Robson, Rodriguez shine as Hens slip to Bats

TOLEDO, Ohio - Jacob Robson smashed his first career home run at the Triple-A level, but the Toledo Mud Hens were unable to overcome an early deficit in a 6-4 defeat to the Louisville Bats on Saturday before a sold-out crowd of 10,067 at Fifth Third Field.

Recording three or more hits for the third time in his last four outings, Ronny Rodríguez regained control of the International League batting title, going 3-for-5 with a double, two singles, and a pair of runs scored. Robson reached base three times in his second Triple-A start, finishing 2-for-3 with a two-run shot, a single, and a stolen base, while Jim Adduci went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles, an RBI, and a run scored. 
Tyler Alexander punched out four in 5.1 innings of work, but was dealt the loss after surrendering six runs - three of which were earned - on 11 hits and a walk. The Hen Pen kept the hosts in the game, as Paul Voelker tossed 1.2 shutout innings in relief before Drew VerHagen and Junichi Tazawa pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth, respectively.
A night after the Mud Hens (46-34) quickly dispatched the Bats (31-46) with a seven-run first, Louisville opened up a 4-0 lead in the top of the opening stanza. Mason Williams sent the first pitch he faced down the right-field line for a leadoff double, and scored the game's first run when Phillip Ervin flared a broken-bat single into shallow left.
Dilson Herrera flew out to deep center, but Gabriel Guerrero followed with a base into center to plate Ervin and double the Bats' advantage to 2-0. With runners on first and second and one down, Steve Selsky grounded into what should have been an inning-ending double play to short, but Louisville remained alive as the ball ricocheted off the umpire for a single to load the bases.
The Bats made the most of their good fortune, as Nick Longhi reached on a Rodriguez fielding error to score Guerrero, while Chadwick Tromp drove in D.J. Peterson with a single into left to give the visitors a four-run cushion.
The Mud Hens got on the board with a run in the bottom of the frame. Rodriguez doubled into the left-field corner, moving to third on Robson's base hit through the left side. Adduci then pulled a one-out single through the right side to drive in Rodriguez and cut the deficit to 4-1.
Toledo added to its tally with another run in the bottom of the fourth. Adduci reaching on a leadoff single to left, advancing all the way to third on an errant pickoff attempt by Louisville starter Robert Stephenson. Chad Huffman then lined a base hit into left to score Adduci and trim Louisville's lead to 4-2.
 
The score remained the same until Louisville knocked in a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. With runners on first and second with one out, Blake Trahan ripped a sharp ground ball into left that scored Selsky. After Williams walked to load the bases, a sixth run arrived when Ervin drew a base on balls of his own to plate Tromp 
Voelker sent the Bats down in order I the top of the next inning, and the Mud Hens inched closer with a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh. Rodriguez grounded a single into left, and scored when Robson sent an opposite-field home run to left that cut Louisville's lead to 6-4.
The Mud Hens continued to apply pressure in the closing stages, as Pete Kozma doubled into shallow right to bring the potential tying run to the plate. This time, the magic ran out as Rodriguez struck out swinging to wrap up the contest.
 
What's Next:
The Mud Hens wrap up their four-game against Louisville on Sunday at Fifth Third Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
 • SPECIALTY JERSEY: Wizard Jerseys
 • SPECIAL EVENT: Muddy & Spike's Inflatable Theme Park
 • Kids Run the Bases
 • Postgame fireworks
 • Hensville Live! Presented by NSG
#RoadToDetroit Report (rankings according to MLB.com 2018 Prospect Watch):
5. OF Christin Stewart: DNP (DL)
11. OF Mike Gerber: 1-for-4, single
12. IF Dawel Lugo: 0-for-4
15. RHP Grayson Long: DNP (DL)
16. RHP Bryan Garcia: DNP (DL)
18. LHP Tyler Alexander: (L), 5.1 IP, 11 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO
26. OF Jacob Robson: 2-for-3, home run, single, walk, two RBI
Hens Notes:
• Rodriguez leads the IL with a .333 batting average and a .548 slugging percentage.
• The Mud Hens are 8-3 in front of crowds in excess of 10,000 this season.
• The Mud Hens wore special Wizard-themed jerseys in tonight's game, raising $4,200 in a silent auction benefitting Helping Hens and the Ability Center's Next Steps Summer Program. Toledo will also wear the uniforms in Sunday's series finale.
• Tonight's attendance of 10,067 marked the Mud Hens' 12th sellout of the season and the 475th in Fifth Third Field history.