Tigers top Mud Hens in charity game, 8-3

12,000 fans flocked to Fifth Third Field in Toledo, OH, on Wednesday afternoon for the much-anticipated exhibition game between the Detroit Tigers and their Triple-A affiliate, the Toledo Mud Hens. Many came out to the ballpark to get a sneak preview of the vaunted Tigers offense, and they were not disappointed.

Box Score | Tigers vs. Hens Photo Album

The Tigers broke open a 1-1 game in the third inning, plating five runs on six hits and batting around on Mud Hens starter Fu-Te Ni. Austin Jackson got things started with a leadoff double. He moved to third on a ground out by Brennan Boesch. Miguel Cabrera singled in Jackson to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead. Prince Fielder walked and Delmon Young singled in Cabrera to push the Detroit advantage to 3-1. Former Mud Hen Ryan Raburn broke the game open with a two-run triple to deep center, pushing the score to 5-1. The Tigers added one more run, going up 6-1, as Raburn scored on a single by Alex Avila.

Detroit extended their lead to 8-1 in the fifth inning as third round draft pick Aaron Westlake knocked in a pair on a one-out line drive double to center off of Luke Putkonen.

Toledo countered in the bottom of the fifth with RBI hits by Matt Young and Ryan Strieby, to bring the score to 8-3. That was as close as the Hens would get, however, as the two teams played scoreless baseball from the sixth inning on.

Tigers starter Rick Porcello gave up a run in the second and two in the fifth, allowing seven hits in 4.2 innings of work. Mud Hens starter Fu-Te Ni lasted only 2.2 innings, giving up six earned runs on nine hits.

This was the final preseason tune-up for both the Tigers and the Mud Hens. The Tigers open their regular season tomorrow in Detroit against the Boston Red Sox at 1:05 p.m. The Mud Hens home opener is Friday, against the Indianapolis Indians, at 5:00 p.m.

• The Tigers starting lineup for today's exhibition game against the Mud Hens is expected to be the lineup that is featured in tomorrow's regular season opener in Detroit, against the Boston Red Sox.
• 44 players saw action in today's exhibition game
• This is the 22nd Tigers vs. Mud Hens exhibition game. Detroit leads the series 11-9. Two games have ended in a tie.
• All proceeds from the game will be split evenly between the Helping Hens Charitable Fund and the Detroit Tigers Foundation.