TOLEDO, Ohio - Tyler Alexander equaled a career-high with a strong 7.2 innings of work, but the Toledo Mud Hens could not overcome a pair of solo home runs in a rain-shortened 2-0 defeat to the Louisville Bats on Tuesday at Fifth Third Field.
TOLEDO, Ohio - Tyler Alexander equaled a career-high with a strong 7.2 innings of work, but the Toledo Mud Hens could not overcome a pair of solo home runs in a rain-shortened 2-0 defeat to the Louisville Bats on Tuesday at Fifth Third Field.
Despite striking out six against zero walks, Alexander was tagged with the loss after surrendering two earned runs on six hits. Zac Reininger added 1.1 scoreless innings of relief, but the Mud Hens (56-51) ran out of time to generate run support.
Louisville (47-58) center fielder Brian O'Grady flew out to right to lead off the top of the second stanza, but D.J. Peterson broke the scoreless tie with an inside-the-park home run off the top of the center-field wall. By the time Jacob Robson fielded the tricky bounce and threw the ball into the infield, there was little chance to catch Peterson as he raced home to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
The Bats doubled their advantage one inning later. After Morgan Lofstrom grounded out to short to start the frame, Scott Schebler lifted a one-out solo shot to deep right to make it a 2-0 ballgame.
The Mud Hens threatened to score in the bottom of the sixth, as Robson blasted a one-out triple into deep center only to be stranded 90 feet from home plate. In the last of the eighth, Harold Castro rolled a one-out single up to middle, advanced to second on a Robson groundout, but was ruled out at third trying to advance on Dixon Machado's ground ball to short.
Reininger sent the Bats down in order in the ninth, and the visitors brought in Kevin Quackenbush to face the heart of Toledo's order in the bottom of the inning. The Louisville closer threw two consecutive balls to Jason Krizan, at which point the umpiring crew called for the tarp. The rain not only persisted, it intensified, and the game was completed early following a 48-minute delay.
What's Next:
The Mud Hens remain at Fifth Third Field on Wednesday as they wrap up a three-game set against Louisville. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
#RoadToDetroit Report (rankings according to MLB.com 2018 Prospect Watch):
6. OF Christin Stewart: 1-for-3, single
9. RHP Kyle Funkhouser: DNP (DL)
14. IF Dawel Lugo: 1-for-3, single
16. OF Jacob Robson: 1-for-3, single
20. RHP Bryan Garcia: DNP (DL)
21. LHP Matt Hall: DNP
22. LHP Tyler Alexander: (L), 7.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO
Hens Notes:
• The Detroit Tigers on Tuesday acquired IF Willi Castro in exchange for OF Leonys Martin and RHP Kyle Dowdy. To fill Martin's place on the 25-man roster, Detroit recalled OF Mike Gerber from the Mud Hens.
• Stewart has recorded a hit in six consecutive games, going 7-for-22 with two home runs and seven RBI during that stretch.
• The Mud Hens are 10-4 in shutouts this season.
• Toledo is 12-9 against Louisville this season, and 25-25 against the West Division this year.
