledo 1

Top Performer(s):

Corey Julks, RF – 2-for-4, 2B

Brett Callahan, LF – 1-for-4, R, SB

Cal Stevenson, 1B – 2-for-2, 2B, 2 BB, SB

Dylan File – 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, BB, 6 K

Game notes:

Today’s game between Omaha and Toledo was tight, until it wasn’t. Dylan File threw six innings 0f one run baseball, the lone run was unearned due to an error by Brett Callahan in the first inning. File recorded ten whiffs, three on his four-seamer, and three on his changeup. Andrew Navigato tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. The score remained stagnant until the Storm Chasers put up a two-spot in the eighth and ninth innings. Toledo and Omaha are back at it tomorrow evening.

Tomorrow’s projected starters: Lucas Braun (5-2, 3.92 ERA) vs Lael Lockhart (2-2, 5.50 ERA)

Erie SeaWolves (Double-A)

Final: Altoona 7 – Erie 10

Top Performer(s):

Peyton Graham, SS – 2-for-5, R, RBI

Josue Briceno, DH – 1-for-4, R, 4 RBI, HR

Andrew Jenkins, 1B – 3-for-5, 2 R, 3B

Max Burt, 2B – 2-for-3, 2 R, RBI, 2B, BB

Seth Stephenson, CF – 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI, 2B

Hayden Minton – 3.1 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

Johan Simon – 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, BB, 4 K, Win (1-1)

Game notes:

After three scoreless innings from both teams, Altoona scored seven runs in the top of the fourth inning, and that would be all from their bats. Erie answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, and four runs in the sixth to tie the game. In the eighth inning, Josue Briceno hit his sixth big fly of the season, it traveled 424 feet. Tyler Owens shutdown the final two innings to secure the win for Erie as they sit atop of the Eastern League.

Tomorrow’s projected starters: Matt Ager (5-2, 4.73 ERA) vs Andrew Sears (2-1, 2.67 ERA)

West Michigan Whitecaps (High-A)

Final: West Michigan 11 – Fort Wayne 1

Top Performer(s):

Bryce Rainer, SS – 2-for-6, R, RBI, 2B, HR

Jackson Strong, RF – 2-for-3, 2 R, RBI, HR, BB

Luke Shliger, DH – 1-for-3, 2 R, RBI, HR, BB

Cristian Santana, LF – 3-for-5, 3 R, 5 RBI, 3 HR!

Juan Hernandez, 2B – 1-for-3, R, 3 RBI, HR, 2 BB

Ben Jacobs – 5.2 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 5 K, Win (3-2)

Moises Rodriguez – 1 IP, H 0 ER, 2 K

Game notes: Ben Jacobs is coming off a one-run, 5.1 inning performance last week, in which was his season high. He topped that number today with 5.2 innings pitched, and threw 81 pitches, his highest this season. He recorded 17 whiffs, the second most out of all High-A pitchers today. On to the bats, Bryce Rainer mashed a ball to dead center field as the second batter of the ball game, his tenth with West Michigan. Luke Schliger hit his fourth of the year, and Juan Hernandez hit his second. The man of the hour, Cristian Santana had a three-homer day, and helped the Whitecaps set a single-game, franchise record in home runs with seven. Hot arm, Lucas Elissalt takes the bump for West Michigan tomorrow.

Tomorrow’s projected starters: Lucas Elissalt (3-4, 3.73 ERA) vs Carson Montgomery (2-6, 4.85 ERA)

Lakeland Flying Tigers (Single-A)

Game One Final/7: Dunedin 11 – Lakeland 0

Top Performer(s):

Carson Rucker, DH – 2-for-2, BB

Roberto Campos, LF – 1-for-2, BB

Brant Hurter (REHAB) – 0.1 IP, H, 3 ER, BB, K, Loss (0-1)

Yendy Gomez – 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER

Game notes:

In Game One of a double header, Lakeland didn’t put up much of a fight. Brant Hurter, who has been out since May, made his first rehab appearance as he recovers from lumbar spine inflammation. His day ended rather shortly, as he had trouble finding the strike zone. Hurter did not allow any runs while on the mound, but loaded them up for Xiomer Guacache. Five runs in the first would’ve sealed the deal, but the Blue Jays kept piling on through the contest.

Game Two Final/7: Dunedin 3 – Lakeland 6

Top Performer(s):

Samuel Pinto, CF – 2-for-3, 2 R, 3B,

Anibal Salas, RF – 3-for-3, 2 R, RBI, 2B

Zach MacDonald, LF – 2-for-2, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 HR, BB

Paul Wilson – 2 IP, 0 H, 3 ER, 6 BB, 3 K

Grayson Grinsell – 3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, Win (6-4)

Game notes:

Lakeland had a better go of it in Game Two. Paul Wilson started the game and didn’t allow a hit, but only 40% of his pitches were strikes which led to his early dismissal. On the bright side, his whiff rate on his slider was 63%. Grayson Grinsell threw three spectacular innings which was fueled by his fastball which he threw at a 68% clip. On the offensive side, Zach MacDonald spent Game Two shredding the exit velocity radar. He hit his 18th home run of the season in the bottom of the second. The ball had an exit velocity of 110.5 MPH and traveled 416 feet. In his next at-bat, MacDonald hit this one harder at 111.7 MPH, and it landed 412 feet away from home plate. Lakeland held on and is now 48-54.

Tomorrow’s projected starters: TBD vs TBD

DSL Tigers 1 (Dominican Summer League)

Final: Giants Black 3 – Tigers 6

Top Performer(s):

Edgar Lugo, 2B – 2-for-4, RBI, 2 2B,

Howard Reyes, DH – 1-for-2, R, 2B

Oscar Tineo, SS – 1-for-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB

Fabian Dorta, 1B – 1-for-2, R, 2 RBI, HR

Jefrey Gonzalez – 4 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K

Game notes:

Five runs in the bottom of the second inning was all the DSL Tigers needed to win this game. Fabian Dorta, who is in his second professional season in the Tigers organization, hit his first big fly of the season and of his career. Edgar Lugo’s second double of the game also contributed to the victory for the Tigers. The DSL Tigers 1 do not play tomorrow, but the DSL Tigers 2 team does against the Colorado Rockies Dominican Summer League team.

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