The Mud Hens lost a second consecutive game after falling by a final of 3-1 to the Bats on Friday night.
The Mud Hens lost a second consecutive game after falling by a final of 3-1 to the Bats on Friday night.
Through the game's early innings, both pitchers were on top of their game. Toledo's Anthony Vasquez and Louisville's Rookie Davis both kept the opposition off the board in the first two innings before the Bats broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third.
Jose Duarte was making his Triple-A debut for the Bats on Friday and singled home the first run of the game in the third when Zach Vincej came around.
Davis was perfect through 4.1 innings for Louisville before Tyler Collins doubled into the corner. He was able to escape trouble in the inning without allowing the tying run to score.
The Hens would knot up the contest in the sixth when Omar Infante plated Matt den Dekker on a single to left. The Hens would load the bases in the inning, but Davis locked down and kept the game at 1-1.
The Bats immediately responded with a pair of runs against Vasquez as they chased him from the game after facing just two batters. Duarte came through again with an RBI knock and Tyler Goeddel made it a two-run game when he plated Vincej for a second time. Heading into the stretch, the Bats led 3-1.
Bruce Rondón came on to pitch in the top of the eighth in relief of Logan Kensing who finished off the seventh. Rondon allowed a walk and a single but was able to strand both to keep the deficit at two.
Davis was still in there in the bottom of the eighth and Adduci ripped a double off the wall in left field with one out. The next batter was Infante who tried to bunt, but popped out in foul territory to the catcher. Davis stranded Adduci at second when he retired Efren Navarro on strikes, sending the game into the ninth with the Hens still trailing 3-1.
In the top of the ninth, Bryan Garcia appeared in his second straight game. He allowed a single but no more as he struck out Adam Brett Walker looking to end the inning.
Jeimer Candelario gave the Hens some life with a leadoff single in the ninth off of Louisville reliever Jimmy Herget. Tyler Collins walked to put two men on with nobody out and Bryan Holaday bunted them over. Jason Krizan struck out before Dominic Ficociello pinch hit. He battled with two strikes and sent a long foul ball that had home run distance, but eventually struck out to end the game.
Game 2 of the series will take place on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
