Offensive outburst for Toledo downs Bats

TOLEDO, Ohio-The Louisville Bats (12-27) could not cool the offense of the Toledo Mud Hens (20-17) who racked up 16 runs on 22 hits en route to a 16-2 victory Wednesday evening at Fifth Third Field.
Phillip Ervin and Dilson Herrera reached to leadoff the opening half inning, putting runners on the corners for Jessie Winker. The Bats right fielder hit a sacrifice fly to center field that allowed Ervin to score from third base, while Herrera was picked off at first base on the play.
Right-hander Wendolyn Bautista surrendered two long balls in the home half of the first inning, making his first Triple-A start. The Mud Hens scored three runs off of those two home runs to take a 3-1 lead after the first.
Two more Toledo runs in the second inning would end Bautista's day after just one and two-thirds innings of work allowing five runs on seven hits. Left-hander Lucas Luetge was the first reliever out of the bullpen for the Bats, getting out of the inning with Louisville trailing 5-1.
Luetge would give up a run in the third, while five Mud Hens would touch home plate in the fourth. Making his first appearance of 2017 in a rehab assignment, righty Nefi Ofando only pitched a third of an inning before right-hander Evan Mitchell recorded the final two outs of the inning. 
Offensively, the Bats mustered two base runners in innings two through five. That changed in the sixth inning courtesy of a leadoff double by Beau Amaral followed by an Ervin single that allowed Herrera to pick up a run-batted-in sacrifice fly to left field.  
Four more runs came around to score for the Mud Hens in the bottom of the seventh, increasing their lead to 14 runs, 16-2. With the Bats going hitless in their final three innings at the plate, the loss extended the Louisville losing streak to eight straight games and nine-consecutive series losses.
The series finale between the Louisville and Toledo is set for Thursday morning with a 10:35 a.m. start time. Right-hander Cody Reed (0-2, 6.75 ERA) looks to end the losing streak for the Bats, while righty Drew VerHagen (2-2, 4.21 ERA) takes the mound for the Mud Hens who will look for a four-game sweep.