Stripers Outslugged in Toledo, 11-6

TOLEDO, OH - The Gwinnett Stripers lost to the Toledo Mud Hens by an 11-6 score Friday night in the opening game of the three-game series at Fifth-Third Field. 
Peter Bourjos posted his second consecutive four-hit game, going 4-for-4 with two doubles and his International League-leading fourth triple, but the Stripers could never fully recover from an early 6-0 deficit.

Toledo broke a scoreless game open in the bottom of the second inning by sending 10 men to the plate and scoring six runs off Gwinnett starter Jon Kennedy. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Harold Castro and Christin Stewart all tallied RBI singles, and Ronny Rodríguez added a two-run triple.
The first Gwinnett run came in the top of the fourth as Carlos Franco drew a one-out walk from Toledo starting pitcher Drew VerHagen and scored from second on a single to right by Xavier Avery.
The Stripers added another run an inning later as they loaded the bases with no outs. Austin Riley grounded into a 5-3 double play enabling Tyler Smith to score from third to make it 6-2.
But as quickly as the Stripers cut into the lead, the Mud Hens countered. In the bottom of the fifth, doubles by Jason Krizan, Kody Eaves and Gabriel Quintana plated two runs off Gwinnett reliever Chad Bell to stretch the lead back to six runs at 8-2.
The biggest inning for the Stripers came in the top of the eighth. Franco drew a one-out walk from reliever Zac Reininger and scored on a long triple to right by Rio Ruiz. A ground out to short by Phil Gosselin plated Ruiz from third and Avery followed with a solo homer (1) to left to pull Gwinnett within three at 8-5.
Once again, Toledo had an answer. The Mud Hens scored three in the bottom of the eighth off Phillip Pfeifer to move back ahead by six at 11-5. RBI doubles by Jim Adduci and Saltalamacchia chased Pfeifer from the game, and Rex Brothers committed a balk to score Chad Huffman.
The final run of the game came in the top of the ninth against reliever Victor Alcántara as Riley singled in Bourjos from second, who earlier had collected his fourth hit of the night, a one-out double to left.
Kennedy (L, 0-2) went 2.0 innings with seven hits, six runs (five earned) and one walk in a spot start for the Stripers. Bell tossed 3.0 innings with four hits, two earned runs, one walk and four strikeouts in his Gwinnett debut. Following 1.0 scoreless inning from Josh Ravin, Pfeifer allowed three earned runs on three hits and a walk over 1.2 innings. Brothers pitched the final 0.1 inning.
VerHagen worked 4.0 innings in his fourth start of the season for the Mud Hens. He allowed two runs on six hits while walking one and striking out nine. Kurt Spomer (W, 1-0) tossed 3.0 innings with two walks and three strikeouts for the win. Reininger went 1.0 inning with two hits, three earned runs and one walk. Alcantara pitched 1.0 inning with two hits, one earned run and one strikeout.
In addition to the four-hit night from Bourjos, Avery was 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs for Gwinnett.
Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with a triple, run scored and two RBIs for Toledo. Stewart was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Krizan added a 2-for-4 night with a double and two runs. Former Brave Saltalamacchia was 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.
The Gwinnett Stripers (15-24) continue the series Saturday night in Toledo with game two against the Mud Hens (27-12). Left-hander Kolby Allard (3-1, 1.71 ERA) is set to start for Gwinnett. Toledo will start right-hander A.J. Ladwig (5-0, 2.13 ERA). Tony Schiavone the play-by-play call on 97.7 and 93.5 FM The Other Side of the River beginning at 6:35 p.m. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.