Beau Brieske rehabs while Whitecaps losing skid hits nine games

Toledo Mud Hens vs. Memphis Red Birds (postponed)

This was just as well in the wake of manager Gabe Alvarez’s sudden firing on Tuesday. The team could probably use the time to absorb the news, as whatever his violation, Alvarez has had a reputation as a pretty popular and well-liked manager. With Mike Hessman now the interim skipper, the Hens will play two at Fifth Third Park on Wednesday, with Game 1 set for an 11:05 a.m. ET start time. With the team gutted by the Tigers needs and a setback for starter Sawyer Gipson-Long, the Tigers have moved reliever Eric Silva and lefty starter Carlos Peña up to the Triple-A level to help out.

Erie SeaWolves 10, Harrisburg Senators 4 (box)

The SeaWolves’ bullpen managed to lock down the late innings as the lineup roared to life in the seventh and eighth innings to come back and bury the Senators on Tuesday.

The SeaWolves had an early lead in this one, but couldn’t keep it. John Peck continued to swing the hot bat, leading off the top of the second with a double. Justice Bigbie was hit by a pitch, and after a pair of strikeouts, Andrew Jenkins reached on a throwing error from the Senators’ shortstop, Seaver King. That loaded the bases, and an infield hit from E.J. Exposito made it a 1-0 game. Brett Callahan pulled a grounder through the right side to score Bigbie, but unfortunately a rocket off the bat of Peyton Graham was hauled in by the center fielder, holding the SeaWolves to two runs.

A Graham throwing error allowed the leadoff man to reach in the bottom half, and Luke Taggart allowed two runs. Thayron Liranzo doubled to start the third inning, and a pair of deep fly balls brought him around to make it 3-2 SeaWolves. Unfortunately, Johan Simon and Duque Hebbert combined to give up two runs in the fourth.

So it was a 4-3 Senators lead, and that didn’t change until Callahan led off the seventh with a game tying solo blast. That was the outfielder’s fifth on the year already. Meanwhile, Hebbert settled things down through the middle innings, giving way to Tyler Owens, who threw a clean bottom of the seventh.

A six-run rally followed from the SeaWolves in the top of the eighth. Bigbie doubled and Chris Meyers was hit by a pitch. Izaac Pacheco smoked a single into center field to load the bases, and Jenkins was walked to force in the go-ahead run. 5-4 SeaWolves. The next two hitters struck out, but a catchers interference call with Graham batting forced in a second run, and then Liranzo drew a walk as well. That brought Peck to the dish with the bases still juiced, and the hot hitting shortstop delivered, dumping a two-run single into right field. Peck then stole second, drawing a throw that went wild, and Liranzo scored from third. When the smoke cleared, it was 10-4, and Trevin Michael would keep it that way over the final two frames in relief.

Peck: 2-5, R, 2 RBI, 2B, SB

Callahan: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, HR, BB, K

Liranzo: 1-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B, BB, K

Pacheco: 2-4, R, BB, K, SB

Hebbert: 2.2 IP, ER, H, K

Coming Up Next: It’s an 11:00 a.m. ET first pitch on Wednesday in Harrisburg as well.

Dayton Dragons 5, West Michigan Whitecaps 4 (box)

The Whitecaps losing streak reached a shocking nine in a row as they again dropped a close game on Tuesday. In the past week and a half they’ve been walked off twice, and despite putting up solid run totals, just havent’ been able to get their pitching staff going.

Right-hander Hayden Minton got the start in this one, and true to form for much of the rotation recently, he wasn’t terrible but still leaked three runs in 3.2 innings of work. Inohan Paniagua took over to finish the fourth inning, but then he allowed a run on two hits in the fifth.

So it was a 4-0 lead for the Dragons when a leadoff single from Jackson Strong, followed by singles from Juan Hernandez and Andrew Sojka produced the ‘Caps first run. That was all they’d get but in the bottom of the fifth. Seth Chavez allowed a leadoff triple in the top of the sixth, but second baseman Samuel Gil got a ground ball and cut the runner down at the plate and Chavez escaped unscathed.

In the bottom of the sixth, Garrett Pennington singled and rode home on a two-run shot from Clayton Campbell that made it a 4-3 Dayton lead. Unfortunately, Luke Stofel allowed a run in the top of the ninth for some Dragons’ insurance.

Strong led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk and eventually scored on a Cristian Santana sacrifice fly, but that was as close as they’d get.

Campbell: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, HR, 2 K

Strong: 2-3, 2 R, BB, K

Rainer: 0-4, 3 K

Minton (L, 0-2): 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 4 K

Coming Up Next: There is hope for the Whitecaps pitching staff now that Ben Jacobs has moved up from Lakeland. His first start in the Midwest League was impressive. Kelvis Salcedo and lefty Grayson Grinsell probably aren’t too many weeks from joining him there. The Whitecaps will look to end their skid at 6:05 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

St. Lucie Mets 6, Lakeland Flying Tigers 2 (box)

Grayson Grinsell had a tough day on the mound, and the Flying Tigers’ offense didn’t do a whole lot at the plate in this first of six at home.

Beau Brieske made his first rehab appearance the spring. The Tigers could really use him back about now, so it was a positive sign seeing him toss a perfect first inning with a pair of strikeouts. He was 95-96 mph with the fastball, so a move to Toledo to complete his rehab work won’t be long. With any luck, he could rejoin the Tigers by sometime next week.

Grinsell took over in the second and had his first rough pro outing after looking great in April. He allowed a triple that turned into a run before tossing a clean third inning. However, in the fourth everything went sideways. A single and then a homer allowed with one out started things off poorly. Then a double and a Jordan Yost error on what would have been the second out set the table for a three-run shot that made it a 6-0 game.

The offense was missing in action until the seventh when Jesus Pinto led off with a double. Jude Warwick doubled Pinto home with two outs, and then scored on a Sergio Tapia single. Max Anderson went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts in his rehab assignment.

Warwick: 1-3, R, RBI, 2B, BB

Pinto: 1-3, R, 2B, BB, 2 K

Grinsell (L, 2-1): 2.2 IP, 6 R, 3 ER, 7 H, BB, 2 K, 2 HR

Coming Up Next: Game 2 is set for a 6:30 p.m. ET start at Publix Field.