Drew Hutchison made his third and best start of the season for the Mud Hens. After exiting in the sixth inning, his final line read 5.1 innings, five hits, two runs, two walks, and five strikeouts.
Renato Nunez started the scoring for the Mud Hens with a no-doubt blast to left in the first inning. Columbus southpaw opener and former Detroit Tiger, Anthony Gose, put himself in trouble in the second inning with a pair of walks. Matt Koch came in from the bullpen, attempting to mop up the mess with only one out. Brady Policelli stepped to the plate and was sent down on strikes. Then came the nine hole hitter, Cole Peterson, who grounded out to second as the Hens stranded a pair, holding onto a narrow 1-0 lead after two.
A leadoff double in the top of the fourth was the Clippers’ first real scoring threat. A ground ball to second off the bat of Bobby Bradley advanced Owen Miller to third with one out. Hutchison walked Gabriel Arias, setting up the double play possibility with Bradley Zimmer striding to the dish for Columbus; however, a wild pitch allowed Arias to move up to second base. Zimmer then hit a soft ground ball to Peterson at short who came on and made a nice play, nipping Zimmer at first by a step, but allowing the run to score to tie the game. A running catch by Brady Policelli in right field got Hutchison out of the inning, stranding the go-ahead run at third.
A leadoff walk issued by Drew Hutchison in the top of the sixth once again put the go-ahead run on base for the Clippers. He bounced back to strike out Bobby Bradley, but Gabriel Arias singled to knock Hutchison out of the game as Ian Krol entered to pitch for Toledo. Bradley Zimmer singled to left, scoring Bradley, but Stewart threw out Arias as he attempted to advance to third on the hit. Zimmer was able to advance to second on the throw. A walk to Nolan Jones put runners on first and second with two outs. Ryan Lavarnway proceeded to park a hanging breaking ball into the Mike Hessman Home Run Alley for a three-run home run, giving the Clippers a 5-1 lead.
The Mud Hens had something brewing in the bottom of the sixth after a single from Victor Reyes and a walk to Renato Nunez. Right-handed sidewinder Robert Broom responded by striking out Christin Stewart and Aderlin Rodriguez to end the inning, keeping the lead at four for Columbus.
Singles from Daniel Johnson and Bobby Bradley off Ian Krol in the seventh plated another run for the Clippers, making it a 6-1 lead. Ian Krol finished off the inning after Isaac Paredes caught a line drive, making his final line 1.2 innings, four hits, four runs, all earned, and one walk.
Toledo once again put two on in the seventh inning, thanks to a single from Yariel Gonzalez and a walk to Brady Policelli. Cole Peterson chopped a ball back to pitcher Daniel Young for the second out of the inning, moving the runners up to second and third. Victor Reyes fell behind 0-2 in the count and hit a ground ball to short as Clippers pitching once again escaped a jam without allowing any damage.
The Mud Hens started the eighth with a leadoff single for the third straight inning. Christin Stewart then blooped one into right center and Aderlin Rodriguez walked to load the bases for Yariel Gonzalez, who hit a grand slam on Sunday, with one out. A nasty backdoor breaking ball on a 1-2 count froze Gonzalez for the second out of the inning. Kyle Nelson, the lefty, came in to face the left-handed stick of Juan Centero with the bases still loaded. Nelson got the job done, getting Centero to ground out to second to end the inning, keeping the Clippers lead at five.
What’s Next:
The Mud Hens and Clippers play game two of the six game series tomorrow, Wednesday, at Fifth Third Field with first pitch at 6:35 p.m.
Hens Notes:
- Victor Reyes singled to center in the sixth inning, extending his hit streak to seven games.
- Isaac Paredes singled to center in the eighth inning, extending his hit streaking to seven games, matching Victor Reyes for the team-high
- The Mud Hens continued to have trouble cashing in runs, going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and leaving nine men on base.
- Drew Hutchison threw a season-high 5.1 innings in today’s game, only allowing two runs.
- Drew Carlton was tremendous in relief, throwing a scoreless eighth and ninth, making it three straight scoreless appearances for him out of the bullpen.