TOLEDO, Ohio - Christin Stewart recorded his team-high seventh home run of the campaign, while Ryan Carpenter struck out a season-best 10 batters as the Toledo Mud Hens defeated the Columbus Clippers 3-1 on Monday at Fifth Third Field.
TOLEDO, Ohio - Christin Stewart recorded his team-high seventh home run of the campaign, while Ryan Carpenter struck out a season-best 10 batters as the Toledo Mud Hens defeated the Columbus Clippers 3-1 on Monday at Fifth Third Field.
Stewart paced the Mud Hens (18-11) at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a two-run shot, a double, and a single to extend his hitting streak to 12 consecutive games. Ronny Rodríguez finished 2-for-4 with a pair of singles, while Pete Kozma went 1-for-3 with an RBI double.
Carpenter enjoyed his strongest start of the season, allowing one earned run on five hits and a walk in seven innings of work. Kevin Comer came on in relief and pitched a perfect eighth before Louis Coleman sent Columbus (15-14) down in order in the ninth for his team-high sixth save of the year.
The Clippers threatened to break the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth. Francisco Mejia ripped a leadoff double just over the head of a leaping Jim Adduci and off the wall in right, but Carpenter quickly bounced back to retire the next three batters to keep Columbus off the board.
Stewart spoiled former Mud Hen Adam Wilk's perfect start in the bottom of the same frame, hitting a two-out double into center. However, the pitchers' duel continued as Chad Huffman sent a sharp line drive to left fielder Melky Cabrera to send the game into the fifth inning.
Columbus made its breakthrough in the top of the sixth, using three consecutive singles to grab the lead. Jon Berti lined a base hit into right before Mejia singled into center to put runners on first and second with one out. Eric Haase then sent a single into right-center to drive in Berti and give the visitors a 1-0 edge.
The Mud Hens responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to capture their first lead of the night. After Mikie Mahtook lined a base hit into left, Stewart brought him home with a drive that cleared the wall in right-center to put Toledo in front by a 2-1 margin.
Toledo wrapped up the scoring with another run in the bottom of the seventh. Adduci led off the frame with a walk, and advanced to second on a base hit from Kade Scivicque, prompting the Clippers to burn a mound visit. Kozma added a double down the right-field line to score Adduci and extend the lead to 3-1, which held on to be the final tally.
The Mud Hens return to Fifth Third Field tomorrow morning for game two of their series against Columbus. First pitch is scheduled for 10:35 a.m.
