LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Toledo starter Matt Hall delivered six scoreless innings of work, but the Mud Hens were denied a sweep of the Louisville Bats in a 5-2 decision on Thursday at Louisville Slugger Field.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Toledo starter Matt Hall delivered six scoreless innings of work, but the Mud Hens were denied a sweep of the Louisville Bats in a 5-2 decision on Thursday at Louisville Slugger Field.
Hall silenced the Bats (55-71) during his time on the mound, but did not factor in the decision despite scattering two hits and a walk while striking out three. Josh Smoker surrendered an earned run in the seventh, before Kevin Comer and Hunter Cervenka each conceded a pair of runs an inning later. At the plate, Harold Castro finished 2-for-4 with two singles and an RBI, while Pete Kozma went 2-for-4 with a pair of base hits.
The Mud Hens (65-63) opened the scoring with a run in the top of the second. Daz Cameron was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning before Jason Krizan lined a single into right to put runners on the corners with nobody down. Castro then added a base hit of his own into left to drive in Cameron and stake the visitors to a 1-0 lead.
Toledo held on to its slim advantage until Louisville evened the score in the last of the seventh. Nick Longhi reached on a bunt single to the left side of the infield, and reached second when Valentin Martinez sent a two-out single into right-center. The bottom of the order kept the inning alive, as Josh VanMeter lined a base hit into right to drive in Longhi and knot the score at 1-1.
The Mud Hens managed to recapture the lead in the top of the eighth. Chad Huffman whacked a leadoff double down the left-field line and was lifted in favor of pinch-runner Dixon Machado. Christin Stewart singled into left to place runners on the corners with nobody out, before Cameron lifted a sacrifce fly to center that was deep enough to plate Machado and give Toledo a 2-1 edge.
Louisville grabbed its first and only lead of the night in the bottom of the frame, recording four runs on four hits and an error. Blake Trahan and Gabriel Guerrero started the Bats' half of the inning with back-to-back singles, prompting the Mud Hens to replace Comer with Cervenka on the hill. Brian O'Grady bunted the first pitch he faced toward the mound, but Cervenka's throw overshot Krizan at first, allowing Trahan to come home and make it a 2-2 contest.
D.J. Peterson was intentionally walked to load the bases with nobody out, but Guerrero scored when Nick Longhi was hit by a pitch to put Louisville in front by a 3-2 count. Two outs later, VanMeter lined a two-run single into left to extend the Bats' cushion to 5-2, which held on to be the final tally.
What's Next:
The Mud Hens return to Fifth Third Field on Friday to open a four-game series against the Columbus Clippers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p,m.
SPECIAL EVENT:Craft Beer Tasting
GAMEDAY THEME:90's Night
GIVEAWAY:Jose "Lima-Time" Bobblehead
Postgame Fireworks Hensville Live!
#RoadToDetroit Report (rankings according to MLB.com 2018 Prospect Watch):
6. OF Christin Stewart: 1-for-4, single
8. OF Daz Cameron: 1-for-2, single, sacrifice fly, run
9. RHP Kyle Funkhouser: DNP (DL)
14. IF Dawel Lugo: 1-for-4, single
16. OF Jacob Robson: 0-for-4, walk
20. RHP Bryan Garcia: DNP (DL)
21. LHP Matt Hall: (ND), 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO
22. LHP Tyler Alexander: DNP
Hens Notes:
• The Mud Hens finished 14-11 against Louisville during the 2018 campaign, marking the fifth consecutive year Toledo has captured the season series.
• Toledo is 48-4 when ahead after six innings this season.
• The Detroit Tigers on Thursday announced that OF JaCoby Jones is scheduled to begin an injury rehab assignment with the Mud Hens on Friday against Columbus.
• The Detroit Tigers on Thursday optioned RHP Zac Reininger to the Mud Hens. Prior to Friday's game, Detroit will activate RHP Michael Fulmer from the 10-day disabled list.
