Detroit Tigers Minor League Scoreboard – July 8

Toledo Mud Hens (44-44)
July 5 vs. Columbus, L 4-5 (WP: J. Lewis; LP: J. Sborz; SV: V. Pestano)
July 6 @ Columbus, W 9-4 (WP: A. Figaro; LP: J. Gomez)
July 7 @ Columbus, W 6-4 (WP: B. Buckner; LP: Y. Pino; SV: C. Fien)
July 8 @ Louisville, W 9-4 (WP: J. Rainwater; LP: J. Delgado)

Scott Sizemore returned from the disabled list on July 6th and combined for five hits, a home run, and 3 RBI in the two games. Will Rhymes played in all three games and collected six hits. Rhymes had a big day on July 6th with two doubles to drive in three runs. A win at Louisville got the Mud Hens back to .500 when Sizemore, Ryan Strieby, and Jeff Larish all knocked in two runs apiece.

Erie SeaWolves (36-51)
July 5 vs. Bowie, W 8-7 (WP: L. Marte; LP: B. McCrory)
July 6 vs. Bowie, W 8-3 (WP: C. Furbush; LP: R. Tanaka)
July 7 vs. Bowie, W 12-3 (WP: T. Weber; LP: N. Nery)
July 8 vs. Bowie, W 9-1 (WP: B. Brown; LP: S. Johnson)

First baseman Michael Bertram used five hits to drive in six runs to provide some much needed pop in the middle of the Erie lineup. Deik Scram gave Charlie Furbush all the run support he would need with a fourth inning grand slam on July 6. Furbush was making his third start with Erie since being promoted from Lakeland and struck out 11 over his seven innings of work. Scram lead the way in Erie’s fourth straight win going 4-for-4 and driving in three. Cale Iorg and Rawley Bishop also had three hits.
(more after the jump)

Lakeland Flying Tigers (3-10 2nd Half Record)
July 5 vs. Dunedin, Postponed: Rain
July 6 vs. Dunedin, L 3-5 (WP: F. Gailey; LP: J. Kibler; SV: M. Daly)
July 6 vs. Dunedin, L 1-6 (WP: J. Carreno; LP: J. Turner)
July 7 vs. Clearwater, W 4-3 (WP: R. Waite; LP: J. Sanchez; SV: J. Gayhart)
July 8 vs. Clearwater, L 6-4 (WP: P. Aumont; LP: T. Conn; SV: J. Velasquez)

Brandon Douglas was a star for the Flying Tigers even though the dropped both ends of a July 6 double header. Douglas played both middle infield positions and had three hits in each game. He put up two more hits a day later to bring his batting average up to a robust .353 through his first 23 games. Daniel Fields hit his third home run of the season on July 7.

West Michigan Whitecaps (3-11 2nd Half Record)
July 5 vs. Dayton, L 5-6 (WP: T. Crabbe; LP: L. Sanz; SV: K. Arico)
July 6 vs. Dayton, L 3-7 (WP: J. Sulbaran; LP: T. Feeney)
July 7 @ South Bend, L 3-4 (WP: B. Budrow; LP: S. Teufel)
July 8 @ South Bend, L 7-5 (WP: B. Hagens; LP: R. Zumaya, SV: Y. Ortega)

Whitecaps third baseman Wade Gaynor came up a double short of the cycle but he offensively challenged Whitecaps couldn’t get any help to go along with Gaynor’s three hits and four RBI in their July 5 loss to the Dayton Dragons. Shawn Teufel took his first professional loss on July 7 after working 2.2 innings in relief. Teufel was the Tigers 2010 25th round draft pick and joined the Whitecaps after making two appearances for the Connecticut Tigers. Despite the loss, his A-ball career is off to a good start with a 1.17 ERA and 7 strike outs in 7.2 innings.

Connecticut Tigers (12-8)
July 5 vs. Mahoning Valley, L 3-8 (WP: A. Kaminsky; LP: R. Guichardo)
July 6 vs. Mahoning Valley, W 5-4 (WP: L. Hoch; LP: J. Ehlert)
July 7 No Game
July 8 @ Batavia, W 4-2 (WP: K. Hess; LP: K. Butler)

Michael Torrealba pitched three impressive innings in relief on July 6 as he gave up just one hit and struck out eight in just three innings. His effort kept the Tigers within striking distance and eventually lead to the come back win with a tenth inning single from Julio Rodriguez. The Tigers won their second consecutive game in extra innings on July 8. James Robbins and Chao-Ting Tang each had three hits in that game.

GCL Tigers (8-7)
July 5 vs. GCL Yankees, Postponed: Rain
July 6 @ GCL Yankees, L 2-7 (WP: B. Mitchell; LP: J. Ferrell)
July 6 vs. GCL Yankees, W 6-1 (WP: S. Finefrock; LP: C. Mullee)
July 7 @ GCL Blue Jays, W 6-0 (WP: S. Crnkovich; LP: M. Diaz)
July 8 vs. GCL Blue Jays, W 2-1 (WP: D. Gentzler; LP: M. Santana)

Gabriel Purroy lead the way with three hits in the second game of the July 6 double header and two more on the 7th. Steve Crnkovich, Yadiel Polanco, Tim Mowry, Dan Gentzler, and Bruce Rondon combined to throw a two-hit shutout of the GCL Blue Jays. The Tigers beat the Blue Jays for the second consecutive day when Steven Moya singled home Samir Rijo in the bottom of the ninth.