Charlotte N.C. - The Toledo Mud Hens were defeated 9-6 by the Charlotte Knights as its comeback was cut short Wednesday evening at BB&T Ballpark.
Charlotte N.C. - The Toledo Mud Hens were defeated 9-6 by the Charlotte Knights as its comeback was cut short Wednesday evening at BB&T Ballpark.
After going down seven runs in the first innings, the Mud Hens (6-12) fought to come back but its efforts were cut short as the Knights (14-6) early lead proved enough to get the win.
Cameron Rupp shined at the plate for Toledo going 3-for-4 with an RBI and scoring two runs. Mikie Mahtook and Wilii Castro each hit a solo home run as the Mud Hens hit multiple home runs for the second day in a row.
Charlie Tilson reached on an error by Pete Kozma to begin the game for Charlotte. Alcides Escobar then drew an eight pitch walk to put runners on first and second. The Knights got on the board early as Matt Skole doubled with one out in the first inning to bring in Tilson and Escobar giving Charlotte a 2-0 lead. Then three consecutive walks with two outs from RHP Kyle Funkhouser brought in Skole and left the bases loaded. Ryan Goins then drew a walk bringing in D.J. Peterson and resulting in a pitching change. Funkhouser threw 40 pitches, allowing seven runs, one earned, on one hit and five walks. RHP Sandy Baez came in and gave up a bases clearing triple to Tilson who was caught stretching on a throw from Victor Reyes in right field to Cameron Rupp behind the dish. The Knights took a 7-0 advantage into the second inning.
Mahtook did his duty as the designated hitter and led off the second inning with a home run to right field. Dawel Lugo then hit a one-out double and moved to third on a groundout by Reyes but was stranded at third base as the Hens trailed by six going into the bottom half of the second.
In the third inning Baez recorded two outs before handing the ball to RHP Zac Houston. Baez allowed two hits in two scoreless innings of work while walking one and fanning two. Houston struck out Preston Tucker as the two Mud Hens pitchers combined to send the Knights down in order.
Toledo made noise the fifth inning as Rupp led off with a single and Kozma followed reaching second on a double as Rupp moved to third. Jacob Robson then singled to center scoring Rupp and moving Kozma to third. With one out, Josh Lester doubled to left-center scoring Kozma and cutting the Knights lead to 7-3.
RHP John Schreiber made his Triple-A debut entering in the fifth inning in relief of Houston who allowed one hit in one and one third innings of scoreless work while striking out one. Skole welcomed Schreiber to Triple-A as he led off the inning with a solo home run giving Charlotte a five-run advantage. After allowing a single to Collins, Schreiber retired the next three batters as Toledo went into the sixth down 8-3.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, RHP Jose Cisnero came in to pitch for Toledo as Schreiber ended his debut allowing one earned run on three hits. Peterson started a two-out rally by doubling to center field. Tucker then drew a walk before Mendick singled to center bringing in Peterson putting the Knights ahead 9-3.
Castro launched a solo home run with one-out in the eighth inning to bring Toledo within five. Then Lugo hit a double and was brought in on a two-out double by Rupp, his second double of the day. Kozma then singled to bring in Rupp and cut the Hens deficit to 9-6.
Toledo held Charlotte scoreless in the eighth but could not complete the comeback in the ninth.
What's Next:
The Toledo Mud Hens will be back in action tomorrow night against the Charlotte Knights with first pitch from BB&T Ballpark set for 7:04 PM on Thursday.
#RoadToDetroit Report (rankings according to MLB.com 2019 Prospect Watch):
5. RHP Beau Burrows: DNP
8. OF Daz Cameron: 0-for-5, 3 K
9. RHP Kyle Funkhouser: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 7 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 0 K
10. IF Willi Castro: 1-for-5, run scored, RBI, home run
15. IF Dawel Lugo: 2-for-4, run scored
18. OF Jacob Robson: 2-for-5, RBI
22. RHP Bryan Garcia: DNP (IL)
23. LHP Matt Hall: DNP
24. LHP Tyler Alexander: DNP
26. RHP Sandy Baez: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Hens Notes:
• Toledo moves to 0-2 against the Knights in 2019 after going 5-1 in the 2018 campaign.
• Robson leads the club hitting safely in eight consecutive games.
• Funkhouser has gone two consecutive starts throwing only 0.2 innings.
