TOLEDO, Ohio - Chad Huffman's solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning proved to be the difference as the Toledo Mud Hens claimed a 1-0 victory over the Syracuse Chiefs on Monday at Fifth Third Field.
TOLEDO, Ohio - Chad Huffman's solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning proved to be the difference as the Toledo Mud Hens claimed a 1-0 victory over the Syracuse Chiefs on Monday at Fifth Third Field.
Warwick Saupold shined on the mound for the Mud Hens (61-58), setting a season-high with 5.2 shutout innings of work, surrendering three hits and a trio of walks while striking out four. The Hen Pen kept Syracuse (51-69) off the board, as Daniel Stumpf punched out three in 1.1 innings before Zac Reininger fanned a pair en route to a six-out save.
The Chiefs' aggressive baserunning backfired in the top of the opening stanza. Victor Robles reached on a base hit into shallow center, but was easily tagged out at second with attempting to advance on Andrew Stevenson's flyout to left-center.
Toledo came close to breaking the deadlock in the bottom of the third. Edwin Espinal pulled a leadoff double into the left-field corner, advancing to third on a Jarrod Saltalamacchia flyout to deep right-center. Pete Kozma then lifted a fly ball to left, but Espinal was called out at home when the tag appeared to graze his shoulder before his hand slid across the plate.
Neither team posted a crooked number as the game raced ahead to the top of the sixth. Stevenson singled on a soft ground ball to the left side of the infield, and eventually reached second on a stolen base. After Matt Reynolds struck out swinging, Jose Marmoloejos and Pedro Severino drew back-to-back two-out walks to load the bases, prompting manager Doug Mientkiewicz to pull Saupold in favor of Stumpf. The southpaw proceeded to send Moisés Sierra down swinging to end Syracuse's only meaningful threat.
The Mud Hens finally captured the lead with nobody on and two down in the last of the seventh. Huffman touched them all for the second consecutive game when he smashed a 3-1 pitch off the left-field foul pole for his 10th home run of the campaign. A grand total of two hits provided sufficient run support for the hosts, as Toledo held on for a crucial 1-0 win.
What's Next:
The Mud Hens remain at Fifth Third Field on Tuesday for another matchup against Syracuse. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
#RoadToDetroit Report (rankings according to MLB.com 2018 Prospect Watch):
6. OF Christin Stewart: 0-for-2, walk
9. RHP Kyle Funkhouser: DNP (DL)
14. IF Dawel Lugo: 0-for-2, walk
16. OF Jacob Robson: 0-for-2, walk
20. RHP Bryan Garcia: DNP (DL)
21. LHP Matt Hall: DNP
22. LHP Tyler Alexander: DNP
Hens Notes:
• Chad Huffman became the fourth Mud Hens batter to hit 10 or more home runs this season, joining Christin Stewart (19), Mike Gerber (13) and Mikie Mahtook (11).
• The Mud Hens are 11-5 in shutouts and 18-17 in one-run games this season.
• Toledo has won its last three games against Syracuse, outscoring the Chiefs by an 18-10 margin.
• The Detroit Tigers on Monday placed OF JaCoby Jones on the 10-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain. In a corresponding move, OF Mikie Mahtook was recalled to the Tigers from the Mud Hens.
• Prior to Monday's game, RHP Jacob Turner cleared waivers and was outrighted from Detroit to Toledo. Including rehab assignments, 24 different players have seen game action with the Tigers and Mud Hens this season.
