Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Hens' Hessman hits three homers

Becomes Toledo's all-time RBI leader in loss to Louisville
April 20, 2008
In 12 years, Mike Hessman never had a game like this.

The veteran slugger cranked three home runs Sunday in the Toledo Mud Hens' 10-7 loss to the Louisville Bats at Fifth Third Field.

The homers were a career-high for Hessman, who went 4-for-5 with a season-best five RBIs. He became the third player to hit three homers in a game at Fifth Third Field history, joining Jack Hannahan (2005) and Dane Sardinha (2007).

After fouling out in the first inning, Hessman singled in the third. He connected in the fifth off Bats starter Tom Shearn (3-1), sending a solo shot over the left-field wall.

Hessman smashed a two-run dinger to left off southpaw Bill Bray in the seventh and drilled an opposite-field two-run blast, his fifth of the season, off left-hander Scott Sauerbeck in the ninth.

"I've always been able to hit the ball out of the ballpark," Hessman told the (Toledo) Blade. "The last thing I needed to do was worry about that."

A 15th-round draft pick of the Braves in 1996, he has 259 homers during his Minor League career and eight in the Majors. He ended the game with 238 RBIs as a Mud Hen, breaking Scott Ullger's modern-era team record.

"Some places, you dread going to the ballpark. But from the front office to the fans here, it's been fun to play in Toledo every day," Hessman told the Blade.

A year ago, Hessman led the International League with 31 homers and 101 RBIs. Through two weeks this season, he's tied with four others, including teammates Jeff Larish and Matthew Joyce, for the top spot in homers and ranks second with 14 RBIs.

Curtis Granderson singled and scored on Brent Clevlen's base hit in the first. The rehabbing Tigers center fielder is 3-for-9 in two games with the Mud Hens.

Clevlen went 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles and a run scored for the Mud Hens (10-7), who were swept by Louisville in the two-game series.

Jerry Hairston Jr. went 3-for-5 with a homer and five RBIs for the Bats. The Major League veteran, who leads the IL with 15 RBIs, delivered a two-run single in the second and crushed a three-run jack in the sixth.

David Ross and Jolbert Cabrera added solo homers for the Bats (12-6).

Shearn was charged with three runs on eight and two walks over 5 1/3 innings, striking out two. Jon Adkins struck out Clevlen in the ninth to notch his second save.

Toledo starter Jonathan Connolly (0-2) surrendered five runs on seven hits and three walks while fanning four in 3 2/3 frames.

Shane Figueroa is a contributor to MLB.com.