Detroit Tigers Weekly Minor League Recap: Putting in Workman

Detroit Tigers Minor League Recap – Week 3

Erie SeaWolves, 13-4, 2nd (0.5 GB) in Double-A Northeast, Southeast Division

Erie continues to play terrific baseball, and they put together an outstanding 5-1 week filled with comebacks and walk-offs against a pretty bad Binghamton team. Elvin Rodriguez (5.1 IP, 0H, 3BB, 5K) was strong on Tuesday and the SeaWolves used single runs in the 6th, 7th, and 8th to squeak out a 3-2 victory. Wednesday was Act I of the Riley Greene show, with Detroit’s top prospect knocking in all five of Erie’s runs, including a 2-run single to tie the game in the 7th and a 2-run single to win it in the 9th. Act II came the next night when Greene hit two homers and walked twice in an 11-1 win.

The Howlers took another close game on Friday night, coming back from a 4-0 deficit to win 5-4 on a Dylan Rosa walk-off single. The Rumble Ponies managed their only win of the series (and just their second win of the season) on Saturday. Greene homered again, and Erie brought the tying run to the plate in the 9th, but Jacob Robson grounded out and the Wolves lost 6-4. The SeaWolves finished the week with another 5-4 victory, getting four hits from Ryan Kreidler and home runs from Rosa and Kerry Carpenter to help Rodriguez to his second win of the season.

• Greene slept with his bat to end a mini-slump and it seemed to work. The talented outfielder went 8-for-24 on the week with a double, three homers, and three steals. He’s currently the only Double-A player with 4+ home runs and 4+ stolen bases.
• Erie has the best offense in the Southeast Division, with a team OPS of .856. The next best team is Portland, with a .795 OPS.
• John Valente has never gotten much publicity, but all he does is hit. He batted .352 in college, and he’s a .323 hitter through 143 career minor-league games. Last week he went 9-for-20 with a double, two triples, and two steals.