Mud Hens earn gritty 9-8 walk-off win over Storm Chasers
TOLEDO, OH - The Toledo Mud Hens and the Omaha Storm Chasers took the first of their six-game series into a thirteenth inning walk-off win for the Hens Tuesday night. Toledo would ultimately earn the 9-8 victory as they turned to Riley Unroe for pretty much all of their needs.
TOLEDO, OH - The Toledo Mud Hens and the Omaha Storm Chasers took the first of their six-game series into a thirteenth inning walk-off win for the Hens Tuesday night. Toledo would ultimately earn the 9-8 victory as they turned to Riley Unroe for pretty much all of their needs.
With the Detroit Tigers borrowing Keider Montero for Monday night’s game against the San Diego Padres, the Mud Hens were forced to go to their bullpen for game one of their series with the Storm Chasers.
Toledo starter PJ Poulin struggled with command issues early as he hit his first batter, walked his second, and gave up a base hit to his third to load the bases. A second walk would give Omaha the early 1-0 lead, but Poulin pulled it together from there to get three-straight outs to escape the inning.
Taking over for Poulin, Jordan Balazovic went three-scoreless innings for the Hens. Balazovic’s changeup caused issues for the Storm Chasers, allowing him to pick up four strikeouts during his tenure. He likely would have gone even longer, but manager Gabe Alvarez was extra conscious of Balazovic’s pitch count as he is expected to start for Toledo on Sunday.
The Hens’ offense finally offered their pitching staff some support in the fourth inning as they found themselves with the bases loaded. Akil Baddoo tied things up with a ground ball to second base, before Unroe earned a 3-1 lead with a two-RBI single.
After Ricky Vanasco took the mound for 1.1 innings, Tyler Owens took over for him with one out and a runner on first in the sixth inning. Owens’s first pitch was shot down the left-field line by Tyler Gentry to put runners on second and third. The Mud Hens would trade a run for an out, but escaped the inning with a 3-2 lead.
Omaha took over in the seventh inning with Dustin Dickerson leading the way with a base hit. John Rave then hit a flyball to Jahmai Jones in right field which on first look was a great catch, but upon further analysis was not actually a catch. Things moved along without review though, as Owens began his battle with Nick Loftin.
The Hens wouldn’t be as fortunate with Loftin at the plate though as he took an Owens splitter over the left-field wall to give Omaha the 4-3 lead.
Come the ninth inning, Toledo remained short a run. Andrew Chafin would be handed the responsibility of maintaining that deficit. His one, two, three inning featured two strikeouts with both coming on his slider.
The Mud Hens made big strides toward making their rally dreams a reality. Andrew Navigato led off with a double to right field. He then made his way home when Brian Serven sent a sinker into left field, tying things up 4-4.
In extras, Toledo turned the ball over to Matt Gage. He started off strong with a first-pitch groundout. The brought Bedford High School alumni, Joey Wiemer, to the plate. The hometown kid looked right at home as he hit an RBI double to give Omaha the 5-4 lead.
Looking to stay alive, the Mud Hens had runners on second and third thanks to a wild pitch and a walk drawn by Jones. Ryan Kreidler was able to take advantage of the moment, tying things up with a sacrifice fly.
With no more arms to spare, Toledo moved Unroe onto the mound for his second extra innings appearance from the rubber this season. His lead-off hitter, Dickerson, would give the Storm Chasers a 6-5 lead with a base hit, but Unroe shut things down from there with three-straight outs.
Hoping to shatter the Hens’ dreams, Omaha brought out Taylor Clarke to face the bottom of the Toledo lineup. Navigato flied out to move Bligh Madris to third base, before a Serven base hit once again tied things up 6-6.
Unroe returned to the mound for Toledo in the twelfth inning and allowed another lead-off single to give the Chasers a 7-6 lead. From there he once again picked up three-straight outs to keep the Hens’ hopes alive.
Following his second inning on the mound, Unroe led-off in the Hens’ half of the twelfth by moving Baddoo to third base with a groundout. Toledo was able to tie things back up when Jones hit a grounder to third base and a fielding error allowed him to reach first.
Unroe then returned to the mound where the Chasers once again took a one-run lead with a Dickerson sac-fly.
All of Unroe’s late-game work paid off as Toledo loaded the bases in the thirteenth and tied things when Baddoo challenged a pitch to draw a walk. That brought Unroe to the plate, he would battle for a 3-2 count before drawing the game-winning walk.
The Toledo Mud Hens and the Omaha Storm Chasers will square off again Wednesday at 6:35 p.m.
NOTABLES:
- Riley Unroe (W, 3.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 HR / 1-6, 1 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K)
- Jordan Balazovic (3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR)
- Andrew Chafin (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR)
- Andrew Navigato (2-5, 2B, 2 R)
- Brian Serven (2-5, 2 RBI)
Toledo dominates in 7-0 Tuesday win at Scranton
Scranton, PA – The Toledo Mud Hens defeated the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on Tuesday night at PNC Field with a dominant 7-0 final. Toledo sent lefty Lael Lockhart to the mound for Game 1. Lockhart entered the game with an 0-3 record and a 5.17 ERA. The RailRiders countered with right-hander
Defensive battle leads to Sunday loss to Iowa
Toledo, OH – The Toledo Mud Hens fell to the Iowa Cubs in a defensive battle on Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Field, splitting the six-game series 3-3 to close out the homestand. The final score was 3-1 in favor of Iowa. Starting on the mound for the Mud Hens
Toledo almost pulls off rally, but Iowa fights back late
TOLEDO, OH - The Toledo Mud Hens and the Iowa Cubs had a back and forth battle Saturday night, ending in a 7-6 extra-innings loss for Toledo. The Hens benefitted from some exquisite pitching and hot bats early, but fell behind the Cubs as things cooled off. Toledo would fight
Eighth inning rally gives Hens the Friday night win
Toledo, OH – The Toledo Mud Hens defeated the Iowa Cubs on Friday night at Fifth Third Field with a final score of 7–3. The Hens sent left-handed pitcher Nick Margevicius (0–0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound to start the game, while the Cubs countered with right-hander Connor Noland (3–1,
Hens' eight-game home win streak falls to the I-Cubs
TOLEDO, OH - After back-to-back walk-off wins, the Toledo Mud Hens hit a mid-series lull against the Iowa Cubs Thursday night. With struggles offensively throughout the Toledo lineup and the hot bats of the I-Cubs, the Hens fell 12-0. With Keider Montero joining the Detroit Tigers in Colorado for game
Jones secures second-straight walk off against Cubs
TOLEDO, OH - The Toledo Mud Hens earned their second-straight walk off with a 2-1 victory against the Iowa Cubs Wednesday afternoon. Toledo struggled to bring in runners throughout the game, but their excellent pitching kept them in it. On his second rehab game as the designated hitter, Matt Vierling
Hens walk it off in dramatic fashion in Tuesday win to Iowa
Toledo, OH – The Toledo Mud Hens defeated the Iowa Cubs in Game 1 of the homestand on May 6 in 10 innings, securing a 5-4 walk-off victory. The Hens sent right-handed pitcher Wilkel Hernandez (1-0, 2.70 ERA) to the mound, while the Cubs countered with fellow righty Peter Solomon
Mud Hens power past Red Sox to win series finale
Worcester, MA-The Toledo Mud Hens wrapped up their six-game series against the Worcester Red Sox on Sunday, May 4, at Polar Park with a hard-fought 7-3 win. Toledo got the offense rolling in the top of the third when catcher Brian Serven launched a solo shot over the left field
Four home runs and strong relief power Hens over WooSox
TOLEDO, OH – The Toledo Mud Hens defeated the Worcester Red Sox 7-2 on Saturday afternoon at Polar Park. John Brebbia took the mound on Major League Rehab Assignment for the Mud Hens, while Brian Van Belle slung the pill for the WooSox. Toledo threatened right away, as a leadoff
Baddoo, Navigato club home runs in loss to WooSox
Toledo, OH – The Toledo Mud Hens fell to the Worcester Red Sox 5-2 on Friday night at Polar Park. Keider Montero took the mound for the Mud Hens, while Cooper Criswell toed the rubber for the WooSox. After a scoreless first inning, Worcester found the score column first in
Jones homers in Toledo's first loss in eight games
WORCESTER, MA - Looking to get their ninth-straight win, the Toledo Mud Hens fell short to the Worcester WooSox 7-4. Toledo fell behind early, but always stayed within reach of Worcester’s lead. Standing in the way of the Mud Hens’ quest for nine-straight was Worcester’s Shane Drohan. Drohan has been
Back-to-back bombs and big defense fuels eighth straight victory for Toledo
Worcester, MA-The Toledo Mud Hens took on the Worcester Red Sox in game two of their six game set at Polar Park on Wednesday, April 30. The Hens defense made their presence known early, turning a clutch 9-3 double play in the bottom of the second to cut down a
Serven's four hit night and strong pitching gives Toledo the edge over Worcester
Worcester, MA-The Toledo Mud Hens opened their series against the Worcester Red Sox on Tuesday, April 29, at Polar Park, securing a 4-2 win behind timely hitting and solid pitching. First pitch was at 6:05 p.m. Brewer Hicklen led off the game for Toledo and worked a four-pitch walk. He
Mud Hens blank Storm Chasers, complete six-game sweep
Toledo, OH-The Toledo Mud Hens wrapped up their series against the Omaha Storm Chasers on Sunday, April 27, at Fifth Third Field, with first pitch at 2:05 p.m. Toledo got the offense rolling in the bottom of the second inning. Riley Unroe sparked the rally with a single to right
Mud Hens take both games in doubleheader against Storm Chasers
Game One: TOLEDO, OH - The Toledo Mud Hens put up a crooked number early against the Omaha Storm Chasers, leading to a 3-1 victory. Toledo’s pitching staff combined for ten strikeouts and left eight Storm Chasers stranded on base. With a shortened game, Toledo opted to go with Bailey
Jones, Seelinger star in victory over Omaha
Toledo, OH – The Toledo Mud Hens defeated the Omaha Storm Chasers 8-4 on Wednesday night at Fifth Third Field, taking a 2-0 series lead. Dietrich Enns toed the rubber for the Mud Hens while Luinder Avila took the ball for the Storm Chasers. Omaha wasted no time, as former
Jones walks it off in third straight win against Omaha
Toledo, OH – The Toledo Mud Hens defeated the Omaha Storm Chasers on Thursday night at Fifth Third Field as they won their third straight game in walk-off fashion. The final score was 4-3. Toledo sent right-hander Wilkel Hernandez to the mound, entering the game 0-0, and a 4.32 ERA.
Mud Hens’ rally falls short in final game against Indians
Indianapolis, IN-The Toledo Mud Hens wrapped up their road trip against the Indianapolis Indians on Sunday, April 20, with first pitch being delivered at 1:35 p.m. Indianapolis came out swinging in the bottom of the first, with Nick Solak launching a two-run homer to left-center-with no outs. Matt Gorski followed