Toledo's momentum continued into Thursday evening as the offense and pitching combined to handily beat Rochester in the opener of a four-game series. The Hens, now victors of two in a row, tallied six runs on 11 hits to down the Red Wings. After being shut out three times in
Toledo's momentum continued into Thursday evening as the offense and pitching combined to handily beat Rochester in the opener of a four-game series. The Hens, now victors of two in a row, tallied six runs on 11 hits to down the Red Wings. After being shut out three times in four games heading into the night, the Hens have now scored 13 runs in their last two contests.
They opened scoring for the second time in as many games Thursday with the help of two-out Tyler Collins two-runner. Omar Infante was the run Collins brought in following his single up the middle. The homer, his fifth of the season, is Collins' first since joining he Hens after being designated for assignment by the Tigers in June. He got to Toledo and hit four homers in the span of ten days, but had been quiet in that category until tonight.
Efren Navarro's four-hit performance Wednesday night was encored Thursday with two more. His leadoff single in the fourth was what got things rolling again. Catcher John Hicks followed with a single of his own that moved Navarro to third. Hicks stole second with Infante at bat, and Infante grounded out to bring in Navarro. Now at third, Hicks scored on a single off the bat of Collins to make it 4-0.
Another even inning yielded another run as Toledo scored again in the sixth. Navarro and Hicks were again responsible, doubling back-to-back to make it 5-0 in favor of the visitors.
The middle of the order did not have all the fun, as back-to-back singles by nine hitter Brendan Ryan and leadoff hitter Matt den Dekker led to another score in the seventh. Number two hitter JaCoby Jones then laced a double to right-center. Ryan scored from second, but den Dekker, who was right on heels, was thrown out. Jones advanced to third on the throw home, but Navarro struck out to strand him and leave the score at 6-0.
Enjoying this previously-absent run support was Hens lefty Anthony Vasquez. Though any starter appreciates six runs out of his offense, that was more than enough for Vasquez. The southpaw recorded seven shutout innings, surrendering just six hits while walking two and striking out five. The outing was his first scoreless one since his masterful complete game shutout of Indianapolis on June 8. It was also his second consecutive outing with 5+ strikeouts - his first such streak of the season.
Rochester got one each in the eighth and ninth. After getting two quick outs in the former frame, righty Jeff Ferrell surrendered a triple to right Niko Goodrum, who was brought in on an ensuing Mitch Garver groundout. They made things scary in the ninth, as four straight hits yielded two runs. At one point, the tying run was at the plate with the game at 6-3. While at one point the tying run was at the plate with one down, but Edward Mujica, who entered for Kyle Ryan after he failed to record an out, got two groundouts to end the game.
The second game of the series will take place Friday evening in Rochester and is slated to start at 7:05 p.m.
