The Hens split a Monday doubleheader with Syracuse played because of an April 20 rainout. Toledo took game one, but Syracuse, playing as the home team in the second game, took game two.
The Hens split a Monday doubleheader with Syracuse played because of an April 20 rainout. Toledo took game one, but Syracuse, playing as the home team in the second game, took game two.
Game One
Toledo starter Buck Farmer did plenty to ensure a win for his team. The righty, now a winner in each of his last three starts, tossed a seven-inning complete game while allowing just one earned run on five hits. He struck out two and walked three to bring his earned run average down to the better side of four.
The first run Syracuse got off him came in the second with two down. Alejandro De Aza laid a bunt down the third base line, but Dominic Ficociello, despite flashing impressive leather while making the previous out, charged and threw the ball wide of first and down into the bullpen. Now at second, De Aza scored easily on a Pedro Severino single as left fielder Matt den Dekker's throw was off-line. On the throw, however, Severino was thrown out by catcher Bryan Holaday trying to take second.
The Hens got to work themselves in the third. With JaCoby Jones on first, Efren Navarro singled to make it first and third. Dominic Ficociello doubled to score Jones and bring Navarro to third, and both were then brought in on a Jason Krizan single to make it 3-1.
Toledo got an extra insurance run in the started off with a leadoff double from den Dekker. Omar Infante moved him to third on a bunt. Brendan Ryan chopped a ball to third, but the throw was late and den Dekker's run made it 4-1.
The Chiefs loaded the bases in the seventh, prompting manager Mike Rojas to replace Farmer with Blaine Hardy. Hardy entered let one of Farmer's runs in on a Chad Huffman sacrifice fly, but he ended the game by picking Severino off at first to secure the close win for the Hens.
Game 2
The Hens got on the board first in game two. Jones led the third off with a double and moved to third on a groundout. Krizan walked and, after reaching first, got himself in a rundown that allowed Jones to steal home to make it 1-0.
Syracuse, however, was determined to get at least some offense going after being so quiet in the first game.
The third inning is where it happened, as they tallied four runs off Toledo starter Rubin Alaniz. Michael Almanzar, who last month played for the Hens, began the rally with a single. Bengie González singled, too. Now with two on and nobody out, Alaniz fell behind 2-0 leadoff hitter Zach Collier. Collier took the next delivery and deposited it over the fence in right-center to give the Chiefs a 3-1 lead. Irving Falu singled to get things going again, and, one out later, Clint Robinson doubled him in to make it 4-1.
An Efren Navarro solo shot in the fifth cut the deficit to 4-2, but the Hens offense had no more left to offer as the Chiefs took the second game of the twin bill.
The Hens are back in action Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. for the third-of-four contests to be played against the Chiefs this week.
