Rodriguez extends hit streak, Hens win series

TOLEDO, Ohio - Ronny Rodríguez drove in three runs and extended his International League-leading hitting streak to 16 consecutive games as the Toledo Mud Hens defeated the Gwinnett Stripers 5-1 on Sunday at Fifth Third Field.

Josh Turley picked up his fourth win of the year for the Mud Hens (28-13), striking out a season-high 10 batters in five innings of work, surrendering an unearned run on two hits and four walks. Paul Voelker added two hitless frames in relief before Caleb Thielbar and Johnny Barbato each pitched a perfect inning.
Rodriguez continued to shine at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and a two-run double, his 11th of the campaign. Edwin Espinal finished 2-for-3 with two singles and a pair of runs scored, while Harold Castro went 1-for-2 with a two-run blast and a walk.
The Mud Hens broke the scoreless tie with a run in the bottom of the third. Kenny Wilson and Castro picked up back-to-back walks to place runners on first and second with one out. After the pair advanced a base on an errant pickoff attempt, Rodriguez sliced a sacrifice fly into right to plate Wilson and give Toledo a 1-0 lead.
Gwinnett (16-25) answered back in the top of the fifth, quickly filling the bases with nobody down. Danny Santana struck out swinging, but Austin Riley drew a bases-loaded walk to plate former Mud Hen Xavier Avery and knot the score at 1-1. Turley recovered and limited the damage, striking out Carlos Franco before Sean Kazmar Jr. lined out to third to retire the side.
Toledo recaptured the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. Espinal ripped a leadoff single up the middle, and advanced to second when Wilson sent a base hit into shallow right-center. After Castro grounded out to move both runners into scoring position, Rodriguez brought Espinal and Wilson home with a two-out, two-run double into deep left that put the Mud Hens in front by a 3-1 margin.
The Mud Hens wrapped up the scoring with two more runs in bottom of the seventh. Espinal led off the inning with a single through the right side, and scored when Castro lifted his first home run of the year over the wall in right to extend the lead to 5-1, which held on to be the final tally. Toledo's bullpen proceeded to shut the door on Gwinnett, sending down the final 11 batters it faced.
What's Next:
The Mud Hens take to the road on Monday to open a four-game series against the Columbus Clippers. First pitch from Huntington Park is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
#RoadToDetroit Report (rankings according to MLB.com 2018 Prospect Watch):
10. OF Christin Stewart: 1-for-4, single
11. OF Mike Gerber: DNP (DL)
12. IF Dawel Lugo: 0-for-4
15. RHP Grayson Long: DNP (DL)
16. RHP Bryan Garcia: DNP (DL)
29. IF Kody Eaves: DNP
Hens Notes:
-   The Mud Hens are 15-1 when scoring five or more runs this season.
-   Toledo is 20-4 when scoring the game's first run.
-   The Mud Hens are 26-1 when ahead after seven innings, and are also 26-1 when leading or tied after eight innings.
-   The Mud Hens matched a season-low by allowing two hits in the series finale. Toledo also surrendered a pair of hits in a 3-0 win versus Columbus on May 9.
-   Of the 23 games played at Fifth Third Field this year, 13 have been completed in 2:30 or less, including eight of the last 10 contests.