Hens pick up fifteen strikeouts in 3-1 loss

Fans filed into Fifth Third Field for some Friday-night baseball. The Mud Hens went into the game leading the series two games to one and with an opportunity to guarantee, at least, a series split with the Saints. Toledo was able to stay in the game all the way until the end thanks to their pitching, but the bats got moving too late in the 3-1 loss.

Bryan Sammons shutdown the Saints with five strikeouts in his first two innings. The Hens weren’t able to find much success at the plate either though. Parker Meadows and Dillon Dingler each found a base hit, but aside from a Bligh Madris walk they were the only Mud Hens to get on base as Randy Dobnak picked up three strikeouts of his own.

The third inning Sammons allowed his first base runner by walking Tony Kemp, but Sammons kept St Paul hitless with a Diego A. Castillo groundout and a DaShawn Keirsey Jr. strikeout.

Dobnak continued to hurt the Hens as his changeup caused chaos. He picked up his fourth and fifth strikeout against Meadows and Urshela.

The Saints would find their first hit with a single from Anthony Prato. They would soon be in scoring position as Prato moved to second thanks to an Alex Isola slow-rolling grounder that Urshela couldn’t reach in time. St. Paul capitalized off of this with a three-run homer by Yunior Severino. A poor throw from Andrew Navigato allowed Chris Williams to get on base as Bligh Madris couldn’t make the stretch to earn the out. It worked out for Sammons though as he escaped with a strikeout against Kemp.

Akil Baddoo led off the bottom of the fourth with a lineout that sounded good off of the bat, but went right into the mitt of Diego A. Castillo. Buddy Kennedy showed some real speed as he got on base by outrunning a throw from third by Prato. Kennedy would make it all the way to third after a catcher’s interference call and a lineout from Dingler. With runners on first and third a Riley Unroe flyball ended the inning with Toledo still trailing 3-0.

Sammons seemed to return to form claiming a quick two outs, but Prato pushed one past second base and into the outfield for a double. The Mud Hens prevented the Saints from extending their lead with a Matt Wallner lineout.

In the bottom of the fifth, Meadows made the most of a missed throw following his bunt down the third base line which allowed him to reach second base. He would have a scoring opportunity from there with a well-placed hit by Urshela, but Meadows wasn’t quick enough to avoid the tag by the catcher Williams.

Sammons would remain on the mound in the sixth inning, but Brennan Hanifee would be warming up in the bullpen as Sammons walked Michael Helman. Only needing one out, Toledo put in Hanifee, while Helman stood on second base. The Mud Hens were able to escape as the Saints had two men on base thanks to a Kemp flyout.

Things looked good for the Hens when Baddoo drew a walk on a full count. A Kennedy strikeout, a Madris lineout, and Baddoo being caught stealing second quickly ended the feeling of hope throughout the crowd.

With Urshela being on rehab, his day ended after the sixth inning. Unroe would take over at third, Madrid moved to left, and Keston Hiura entered the game at first base. Hanifee earned his first two strikeouts of the game following a one-out double by Keirsey Jr.

Dobnak’s day came to an end as Ryan Jensen took his place on the mound going into the seventh inning. Jensen walked Unroe with one out and then gave up a ground-rule double to Navigato that almost flew out in center field. Hiura then drew a walk that brought Justice Bigbie up to bat with two outs and the bases loaded. Bigbie was unable to make the magic happen though as he went down swinging.

The eighth inning brought with it the magnificent Mason Englert. Englert was a much needed change of pace for the Hens. The energy in the crowd began to pulsate as Englert worked through his arsenal of pitches for a one, two, three inning.

St. Paul would bring a pitching change of their own, opting for Hobie Harris to try and close out the game. Harris forced a flyout and two strikeouts, which made things seem pretty bleak for the Hens as the game moved into the ninth inning.

Englert remained on the mound for the ninth inning, while Bryce Tassin warmed up as the thought of possible extra innings still sat in the mind of everyone in attendance. Englert kept hopes high as the ninth inning light show took over Fifth Third Field following the scoreless inning.

Hoping to kill the newfound energy within downtown Toledo, St. Paul brought out Diego Castillo to try and escape with a win. A Dingler double brought excitement to the crowd and put Toledo in scoring position. Navigato hit what looked like a routine ground ball, but a throwing error by Prato allowed Dingler to score and Navigato to make it to second base.

Tim Federowicz was pleased with his team’s pitching, despite the loss. The Hens put up a combined fifteen strikeouts and Sammons and Hanifee showed particularly strong control over their offspeed pitches.

“We got hurt by one big swing,” Federowicz said following the near-Toledo rally.

Notables:

• Bryan Sammons (L, 5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 1 HR)
• Brennan Hanifee (1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K)
• Mason Englert (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K)
• Dillon Dingler (2-4, 2B, R)