The offense propelled the Mud Hens to its fourth straight victory after a 8-3 final against the Clippers on Wednesday night. Bryan Holaday smacked his eleventh home run of the season in the win.
The offense propelled the Mud Hens to its fourth straight victory after a 8-3 final against the Clippers on Wednesday night. Bryan Holaday smacked his eleventh home run of the season in the win.
The Hens jumped out to an early lead with a four-spot in the first inning. Jim Adduci walked and Omar Infante singled to start the bottom of the frame. Efren Navarro ripped an RBI single to bring home Adduci. With two outs, Bryan Holaday hit his team-leading eleventh home run of the season off the scoreboard in left to give Toledo a 4-0 advantage.
The Clippers had some traffic on the basepaths early, but couldn't muster anything against Hens' starter Myles Jaye. Jaye allowed a pair of runners in the second, third, and fourth but stranded them each occasion to keep Columbus off the board.
In the bottom of the fourth, Toledo got out of the gates with back-to-back knocks from Luis Valdes and Adduci. Infante foillowed with a bloop hit to right field that plated Valdes to extend the lead to 5-0. With one out, Jeimer Candelario sent a hard hit ball over the center fielder's head for a two-run double to balloon the lead even further. Tyler Collins followed with a double of his own to bring Candelario around to give the Hens an 8-0 advantage.
Jaye worked out of another mini jam in the fifth as he stranded two more Clippers base runners. The Hens forced Columbus starter Julian Merryweather out of the game after just four innings. He allowed eight runs on 12 hits, but did strike out seven. Craig Breslow entered in the bottom of the fifth for the Clippers.
In the top of the sixth, Jaye induced a 1-6-3 double play to end the inning and give him six shutout innings. Josh Martin came on to relieve Breslow in the bottom of the inning against the meat of the Hens' order, but recorded a perfect inning to end the sixth.
Jaye's night was done after six, as he didn't allow a run, while stranding nine runners and holding Columbus 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. He did give up six hits and four walks, while striking out three. Jaye lowered his ERA to 3.27 on the year.
Kyle Ryan came on in the seventh and allowed a single and a walk before Erik Kratz belted a three-run home run with two outs to put the Clippers on the board. Heading into the stretch, Toledo led 8-3.
Collins doubled to lead off the bottom of the seventh, but the Hens failed to score him. In the top of the eighth, Logan Kensing pitched a perfect frame to keep the game at 8-3.
Bryan Garcia pitched the ninth and retired the Clippers in order while picking up a strikout to give the Hens its fourth straight wins by a final of 8-3.
Toledo will host Columbus in the series finale on Thursday with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
