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The Toledo Mud Hens entered tonight’s game with their sights set on a win against the Louisville Bats, and they did just that with a 4-3 victory. The first three innings went scoreless and quickly for both teams. In fact, there were only two baserunners between the two teams during
The Toledo Mud Hens entered tonight’s game with their sights set on a win against the Louisville Bats, and they did just that with a 4-3 victory.
The first three innings went scoreless and quickly for both teams. In fact, there were only two baserunners between the two teams during that stretch. Louisville’s first came in the bottom of the 2nd after Jay Allen II reached on a dropped third strike and then stole second. Seby Zavala gave the Hens their first baserunner in the top of the 3rd, working a leadoff walk after a hard-fought 11-pitch at-bat.
In the bottom of the 4th, the Bats figured out Hens starter Jackson Wolf, and their bats came alive. Edwin Arroyo led off the inning with a single up the middle, followed by the first RBI of the night from Juan Brito, who doubled on a sharp line drive to left field. Ivan Johnson continued the inning with a single to right, scoring Brito and quickly making it 2-0. After Johnson was caught stealing, Michael Chavis drew a walk. Then, with two outs, Leo Balcazar singled on a line drive to put runners on first and second. Will Banfield followed with a single to right field, scoring Chavis and extending Louisville’s lead to 3-0. The Hens’ defense was able to shut down the inning there, but the Bats left with a three-run advantage.
In the top of the 6th, Toledo started chipping away. Jack Goodman worked a leadoff walk, and after a strikeout, Josue Briceño drew a walk of his own, bringing the tying run to the plate. Following a pitching change from the Bats, Max Anderson stepped into the box and sent a deep fly ball over the left-field wall. With one swing, Anderson tied the game at 3-3.
Toledo connected a few more dots in the top of the 8th. With one out, Jace Jung doubled on a sharply hit ground ball that bounced over first base. Briceño followed with a line-drive single to center field, allowing Jung to score and giving the Hens their first lead of the night at 4-3.
Toledo held Louisville scoreless for the remainder of the game, with five Mud Hens pitchers combining to preserve the lead and secure the win.
With the victory, the Hens retook the series lead at 3-2. They will play the sixth and final game of the series in Louisville tomorrow, with first pitch set for 1:05 p.m.