Eickhoff's Gem Helps Pigs Top Mud Hens, 5-1
In his IronPigs debut, RHP Jerad Eickhoff allowed one run over six innings of work as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (50-61) topped the Toledo Mud Hens (45-65) by a score of 5-1 on Tuesday night at Fifth Third Field in Toledo.
Eickhoff (1-0) allowed the one run on six hits while walking one and fanning seven in his six innings.
Trailing 4-1, Toledo had the tying run at the plate with one out in the eighth, but RHP Dustin McGowan (1.2 IP, 2 K) was able to fan Jeff McVaney and get Bryan Holaday to fly to center to end the threat.
McGowan got the final five outs to pick up his eighth save of the season.
The IronPigs grabbed an early 3-0 lead with three runs in the first as Kelly Dugan came through with an RBI single, Aaron Altherr (1-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R) reached on a fielding error charged to McVaney which allowed Chase d'Arnaud to score and Cord Phelps (2-3) drew a bases-loaded walk.
In the bottom of the fifth, McVaney led off with a double, went to third on a single and scored on Dixon Machado's sac fly to bring the Mud Hens within 3-1.
Trailing 3-1, Toledo had runners at second and third with two outs in the sixth, but Eickhoff was able to fan Holaday and end the inning.
Altherr's solo shot in the top of the seventh opened up a 4-1 lead for the Pigs. It was Altherr's seventh home run of the season for Lehigh Valley.
Mud Hens starter Mike Belfiore (5-10) gave up four runs (three earned) on eight hits while walking four and fanning one in seven plus innings.
Brian Bogusevic (3-5, 3B, HR, RBI, 2 R) homered for the first time since June 14 with a solo shot in the top of the ninth to extend the lead to 5-1 for the IronPigs. It was the seventh home run of the year for Bogusevic.
Tyler Henson was 0-4 with a walk for manager Dave Brundage's squad and saw his hitting streak come to an end at 10 games.
The series continues on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. as RHP Sean O'Sullivan (0-1, 5.50) gets the ball for the Pigs against Mud Hens RHP Luis Cessa (0-3, 8.51 with Triple-A Las Vegas).