Hens top Stripers, set Fifth Third Field record

TOLEDO, Ohio - The Toledo Mud Hens rewrote the record book on Friday, winning their ninth consecutive game within the friendly confines of Fifth Third Field in an 11-6 victory over the Gwinnett Stripers.

Winners in six straight and 11 of their last 12 overall, the Mud Hens (27-12) matched a season-high with 15 hits, as every Toledo batter recorded a hit in the series opener. Ronny Rodríguez reached base four times, going 3-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to a league-best 14 consecutive games. Jarrod Saltalamacchia finished 2-for-5 with a double, a single, two RBI, and a run scored, while Jason Krizan went 2-for-4 with a double, a single, and a pair of runs scored.
Drew VerHagen struck out a season-best nine hitters in four innings of work, allowing two earned runs on six hits and a walk. Making his first appearance for Toledo this year, Kurt Spomer was credited with the win after pitching three hitless innings, scattering two walks while fanning three.
Gwinnett (15-24) had a golden opportunity to open the scoring, as Peter Bourjos led off the contest with a triple into the gap in left-center. However, Danny Santana lined out to second baseman Harold Castro before Austin Riley and Carlos Franco both went down swinging to retire the side.
The Mud Hens gained control of the game in the bottom of the second, scoring six runs on six hits and an error. After Chad Huffman and Krizan hit back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second with nobody out, Saltalamacchia ripped a base hit down the left-field line to drive in Huffman and give Toledo a 1-0 lead.
The bottom of the order kept the line moving, with Gabriel Quintana reaching on a fielding error to score Krizan and double the Mud Hens' advantage to 2-0. Castro then singled through the right side to bring home Saltalamacchia and make it a 3-0 ballgame. 
Toledo continued to pour it on, as Rodriguez sliced a two-run triple to right that plated Quintana and Castro and extended the lead to 5-0. The Mud Hens added a sixth run when Christin Stewart singled into deep right to drive in Rodriguez.
Gwinnett clawed its way back with a run in the fourth and fifth innings, but the Mud Hens restored their six-run cushion with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. Krizan whacked a one-out double to left, and scored when Kody Eaves ripped a double of his own into left to give Toledo a 7-2 lead. Quintana followed up with a two-bagger to left to drive in Eaves and put the hosts in front by an 8-2 margin.
The Stripers tallied three runs in the top of the eighth, but Toledo responded in kind in the bottom of the frame. Stewart reached base on a single to left, and scored from first on a Jim Adduci double to deep left. After Huffman walked to put runners on first and second, Saltalamacchia hooked a two-base hit to left to drive in Adduci and stake the Mud Hens to a 10-5 lead. 
An 11th run arrived when Gwinnett pitcher Rex Brothers was called for a balk, allowing Huffman to advance 90 feet to home plate. The visitors added a consolation run in the ninth, but the outcome was never in doubt as the Mud Hens won by an 11-6 count.
The Mud Hens return to Fifth Third Field tomorrow night for game two of their series against Gwinnett. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.