Blaine Hardy Pitches Mud Hens Past G-Braves, 6-0

TOLEDO, OH-The Toledo Mud Hens (55-76) behind the pitching of starter Blaine Hardy whipped the Gwinnett Braves (56-75) by a 6-0 score Monday night in game three of the four game series at Fifth-Third Field.

Hardy (W, 5-1) baffled the G-Braves all night. He pitched the third complete game of the season for a MudHens pitcher, allowing only one hit and striking out four. He faced one batter above the minimum for a nine-inning game. Hardy retired the first eight batters he faced before giving up a two out single in the third to Sean Kazmar, and then retired the next 19 batters in a row to end the game.

While Hardy was blowing by Gwinnett, his offense was busy piling up runs against Gwinnett starter Kameron Loe (L, 4-4). In the bottom of the first, after a one out single to right by Danny Worth, Nick Castellanos (15) drilled a long two-run homer to left off the scoreboard for a 2-0 Toledo lead.

In the second inning, Jordan Lennerton led off with a single off Loe and Ronnie Paulino stroked a single to put two on with no outs. Kevin Russo doubled to left, scoring Lennerton from second for a 3-0 lead.

The Mud Hens' lead went to 5-0 in the bottom of the fourth when Hernan Perez ripped a double to right scoring both Russo and Argenis Diaz who were aboard on earlier hits.

The final run for Toledo came in the bottom of the seventh off of Gwinnett reliever Joe Bisenius. Mike Cervenak led off the half inning with a double to center, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch for the sixth and final run of the game.

Loe worked 4.0 innings, giving up 12 hits and five earned runs. Bisenius went 3.0 innings with two hits, one earned run, one walk and four strikeouts. Joe Beimel pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth with one hit.

Offensively for the G-Braves, Kazmar had the only hit and was 1-for-3.

For the Mud Hens Cervenak was 3-for-4, Perez and Worth were each 2-for-5. Lennerton and Russo were each 2-for-4. The first inning two-run homer by Castellanos was his only hit in five trips to the plate.

The G-Braves and Mud Hens play the finale of the four game series Tuesday night in Toledo. The Braves will pitch LHP Sean Gilmartin (3-7, 5.45). The Mud Hens will start LHP Kyle Lobestein (3-2, 3.65). The game will be broadcast on WDUN 550 AM/102.9 FM.   First pitch set for 6:30 p.m.

Tickets for all Gwinnett Braves home games are on sale now at the Coolray Field Box Office. Call (678) 277-0340 or visit gwinnettbraves.com for more information.