Mud Hens Drop IronPigs in Series Opener
TOLEDO, OH - The Toledo Mud Hens scored eight runs over the course of three innings as they took the series opener over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 8-6, Monday night at Fifth Third Field.
The IronPigs (36-34) scored the game's first run, as Cesar Hernandez tripled and later scored on Darin Ruf's double to center field for a 1-0 lead.
The score held until the third frame when the Mud Hens tied the contest with a run of their own, but Lehigh Valley countered with three runs in the fourth inning, as Leandro Castro cracked a three-run dinger to left field, scoring Cody Overbeck and Josh Fields for a 4-1 advantage.
However, the back-and-forth battle continued in the bottom of the frame, as Toledo (31-41) scored four times behind two-run homers from Ben Guez and Argenis Diaz for a 5-4 lead.
In the fifth frame the Mud Hens continued their onslaught, plating three runs. Danny Dorn drove in the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly, before former IronPig Mike Cervenak cracked a two-run homer to right field, putting Toledo in a commanding position with at 8-4.
Lehigh Valley attempted a comeback in the seventh, as Pete Orr doubled with two outs before Jermaine Mitchell launched a homer over the right field wall, driving in Orr and cutting the deficit to 8-6. However, Lehigh Valley would go down in order in the eighth and ninth innings, dropping game one of the four-game set.
Robbie Weinhardt (2-0) earned the win with 5 2/3 innings of relief, allowing five runs (two earned) on five hits, while Bruce Rondon earned his 14th save with a perfect ninth inning. Tyler Cloyd (1-5) took the loss in his first start with the IronPigs since May 16, allowing 12 hits and eight runs in 4 1/3 innings. Greg Smith pitched two shutout innings of relief before J.C. Ramirez pitched 1 2/3 frames of scoreless relief.
Both Mitchell and Overbeck finished with two-hit days in the eight-hit attack, while Orr doubled, walked and scored a run.
Game two of the series is set for tomorrow, as the IronPigs send RHP Carlos Zambrano (0-0, 3.60) takes the mound against LHP Pat Misch (2-3, 5.36) for Toledo. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Fifth Third Field.