GWINNETT, Georgia - The Toledo Mud Hens opened up a six-game road trip with a 7-4 victory over the Gwinnett Stripers at Coolray Field.
GWINNETT, Georgia - The Toledo Mud Hens opened up a six-game road trip with a 7-4 victory over the Gwinnett Stripers at Coolray Field.
Toledo's offense showed up early, as Mikie Mahtook started the game with a ringing double off the wall. The rest of the team followed suit, collecting six extra base hits on the day, including a homers from Kade Scivicque and Mahtook.
Artie Lewicki toed the rubber for his first Mud Hens appearance since being optioned down from Detroit. He threw five innings, giving up four hits and only a single earned run. That line would be good enough to earn him the win.
Phillippe Aumont took over in the sixth and gave up another run. He was aided by a double play where Dawel Lugo stepped on second and then threw the ball away. However, Edwin Espinal collected it quickly, and threw out Michael Reed at home.
The Hens offense struck first, after Mahtook started things with a double. Mike Gerber moved him over on a groundball, then a double from Lugo brought home the run. Lugo later scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Christin Stewart.
Gwinnett answered with a run in the bottom of the first when Reed singled home Rio Ruiz. That would not be a crooked number, as Espinal scored in the second inning, and Lugo scored in the third inning. They were helped by two errors in the third inning. The Mud Hens attack fell silent until Scivique woke it up with a bomb to center field in the fifth inning for his second homer of the season.
In the latter third of the game, Junichi Tazawa made his Mud Hens debut. He set the Stripers down on three flyballs. Daniel Stumpf took over in the eighth inning, and surrendered a run across two hits.
The Hens offense did not take their foot off the gas, as Mahtook drove a ball out to centerfield for his fifth homer of the season. It was a two run shot, as Castro started things out in the inning with a single.
Chad Huffman led off the ninth with a hit, but nothing came of it. Johnny Barbato was tasked with the bottom of the ninth inning. Former Mud Hen Xavier Avery led the inning off with a homer. However, that was the only blemish and the next three batters went down in order.
What's Next:
The Mud Hens will sqauare off against the Stripers on Wednesday for game two of this three game series. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
#RoadToDetroit Report (rankings according to MLB.com 2018 Prospect Watch):
10. OF Christin Stewart: 1-for3, single, RBI, 2 walks
11. OF Mike Gerber: 1-for-4, double, walk
12. IF Dawel Lugo: 1-for-5, double, RBI, 2 runs
15. RHP Grayson Long: DNP (DL)
16. RHP Bryan Garcia: DNP (DL)
18. LHP Tyler Alexander: DNP
Hens Notes:
• Including rehab assignments, 19 players have appeared for the Tigers and Mud Hens during the 2018 campaign.
• Toledo is 24-6 when tallying 10 or more hits this season.
• The Mud Hens have won six of their last seven meetings against the Stripers, dating back to last season.
• When scoring the first run of the game, the Mud Hens are 30-8 this season.
