Tigers Minor League Recap – 5/27

Toledo Mud Hens (Triple-A)

Final: Columbus 6 – Toledo 3

Top Performer(s):

Ben Malgeri, LF – 2-for-4, 2B

Corey Julks, RF – 1-for-4, R, RBI, HR

Konnor Pilkington – 3 IP, H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, Loss

Tanner Rainey – 1.2 IP, 0 H, BB, 3 K

Game notes:

The Mud Hens faced the Columbus Clippers following a rare Tuesday off-day. Konnor Pilkington started, and only surrendered one hit in three innings, but allowed two runs. Entering the seventh inning, Toledo was down 5-1 before Corey Julks lifted a solo home run to left center field, his ninth of the season. Tanner Rainey threw nearly two innings of scoreless baseball, recording six whiffs on eleven swings, but the Mud Hens fall below .500 to 26-27.

Tomorrow’s projected starters: Austin Peterson (0-2, 3.98 ERA) vs Troy Watson (1-0, 1.98 ERA)

Erie SeaWolves (Double-A)

Final: Chesapeake 9 – Erie 2

Top Performer(s):

John Peck, SS – 2-for-3, 2 R, RBI, 2B, HR, BB

Thayron Liranzo, DH – 1-for-4, RBI

Max Alba – 3.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, Loss

Tyler Owens – 2 IP, H, 0 ER, 2 BB, K

Game notes:

The first three innings went smoothly for Erie, as they entered the fourth inning up 2-1 after John Peck’s game-tying home run early in the first, and Thayron Liranzo’s go-ahead single in the third, but the Baysox had other plans, putting together a six-spot to take a 7-2 lead, and never looking back, including two additional runs in the top of the seventh inning. Tyler Owens cleaned up some of the mess in the fifth and sixth innings, holding Chesapeake scoreless, but Erie, just like Toledo, falls a game below .500.

Tomorrow’s projected starters: Joseph Dzierwa (0-1, 5.06 ERA) vs Kenny Serwa (1-5, 6.55 ERA)

West Michigan Whitecaps (High-A)

Final: West Michigan 6 – Lansing 5

Top Performer(s):

Andrew Sojka, LF/RF – 2-for-5, 2 R, 3B, BB, SB

Bryce Rainer, SS – 1-for-5, RBI, BB

Juan Hernandez, 2B – 3-for-5, RBI

Ben Jacobs – 3 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 7 K

Darie Fregio – 2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 K

CJ Weins – 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, Win

Game notes:

Ben Jacobs took the mound for the Whitecaps in his fifth start since his promotion to High-A. He coughed up five baserunners in the three innings, and surrendered three runs, but struck out seven batters, showing that his stuff can play in West Michigan, although more innings would’ve been much appreciated later on. West Michigan was being shutout 4-0, until the eighth inning where Bryce Rainer and Luke Schliger drove in runs of their own, and a game tying walk with two outs in the ninth inning for Schliger to push the game to extras. Logan Barrier combined for four innings of zero unearned runs to support a West Michigan 12 inning victory to make their record 15-32.

Tomorrow’s projected starters: Andrew Sears (0-0, 3.00 ERA) vs Zane Taylor (3-3, 3.55 ERA)

Lakeland Flying Tigers (Single-A)

Final: Lakeland 7 – Palm Beach 3

Top Performer(s):

Jordan Yost, DH – 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B, BB

Trei Cruz, SS – 1-for-3, R, RBI, 2 BB

Beau Ankeney, 1B – 2-for-5, R, 3 RBI, HR

Jesus Pinto, CF – 3-for-4, RBI, 2B BB

Zach MacDonald, RF – 1-for-5, R, RBI, HR

Cash Kuiper – 3.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 K

Ali Tanner – 4 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 7 K, Save

Game notes:

Lakeland faced the Palm Beach Cardinals in a fun game in terms of player development. Jordan Yost scored twice and drove in a run. Rising prospect, Jesus Pinto recorded three hits, including a double. Beau Ankeney hit his fourth home run of the year in the fourth inning, and Zach MacDonald hit his eleventh home run of the year in the third, although every other at bat resulted in a strikeout, highlighting his strikeout issues. Cash Kuiper took the mound and struggled with walks again, but his changeup continues to dazzle, recording a 67% whiff rate. The man from a land down under, Ali Tanner, wowed Cardinal batters by throwing four perfect innings, punching out seven batters. His fastball rose up to heaven, averaging 20 inches of IVB. Lakeland reaches 25-21 and plays again tomorrow evening.

Tomorrow’s projected starters: Malachi Witherspoon (2-0, 4.71 ERA) vs TBD

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