Hens win a thriller in extras

TOLEDO, Ohio – After falling in the first three games of the series, the Mud Hens were able to tally a win in last night’s outing. Bryan Garcia cruised through the St. Paul lineup, going six strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits, and allowing one walk. He would strike out six batters, as he led the Mud Hens to eleven games over .500. The lefty, Ricardo Sanchez took the mound for the Mud Hens for tonight’s game, looking to cut the series lead to just one game behind the St. Paul Saints.

Ricardo Sanchez cruised through the first two innings, not allowing a single hit or walk. He obtained his first two strikeouts (one in each inning). The Mud Hens would obtain two hits, with one being a double from Brendon Davis in the bottom of the second, however the game remained scoreless. In the third, the Saints threatened Sanchez with two outs. They would tally a single, followed by a walk. Sanchez would escape the inning, as he got the next batter out from a short flyout to left field. The game stayed at a 0-0 score after three.

The game would stay quiet until the fourth inning, as the Hens struck first. Zack Short and Josh Lester would begin the inning with a walk. Later in the inning, Andre Lipcius would hit a single to right. With a fielding error by the Saints, Lester and Davis would score to make it a 2-0 ballgame. Ricardo Sanchez would cruise until the sixth inning, when the Saints would obtain a one-out double. However, Sanchez would strike out the next batter. With two outs, the Saints would obtain an RBI single to put the Saints on the board (2-1, Toledo). Sanchez would tally his fourth strikeout to retire the inning, as the Mud Hens held their lead. Ricardo Sanchez would finish his night after those six innings of work. He allowed just one earned run on four hits and walked just one batter. He struck out four batters in the process.

In the top of the seventh, the St. Paul Saints would tie the game with two outs. After a two-out double, the Mud Hens would obtain their first error of the game to cost them a run. The Mud Hens would look to respond in the bottom half. With one away, Brendon Davis would tally his second hit of the game, hitting a single to right field. However, with two outs, he would be caught stealing and the game remained tied at two apiece.

In the eighth inning, the Saints would obtain a leadoff triple. The next batter would fly out to Brendon Davis, and he would throw out the runner at home, keeping the game tied. In the top of the ninth, Miguel Diaz would tally up two strikeouts. The game would stay tied at two through the ninth, as the game headed into extra innings.

With a tie breaking run at second, the Saints would fail to bring in the leading run. In the bottom half of the tenth, the Saints would intentionally walk Brendon Davis. Then, Jamie Westbrook would ground out to move the runners to second and third. Ali Sanchez would then walk to load the bases. The Saints would bring in five infielders, leaving only two players in the outfield. On an 0-2 count, Jack Lopez would single to short to score Lipcius. The Mud Hens won the game 3-2, in extra inning, walk off fashion. This is the Mud Hens 12th walk off victory of the year.

“Sanchez did a great job for us tonight. He has gotten better every start and has become more effective with his changeup… Brendon Davis has an arm that really carries. I knew when he got behind that ball, he would have a shot…. It’s been a tough year for Jack. He’s a better player from an offensive standpoint, than what he’s shown to this point. That was a big hit for him out there.” Manager Lloyd McClendon said.

NOTABLE HITTERS:

Brendon Davis: 2-3, 2B, BB, K

Andre Lipcius: 2-4, R, K

NOTABLE PITCHERS:

Ricardo Sanchez: 6.0 IP, 4 H, R, ER, BB, 4 K

Angel De Jesus: W (2-1), 1.0 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

NEXT UP: The Mud Hens have cut the St. Paul series lead, 3-2. They will look to even the series tomorrow in Toledo, at 5:05pm ET.