Eldred powers Mud Hens past Bats, 13-9!

The Mud Hens won a yet another wild game in Louisville on Wednesday night as the teams combined for 30 hits and 21 runs but it was Toledo who came out on top, by the score of 13-9.

Second baseman Eric Patterson went 5-for-6 and knocked in two RBI while Brad Eldred continued his outstanding season, blasting two home runs and a double in his five RBI effort. Matt Young and Ryan Strieby also had tremoundous games at the plate, each with three RBI in the run-heavy contest.

Andy Oliver started on the mound for the Hens and lasted 4.2 innings, giving up seven earned runs, on six hits with two strike outs. Toledo righty Luke Putkonen came on in relief for Oliver and earned the win throwing two innings, giving up just one hit and one earned run in the process.

The Bats Neftali Soto continued his great series from the plate going 3-for-4 with a home run in the eighth inning. Third baseman Mike Costanzo jump started the scoring for Louisville with a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth, part of a six-run inning for the Bats.

After seeing their 6-1 lead disappear in the bottom of the fifth, in large part due to the Costanzo home run, Toledo responded in hurry with a six-run inning of their own in the top of the sixth to regain control.

Eldred opened the scoring in the top half of the inning with a three-run homer to deep left. With one out, an Omir Santos sacrifice fly scored Young and advanced Jerad Head to third while the next batter, Quintin Berry, knocked one to left field to score Head. Patterson then singled to right and scored Audy Ciriaco to stretch the lead to 12-7.

The Hens and Bats each added runs in the late innings, but the Toledo bullpen came through in the clutch and clinched the Mud Hens third straight win.

The Bats and Mud Hens continue their series with game three on Thursday in Louisville with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

Game Notes.

• Seven Mud Hens recorded at least two hits in the win.
• The six-run sixth inning for Toledo is the most in any inning this season.
• Brooks Brown will start on the mound for the Hens on Thursday.