Hens' late rally falls short on Star Wars Night

TOLEDO, Ohio - The Toledo Mud Hens brought the potential tying run into scoring position with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but the late rally came up short in a 3-2 setback to the Norfolk Tides on Saturday before a sold-out crowd of 9,028 at Fifth Third Field.

Trailing 3-1 entering the bottom of the ninth, Edwin Espinal ripped a leadoff single into center, and advanced to second when Kade Scivicque grounded a base hit up the middle. Chad Huffman then entered the game as a pinch-hitter and lined a single into left to load the bases with one down.
Moving to the top of the order, Ronny Rodríguez lifted a sacrifice to fly into left that plated Espinal and trimmed the Mud Hens' (30-17) deficit to 3-2. However, Christin Stewart struck out swinging to conclude a 10-pitch at-bat as Norfolk (27-19) escaped with the win.
Ryan Carpenter struck out seven batters in six innings of work for Toledo, but was tagged with the loss after allowing an unearned run on six hits and a walk. Paul Voelker added two shutout frames in relief to give the Mud Hens a chance to mount a comeback. At the plate, Espinal finished 2-for-3 with a home run, a single, and two runs scored, while Jason Krizan went 1-for-4 with a double.
Norfolk struck first with a run in the opening frame. Mike Yastrzemski reached third on a pair of fielding errors to lead off the contest, and scored when D.J. Stewart lifted a sacrifice fly to left to give the Tides a 1-0 edge.
The score remained the same until the Tides widened the gap with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh. After Yastrzemski sent a one-out single to center, Stewart brought him home with a two-run shot that carried over the wall in left and extended Norfolk's lead to 3-0.
The Mud Hens started to claw their way back in the bottom of the frame, as Espinal opened the inning with an opposite-field shot to deep right for his third home run of the campaign. Scivicque reached base on a one-out walk, and Rodriguez nearly tied the game when he belted an 0-1 pitch down the left-field line that narrowly hooked foul. The Mud Hens kept the game within reach, trailing by two until the bottom of the ninth.
What's Next:
The Mud Hens return to Fifth Third Field on Sunday for the third game of their four-game set against Norfolk. Jordan Zimmermann is expected to start tomorrow for Toledo as part of a rehab assignment.
• Inflatable Theme Park - Hensville Park becomes a family-friendly theme park with inflatable games and more, free for anyone with a May 27 game ticket.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Fans will have the opportunity to get a photo with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the main concourse during the game. Photos are free with a game ticket. Upgrade your experience with a pregame pizza party with the Turtles.
• Kids Run the Bases - Stick around after the game and run the bases.
• Postgame Fireworks.
#RoadToDetroit Report (rankings according to MLB.com 2018 Prospect Watch)
10. OF Christin Stewart: 0-for-4, walk
11. OF Mike Gerber: DNP (DL)
12. IF Dawel Lugo: 1-for-4, single
15. RHP Grayson Long: DNP (DL)
16. RHP Bryan Garcia: DNP (DL)
29. IF Kody Eaves: 0-for-3
Hens Notes:
• Saturday's attendance of 9,028 marked the sixth sellout of the season and 469th in Fifth Third Field history.
• Ronny Rodriguez has recorded a hit in 13 consecutive home games, which is the International League's longest active stretch.
• The Mud Hens are 9-5 in one-run games this season.
• Paul Voelker has thrown 14.2 consecutive shutout innings. He has not allowed a run in eight appearances during the month of May.
• Jim Adduci, Ronny Rodriguez, and Christin Stewart are in a three-way tie for second in the IL with 30 RBI.
• The Mud Hens donned special Star Wars uniforms, raising $2,110 in a raffle with proceeds going to Helping Hens and The Sight Center of Northwest Ohio.