Braves sink Hens in fifteen innings

The Hens dropped their fifth game in a row on Thursday afternoon in a fifteen-inning marathon against the Gwinnett Braves by a score of 4-3 at Fifth Third Field. Toledo is now 7-11 on the season.

The majority of the game saw a pitcher's duel between Hens SP Warwick Saupold and Braves SP Lucas Sims. Saupold (6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO) allowed his first hit in the game in the third inning, which ended his streak of nine consecutive hitless innings, stretching back a total of three starts.

Toledo struck first in the seventh inning when a single off the bat of 3B Casey McGehee sent RF Steven Moya to home plate. The Hens took this lead into the ninth, until an error committed by RP Bobby Parnell allowed a Gwinnett runner to score.

After Gwinnett notched two runs in the thirteenth inning off of Jose Valdez via a single, intentional walk, and double, Toledo came roaring back and recorded two runs of their own. A single from CF Nate Schierholtz scored LF Wynton Bernard and a single off the bat of DH James McCann sent SS Dixon Machado home.

The Braves drove in the game-winning run in the top of the fifteenth via LF Ronnier Mustelier.

Toledo utilized eight pitchers in total during the game, including Warwick Saupold, Preston Guilmet, Logan Kensing, Drake Britton, Bobby Parnell, Ruben Alaniz, Jose Valdez, and Dustin Molleken. Molleken took the loss, and he is now 0-1 on the season.

In his third appearance as a Hen this season, McCann went 1-6 with three punch outs and an RBI.

Toledo begins their road trip tomorrow at Charlotte for a 7:05 p.m. first pitch.