Mud Hens down Chiefs in Game 1

The Toledo Mud Hens hit three home runs in the fourth inning to break open a tied game and pull away for a 6-2 win over the Syracuse Chiefs Wednesday. Mud Hens starter Charlie Furbush struck out 11 Chiefs batters in the complete-game win. Syracuse starter J.D. Martin took the loss, giving up six earned runs on six hits through four and two-thirds innings.

Chiefs' third baseman Alex Valdez hit an RBI triple to tie the score at 1-1 in the second inning, but Syracuse struggled to get their bats going against the lefty Furbush. He struck out three straight batters to end the third inning before the Mud Hens stormed in front.

Scott Sizemore started the fourth with a blast to centerfield to put the lead at 2-1. First baseman Ryan Strieby stepped to the plate two batters later and hit another home run. After a Scott Thorman flyout, Bryan Pounds crushed the third home run of the inning to extend the lead to 4-1.

The Mud Hens run continued into the fifth as Sizemore would bring home Max St. Pierre on a sacrifice fly. Matt Chico entered in relief of Martin after that at-bat, but it didn't stop Toledo from adding one more. Andy Dirks would score from second as Timo Perez singled off Chico to put the score at 6-1.

Jeff Frazier tried to start a Chiefs rally in the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff home run, but it wasn't enough as Syracuse fell 6-2 in game 1 of the doubleheader.