Castro continues hit streak as Toledo falls

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - The Toledo Mud Hens led early but fell to the Gwinnett Stripers 16-3 Saturday evening at Coolray Field.
Harold Castro continued his hot hitting streak going 2-for-4 in the game as the Mud Hens (7-14) took an early three -run lead but fell to the Strippers (13-9).

The Mud Hens drew three walks in the opening frame to get the bases loaded with two-outs. Harold Castro then singled to bring in Danny Woodrow and move Willi Castro and Mikie Mahtook into scoring position as Toledo took a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
With one out in the second inning, Cameron Rupp launched a ball over the fence in straight away center field to give the Hens two run lead.
The third inning held more of the same for Toledo as Josh Lester led off with a solo home run to right field increasing the Hens advantage to three.
Gwinnett got on the board in the third inning as Rafael Ortega reached first on a walk and moved to second as Andrés Blanco was hit by a pitch. Austin Riley then cleared the bases with a three-run home run to left field tying the game at three.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Raffy Lopez led off with a solo home run just over the right field wall giving the Stripers a 4-3 lead. Travis Demeritte followed with a triple as the Stripers bats began to heat up. Pedro Florimón then singled up the middle to bring in Demeritte. RHP Beau Burrows caused Sean Kazmar to ground into a double play and Ortega popped out to end the inning with Gwinnett up 5-3.
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, Adam Duvall hit a home run with the bases empty to give Gwinnett a 6-3 lead. Burrows then walked the bases loaded before Kazmar singled to left bringing in two runs. The Strippers 8-3 lead was enough to bring in RHP Sandy Baez in relief. Burrows delivered four and two-thirds innings of work allowing eight runs on eight hits while walking four and striking out six. Baez caused Luis Marté to pop out to shortstop to end the inning.
Ortega began the bottom of the sixth inning with a double followed by Blanco earning a walk. Riley then flew out to right field and Ortega was able to tag and move to third on the play. Duvall then hit a sharp double down the left field line brining in Ortega and extending the Stripers lead to six. Lopez then earned a walk loading the bases for Gwinnett with one out. Baez retired Demeritte on strikes before Florimon drove in two runs on a bloop single shallow right field. Kazmar then smacked a single to right field clearing the basses as the Stripers claimed a 13-3 lead. RHP Jose Cisnero came in to replace Baez with two outs and a runner on first. Baez charted one inning allowing five earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one. Cisnero forced Marte to groundout to limit the damage and end the inning.
Blanco drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the seventh inning and moved to third on a double to left by Riley. Blanco scored on a wild pitch as Riley followed and moved to third. Gwinnett took a 14-3 lead into the eighth inning.
LHP Trent Szkutnik came on to pitch the eighth inning in relief of Cisnero who allowed one run on one hit and a walk while fanning three. The Stripers went on a one-out rally in the eighth inning as three consecutive singles brought in a run. Ortega then hit into a fielder's choice bringing in a run. On a throwing error by W. Castro, Marte moved to second.
What's Next: 
The Toledo Mud Hens will be back in action tomorrow afternoon against the Gwinnett Stripers with first pitch at Coolray Field scheduled for 1:05 PM.
#RoadToDetroit Report (rankings according to MLB.com 2019 Prospect Watch):
5. RHP Beau Burrows: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 4 BB, 6 K
8. OF Daz Cameron: 0-for-5
9. RHP Kyle Funkhouser: DNP
10. IF Willi Castro: 0-for-4
15. IF Dawel Lugo: 2-for-4
18. OF Jacob Robson: DNP
22. RHP Bryan Garcia: DNP (IL)
23. LHP Matt Hall: DNP
24. LHP Tyler Alexander: DNP
26. RHP Sandy Baez: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Hens Notes:
• Cameron Rupp hit his first home run of the season in the second inning of tonight's game.
• Toledo pitchers recorded 11 strikeouts in the game.
•  Harold Castro has recorded a hit in 10 straight games going 16-for-39 in that stretch with three doubles, three home runs and four RBI.