Toledo and West Michigan win while rain plagues Erie and Lakeland

Scores, news, and notes from the Detroit Tigers’ farm system for Wednesday, May 28, 2025.

Toledo Mud Hens 4, Louisville Bats 2 (box )

The Mud Hens are now winners of four straight and eight of their last ten following their midday victory on Wednesday over Louisville.

Pitching ruled the day in this one, and despite injuries to LHP Dietrich Enns and LHP Bailey Horn, the Hens still have the pitching to get it done. Wilkel Hernandez wasn’t at his best in this one, but he collected plenty of weak contact in this one, allowing a pair of runs over four innings of work.

He got a little help from Hao-Yu Lee.

Edwin Rios hit a solo shot for the Bats in the first inning, but the Hens came back in the second when Andrew Navigato led off with a single and scored on a Riley Unroe triple. Hernandez allowed his second run in the third, but in the fourth his teammates took control.

Navigato started things off again by drawing a walk. Bligh Madris doubled him home, and then Brian Serven lifted his second home run to left field for a 4-2 lead.

Sean Guenther took over from Hernandez in the fifth, and collecting five outs without a hit allowed before turning the game over to Ryan Miller, Drew Sommers, and Matt Gage in succession. Gage collected his second save of the season as the bullpen struck out five and allowed just a hit and a walk over five innings.

Parker Meadows went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout out of the DH spot.

Madris: 2-4, R, 2B, K

Serven: 1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR, BB

Unroe: 1-2, RBI, 3B, 2 BB

Hernandez: 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:35 p.m. ET start on Thursday as the Hens look to claim at least a split of this home series.

Erie SeaWolves at Reading Fightin Phils (postponed)

The SeaWolves and Fightin Phils were rained out in Pennsylvania on Wednesday. The two clubs will try to play a doubleheader at 4:45 p.m. ET on Thursday. RHP Troy Melton is scheduled to start Game 1, going up against veteran right-hander Charles King.

West Michigan Whitecaps 5, Dayton Dragons 4 (F/10)(box )

Right-hander Hayden Minton was knocked around a bit in his High-A debut, but the bullpen was outstanding as usual and the offense eventually reeled in the Dragons, defeating them for the second straight day, this time in 10 innings.

The Whitecaps got it going in the top of the first as Max Clark walked and Kevin McGonigle singled to start the game. McGonigle was cut down trying to steal second, but Josue Briceño was right back in the lineup, playing first base, after taking a bat to the elbow on Tuesday. He drew a walk and John Peck singled in Clark. Austin Murr was also walked to load the bases as the Dragons Luke Hayden couldn’t find the strikeout zone. An Izaac Pacheco ground out scored Briceño from third, and it was 2-0 Whitecaps.

Minton still collected some whiffs on his good slider, but the Dragons were able to square up his fastball as they got a second look at him. They scored one in the third and in the fourth put together a three-run rally all on singles, walks, and stolen bases.

In the fifth the comeback began. Clark led off with a walk against reliever Dylan Simmons, and McGonigle again singled. Briceño and Peck struck out, but Murr walked and Pacheco singled in Clark but Murr was thrown out to end the inning.

In the sixth, Peyton Graham singled and took second on an error. Archer Brookman singled him home, and the game was tied 4-4.

Preston Howey handled the fourth inning with a strikeout. Joe Miller then took over for three scoreless innings, striking out four. Carlos Lequerica handled the ninth, and the offense couldn’t score on Dayton either. On to the 10th.

Peck started the inning at second base, and quickly scored on a Pacheco ground ball single up the middle. That was all they’d get as Graham flew out to left and Patrick Lee struck out.

So it was up to CJ Weins to close this one out, and he did a fine job, punching out the leadoff hitter and collecting a quick pair of outs on contact to earn his second save.

Pacheco: 2-5, 3 RBI, 2 K

McGonigle: 2-4, BB

Clark: 0-2, 2 R, 3 BB, K, SB

Peck: 2-5, R, RBI, K

Minton: 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, BB, 4 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 7:05 p.m. ET start on Thursday with the Whitecaps holding a 2-0 lead in the series. RHP Alex Cobb is rumored to be starting a game for the Whitecaps in the next few days.

Lakeland Flying Tigers vs. Tampa Tarpons (suspended)

A second day of rain washed through on Wednesday, cutting Game 1 of the doubleheader off in the fifth inning. They’ll try to complete that game and get another one on in on Thursday, but at best it will be a two game series. The Flying Tigers have a three game set in Bradenton starting on Friday.

RHP Tyler Mattison, one of the Tigers best relief prospects, began his rehab assignment with Lakeland on Wednesday.

We’ll recap Game 1 once it’s complete, but here’s another good Bryce Rainer swing.