Hens sweep Bulls with extra-inning rally

TOLEDO, Ohio - Mike Gerber struck out swinging with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the 11th inning, but Edwin Espinal scored on the ensuing wild pitch to give the Toledo Mud Hens a 4-3 win over the Durham Bulls on Wednesday at Fifth Third Field.

Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the 11th, Espinal led off the frame, while Jim Adduci represented the potential tying run at second. Espinal picked up a walk before Grayson Greiner grounded a base hit through the left side to load the bases with nobody out. 
Jason Krizan entered the contest as a pinch-hitter and drew a four-pitch walk to plate Adduci and even the score at 3-3. After Ronny Rodríguez flied out to right, Gerber struck out swinging, but the pitch bounced off the catcher and rolled towards the first-base dugout, allowing Espinal to score from third and deliver the Mud Hens (9-3) a thrilling come-from-behind victory against Durham (4-8).

Winners in four straight and five of the last six, Toledo gave the ball to Blaine Hardy, who struck out a season-high six batters in five innings of work, surrendering one earned run on two hits and a pair of walks. Zac Reininger was credited with his second win of the campaign, pitching one inning and allowing an unearned run on one hit.
The Mud Hens posted a series-high 12 hits, with eight starters recording at least one hit. Greiner had a career night at the plate, reaching base five times and going 4-for-4 with a double, three singles, and a walk. Making his return to the lineup, Chad Huffman also finished 2-for-3 with two singles and a pair of walks to extend his hit streak to seven consecutive games.
Durham started the scoring with a run in the opening frame. Andrew Velazquez drew a leadoff walk, advancing to second on a stolen base. Joe McCarthy then brought Velazquez home with a two-out single to give the Bulls a 1-0 lead.
The Mud Hens responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the first. Rodriguez led off with a double into right, and moved to third on Gerber's sacrifice bunt. Dawel Lugo then lined a base hit into center to plate Rodriguez and even the score at 1-1.
Toledo grabbed its first lead of the night in the bottom of the fourth. Adduci reached on a fielder's choice and stole second, scoring when Greiner ended a 13-pitch at-bat with a double into left to put the Mud Hens ahead by a 2-1 margin.
The visitors restored parity in the top of the sixth. Velazquez picked up another leadoff walk, and reached third base on back-to-back steals. After Jeremy Hazelbaker struck out swinging, Willy Adames ripped a base hit through the right side to drive in Velazquez and tie the game at 2-2. 
The score remained deadlocked as the Mud Hens and Bulls each entered their first extra-inning game of the season. Following a scoreless 10th inning, the Bulls recaptured the lead in the top of the 11th. With Hazelbaker on second to begin the frame, Adames singled to right to put runners on the corners with nobody out. Then, McCarthy lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Hazelbaker and give Durham a 4-3 lead heading into the bottom of the 11th.
The Mud Hens head to Pennsylvania on Friday to open a three-game series against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. First pitch from PNC Field is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.