TOLEDO, Ohio - The Toledo Mud Hens tallied three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but were unable to overcome an early deficit in an 8-4 decision to the Norfolk Tides on Sunday at Fifth Third Field.
TOLEDO, Ohio - The Toledo Mud Hens tallied three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but were unable to overcome an early deficit in an 8-4 decision to the Norfolk Tides on Sunday at Fifth Third Field.
Christin Stewart reached base four times for the Mud Hens (30-18) despite the result, going 1-for-2 with a single, three walks, and an RBI. Making his return from the disabled list, Mike Gerber finished 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, and an RBI, while Harold Castro went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles.
Jordan Zimmermann couldn't catch a break in his first rehab start with Toledo, surrendering seven earned runs on seven hits and a pair of walks in 0.2 innings of work. Caleb Thielbar, Kyle Dowdy, and Kevin Comer all shined in relief, combining to pitch 8.1 innings, allowing one earned run on seven hits and a walk while striking out nine.
Norfolk (28-19) plated seven runs on seven singles in the top of the opening stanza. With runners on the corners and nobody down, Drew Dosch lined a base hit to center to drive in Mike Yastrzemski and give the Tides an early 1-0 lead.
The visitors did the rest of their damage in the opening frame with two outs. Adrian Marin hit a flare into shallow right that brought home Renato Núñez and Dosch to extend Norfolk's advantage to 3-0. Sharlon Schoop and D'Arby Myers then added back-to-back RBI singles to push the lead to 5-0, and scored when Nunez sent a soft base hit into right as the TIdes opened up a seven-run cushion.
The Mud Hens looked to make a breakthrough, eventually loading the bases with two down. Edwin Espinal picked up a one-out walk, advanced to second when Castro grounded a base hit through the left side, and moved to third on a Ronny Rodríguez walk. Stewart then put Toledo on the board, driving in his team-leading 31st RBI of the season when he walked to score Espinal.
The Hen Pen's lone blemish came in the top of the seventh, as Garabez Rosa potted the Tides' eighth run by lifting a one-out, solo shot over the left-field wall for his fourth home run of the campaign.
Toledo wrapped up the scoring with a three-spot in the bottom of the same inning. Rodriguez reached on a fielding error before Stewart and Mikie Mahtook added back-to-back singles to jam the bases with one out. Gerber then walked to drive in Rodriguez, prompting Norfolk to replace Paul Fry with Jhan Mariñez on the mound. Dawel Lugo was unfazed by the move, ripping a base hit into left-center to plate Stewart and Mahtook and trim the deficit to 8-4, which ended up as the final tally.
What's Next:
The Mud Hens return to Fifth Third Field on Memorial Day to wrap up their four-game series against Norfolk. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
#RoadToDetroit Report (rankings according to 2018 MLB.com Prospect Watch):
10. OF Christin Stewart: 1-for-2, single, three walks, RBI, run
11. OF Mike Gerber: 2-for-4, double, single, walk, RBI
12. IF Dawel Lugo: 1-for-5, single, two RBI
15. RHP Grayson Long: DNP (DL)
16. RHP Bryan Garcia: DNP (DL)
Hens Notes:
• Jim Adduci played in his 1,000th MiLB game on Saturday, 98 of which have come in a Mud Hens uniform.
• Ronny Rodriguez has recorded a hit in 14 consecutive home games, which stands as the International League's longest active streak.
• The Mud Hens are 6-3 in games lasting 3:00 or longer this season.
• Despite recording 12 multi-hit games this season, Saturday marked the first game in which Dawel Lugo has tallied two RBIs in a single game.
