The night started relatively slowly and ominously for Tigers farmhands, but then things went haywire. We saw solid pitching, huge home runs, a monster comeback, and a walk-off win on a perfect 4-0 night. Read all about it below.
Toledo Mud Hens (Triple-A)
Final: Toledo 11, Indianapolis 6
Top Performers:
Hao-Yu Lee: 4-for-6, HR, 3R, 3RBI, SB
Brewer Hicklen: 1-for-3, 3BB, 2R, 2SB
Jahmai Jones: 3-for-5, R, RBI
Bligh Madris: 2-for-5, 2B, R, 2RBI
Pitchers:
Matt Manning: 4IP 4H 3ER 4BB 1K
Tyler Owens: IP H BB K
Andrew Chafin: IP H 2K
Game Notes:Â
The Mud Hens headed into this series with the worst record in the International League West, and the 20th-ranked offense (out of 20) in the IL, with a .637 team OPS. But Toledo managed to plate two runs in the 1st inning on a Brewer Hicklen walk and stolen base, and singles from Hao-Yu Lee and Jahmai Jones. Jones picked up another RBI in the 3rd inning to put the Hens up 3-1 early.
Matt Manning made some waves with an intriguing relief appearance last week, but he was back to starting tonight. And he looked a lot like Matt Manning. He gave up a solo homer to rehabbing Jared Triolo in the 1st inning, as well as a single and walk that did not score. In the 2nd inning he managed to strand a leadoff triple. But in the 3rd inning Manning walked the bases loaded with no outs. A sac fly and a single later, and the game was tied.
The Hens took the lead again in the top of the 6th when Lee launched his first Triple-A homer. It was a massive, 3-run shot that traveled 431 feet to center field. Lee finally had his big breakout game in Triple-A, and in the process he raised his OPS by more than .100 points.
Indianapolis managed to tie the game in the bottom of the frame, and the score stayed knotted at 6 until the 9th. Bligh Madris broke it open with a 2-out, 2-run double, and then the floodgates opened for the Hens. Matt Gage worked a scoreless 9th and Toledo picked up the win.
Hao-Yu Lee hits first triple-a home run as Toledo grabs the 6-3 lead. 431 feet off the bat 108 MPH. 👀 pic.twitter.com/4kDgdPCHlE
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) April 15, 2025
Erie SeaWolves (Double-A)
Final: Erie 8, Akron 7
Top Performers:
Max Anderson: 2-for-5, 2B, R, 2RBI
Thayron Liranzo: 2-for-5, 2B, R, 2RBI
Justice Bigbie: 2-for-3, BB, R, RBI
Eliezer Alfonzo: 2-for-4, 2B, R, RBI
Roberto Campos: 1-for-4, 3B, 2RBI
Pitchers:
Dylan Smith: 1.1 IP 0H 0R 0BB 1K
Andrew Magno: 2IP H BB 5K
Tim Naughton: 3IP 0H BB 7K
Game Notes:Â Akron rolled into Erie with the best record in the Eastern League, and it didn’t take long to see why. SeaWolves starter Joseph Montalo managed to get leadoff hitter, and 2024 1st overall pick Travis Bazzana to ground out. But that was the highlight of his outing. The RubberDucks proceeded to score six runs in the 1st inning, with a 2-run single from Michigan native Alex Mooney, and a 3-run homer from Dayan Frias. Montalvo’s day was done after just 2/3 of an inning.
Meanwhile, in the bottom of the 1st, Akron starter Rodney Boone struck out Trei Cruz, Max Anderson, and Thayron Liranzo on just 15 pitches. Erie managed to load the bases with no outs in the 2nd inning, but then Boone dispatched Roberto Campos, Chris Meyers, and Jim Jarvis without allowing a run. Things looked grim.
But this SeaWolves team is full of veterans, and they share a lot of traits with their big-league counterparts. They put together a spectacular comeback in the 4th inning, scoring 8 times, all with 2 outs. Max Anderson and Justice Bigbie both hit patented RBI knocks to right field. Thayron Liranzo brought in two runs with a wind-aided double. Eliezer Alfonzo tied the game with a double to the gap. And Roberto Campos had the final blow, rocketing a 2-run triple off the wall in right to put Erie up 8-6.
And, like the Detroit Tigers, they have a pretty darn good bullpen. Dylan Smith, Andrew Magno, and Tim Naughton were spectacular, throwing 6.1 scoreless innings while striking out 13. Drew Sommers added a scoreless 8th inning, but things got a little hairy in the 9th. He loaded the bases with one out, but ultimately closed out an 8-7 win.
Roberto Campos joins in on the fun, almost hits out of the ballpark for his first extra base hit in Double-A. @Greg_Gania on the call as Erie explodes for eight runs in the inning. pic.twitter.com/fnfaBpf0pL
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) April 15, 2025
West Michigan (High-A)
Final: West Michigan 2, Iowa 1
Top Performers:
Max Clark: 0-for-4, RBI
Josue Briceno: 1-for-4, HR
Jack Penney: 2-for-3, BB,
Pitchers:
Rayner Castillo: 4IP 4H ER 3BB 2K
Micah Ashman: 2IP H BB K
Marco Jimenez: 2IP 2H 2K
Preston Howey: IP BB K
Game Notes: This game was all about missed chances, on both sides. Whitecaps starter Rayner Castillo was making his first home start, and things didn’t begin terribly well for him. South Bend loaded the bases in the 1st inning with no outs, but Castillo buckled down and held them to just one run on a sacrifice fly. Iowa put two more runners on in the 2nd, but Castillo wiggled out again, with the help of a pickoff that briefly looked like bad news for catcher Josue Briceno.
South Bend starter Tyler Schlaffer struck out the side in the 1st inning, and then added three more strikeouts in the 2nd inning. West Michigan did load the bases with one out, but Schlaffer fanned Brett Callahan and Peyton Graham to end the threat. The Whitecaps tied it up in the 4th with Briceno’s second home run of the year, but that was it for the regulation scoring. Both teams had some chances later in the game, but neither could cash in. West Michigan got some solid defense, including a strong throw from Briceno and a nice double play started by reliever Micah Ashman.
Preston Howey did a terrific job to keep the score knotted at 1 in the top of the 10th. And then the Whitecaps won it thanks to a Callahan walk, a sac bunt from Graham, and a Max Clark walk-off sac fly.
Josue Briceño leads off the 4th with a home run to right. It’s his 2nd homer of the year, and it appears his arm is okay. @wangler_nathan on the call. pic.twitter.com/eiNx6rw7t8
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) April 15, 2025
Lakeland (Low-A)
Final: Lakeland 4, Dunedin 2
Top Performers:
Woody Hadeen: 3-for-5, R, RBI, 2SB
Garrett Pennington: 2-for-4, HR, 2B, BB, 2R, 2RBI
Jose De La Cruz: 1-for-4, 2B, R
Pitchers:
RJ Sales: 4IP 2H ER 3K
Ricky Vanasco (rehab): 2IP BB 3K
Yosber Sanchez (rehab): IP H ER BB K
Moises Rodriguez: 2IP H 4K
Game Notes:
Lakeland won with experience tonight. Most of their offense came from two of the older players on the roster, with Woody Hadeen consistently setting the table, and Garrett Pennington providing the thump. Dunedin actually scored first in this one, with Brock Tibbets launching a solo home run off Lakeland starter RJ Sales. But that was the only damage Sales allowed in his four innings, and the Flying Tigers scored the next four runs.
First it was a sac fly from Nomar Fana. Then Jose De La Cruz hit a ground-rule double, followed by an RBI double from Garrett Pennington. Hadeen made it a 3-1 lead with his 3rd hit of the night. And then Pennington crushed his first home run of the season (see below). It was a massive shot that left his bat at 108.9 MPH. Dunedin did score once more, but Moises Rodriguez was terrific in the final two innings to secure the win, and his first save of the season.
In a bit of unfortunate news, Lakeland outfielder Jackson Strong took a fastball to the helmet area and had to leave the game immediately. We’re hoping for a speedy recovery.
Garrett Pennington launches his 1st home run of the year. No numbers on the EV or distance, but our conservative estimate is that it left his bat at 135 MPH and traveled roughly 700 feet. pic.twitter.com/PlypONIYU9
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) April 15, 2025
Jayden Hewitt 
Emily Waldon 
Joe Rampe