Hens end Chiefs six-game win streak behind Guillen, Strieby homers

SYRACUSE, N.Y.- One day after their six-game win streak came to an end at the hands of the Syracuse Chiefs, the Toledo Mud Hens returned the favor, defeating Syracuse 8-5 behind a power surge from Carlos Guillen and Ryan Strieby.

After a lackluster day at the plate Saturday, Guillen righted things Sunday with a two-run bomb in the first inning to give the Hens an early 2-0 lead. With two outs, Jeff Frazier, Casper Wells and Brent Dlugach hit three consecutive singles. Frazier attempted to score on Dlugach's base hit, but was thrown out at home by left fielder Leonard Davis.

Syracuse answered with a run in the bottom of the first as Josh Whitesell doubled with two outs, scoring Davis from first base to make it a 2-1 ballgame. The Hens came right back with a run in the third. Strieby walked to begin the inning. After Frazier flew out, Wells was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Dlugach grounded to third, but a fielding error by Chase Lambin allowed Dlugach to reach base and Strieby to score from second, putting the Hens in front 3-1. The rally ended with back-to-back strikeouts to Ben Guez and Scott Sizemore.

Veteran journeyman Ron Villone started for Syracuse and last just 2.1 innings. He gave up six hits and three runs, walking two and striking out zero.

The Mud Hens started the fifth inning with consecutive doubles by Frazier and Wells. Frazier did not score on Wells' hit, so the Hens had two runners in scoring position with none out. Dlugach followed with an RBI single to give Toledo a 4-1 lead. Wells advanced to third and scored after Max St-Pierre grounded into a double play, putting the Hens ahead by four runs.

Syracuse had runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom of the inning, but was unable to score as Whitesell flied out to Strieby in left field.

Enrique Gonzalez, making his first start since a complete game two-hit shutout Monday, had another solid outing for the Mud Hens. He picked up his third win, going five innings, striking out four, walking two and surrendering one run on four hits.

Toledo blew the game wide open in the sixth with three runs, all coming on Ryan Strieby's second home run in as many days. The three-run homer put the Hens in front 8-1.

Syracuse wouldn't go down easily, though, as they got to reliever Daniel Schlereth in the bottom of the seventh. Bruntlett led off the inning with a ground out. It would be the last out until six batters later. Pedro Lopez followed Bruntlett with a double. After Pete Orr walked and Davis singled, the bases were loaded for Luis Ordaz. He came through with a two-RBI single, scoring Lopez and Orr and cutting the lead to 8-3. Whitesell continued the hit barrage with a line drive single to load the bases again, but Lambin grounded into an inning-ending double play to minimize the damage.

The Chiefs scored again in the eighth as they loaded the bases with three consecutive singles to begin the inning. Casey Fien was able to induce a double play with a ground ball pitch to Lopez. Syracuse scored a run, but it was the only one they would get after Orr lined out to end the inning.

Jay Sborz came on in the ninth and gave up one run on a double by Lambin, scoring Whitesell, who walked. Toledo moves to 25-19 on the season.

Toledo and Syracuse continue their series Monday at 7:00 p.m. Nationals' phenom Stephen Strasburg takes the mound for Syracuse.Upcoming Game Tickets | Box Score

Game Notes

• Carlos Guillen's home run was his first Triple-A round tripper since 2003 with the Tacoma Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League.
• Kevin Mench was ejected in the bottom of the third inning for arguing balls and strikes.
• Casper Wells played in his first game since arriving back from a stint in Detroit.
• Ryan Strieby hit his third HR of the season and second in as many days.
• Toledo snapped Syracuse's six-game win streak a day after Syracuse did the same to Toledo.
• Toledo is now 20-2 when scoring first and 22-0 when taking a lead into the ninth inning.
• The teams combined for 26 total hits (13 each).