Stewart and Lugo go deep in Mud Hens win

LOUISVILLE, KY - The Toledo Mud Hens take game one of a three-game set against the Louisville Bats by a score of 5-2.

The long ball served the Mud Hens attack well, as three of the teams five runs came courtesy of the homerun. Both Christin Stewart and Dawel Lugo were able to trot around the bases, leading the Hens to victory.
Toledo starter A.J. Ladwig took the mound at the Triple A level for the first time since early July. He allowed nine hits and two runs across five and a third innings. This performance was enough to earn him the win.
It was the Bats, however, who struck first when Brian O'Grady grounded out to drive home Josh VanMeter. The Mud Hens retaliated after a Jarrod Saltalamacchia single that drove in Lugo and Jason Krizan to give Toledo the lead. Due to an error, both runs were unearned.
Stewart extended that lead in the third inning with his 20th homerun of the season, also driving in Daz Cameron. This three run lead would not hold long, as VanMeter drove in C.J. McElroy to bring the Bats a little closer. It would remain a two run game until the sixth inning, when Lugo hit his solo shot.
Kevin Comer and Hunter Cervenka teamed up to get the Mud Hens through to the ninth with the lead still intact. The pair surrendered only one hit combined across 2.2 innings of work.
After a scoreless top half of the ninth, Johnny Barbato came out of the Hen Pen to shut the door. Despite a single, he did just that to collect his tenth save of the season.
What's Next:
The Mud Hens remain in Kentucky on Wednesday for game two of a three-game series against the Louisville Bats. First pitch from Louisville Slugger Field is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
#RoadToDetroit Report (rankings according to MLB.com 2018 Prospect Watch):
6. OF Christin Stewart: 1-for-4, homerun, 2 RBI, run
8. OF Daz Cameron: 1-for-4, single, run
9. RHP Kyle Funkhouser: DNP (DL)
14. IF Dawel Lugo: 2-for-4, single, homerun, RBI, run
16. OF Jacob Robson: 0-for-4
20. RHP Bryan Garcia: DNP (DL)
21. LHP Matt Hall: DNP
22. LHP Tyler Alexander: DNP
Hens Notes:
• With the win tonight, the Mud Hens improve to 7-2 in games following a scheduled off day.
• Dawel Lugo clubbed his third homerun on the season in tonight's game. It is the first time he has gone deep since May 31.
• In search of its first postseason berth since 2007, Toledo entered tonight's game trailing Indianapolis by 4.5 games in the West Division standings and sitting 3.5 games behind Columbus in the Wild Card race.
• The Detroit Tigers on Sunday recalled LHP Daniel Stumpf from the Mud Hens. In a corresponding move, Detroit designated RHP Zach McAllister for assignment. McAllister has since elected free agency.