Toeldo offense puts on show in third straight win

Toledo Mud Hens

Toledo, Ohio – The Mud Hens put on an offensive showcase Wednesday night enroute to a 10-3 victory over the Louisville Bats. Every Mud Hen would reach base in the contest with five batters recording multi hit games and eight of nine starters recording hits. The Hens offense would also record 10 extra base hits, nine of them doubles. The bullpen also put forth an exceptional performance, logging a total of five innings while allowing just a single run. The win extends the Toledo win streak to three straight.

Leading off in the top of the first, left fielder Daz Cameron wasted no time continuing his impressive hot streak since being activated from the injured list, drilling a leadoff double off the right center wall. Continuing the threat early on, Cameron would advance to third on a wild pitch. A walk to designated hitter Isaac Paredes would put runners at the corners but the Hens would not be able to cash in before the Bats wiggled out of the jam. Taking the ball for Toledo would be RHP Logan Shore, making his fourth start of the season. Shore would cruise through the top of the Bats lineup in the bottom of the first, pitching a 1-2-3 inning.

The Mud Hens offense would be limited to a two out double by right fielder Derek Hill in the top of the second, brining Shore back to the mound relatively quickly. After retiring the leadoff man quickly, Shore found himself in a little bit of trouble after a bloop single and a walk put two on. However, Shore expertly induced a double play to end the inning.

Mirroring the second inning, the Hens would be limited to a two out double once again in the top of the third, this time by rehabbing catcher Grayson Greiner, but were not able to bring him around to score. Taking the mound after another quick inning, Shore would retire the leadoff man before a single put a runner on base. Trying to work around trouble, Shore would get a clutch strikeout before a two out double would score the game’s first run. A pop out would end the inning, but the Hens would now have to play catchup, trailing 1-0.

Now trailing 1-0 in the top fourth inning, third baseman Yariel Gonzalez did what he did best, sending his team leading fifth homerun well over the right field wall, tying the game at one apiece. Looking to add on, first baseman Aderlin Rodriguez would reach via a hit by pitch followed by a walk by second baseman Zack Short. Derek Hill would then lay down a perfect bunt, advancing both runners before being called out a first. Short stop Cole Peterson would then walk to load the bases. Unfortunately, the Louisville defense would escape the jam, limited the damage to just one run. With the game tied 1-1, Shore went back to work in the bottom of the fourth but got into trouble early. A leadoff walk would come back to haunt the righty as back to back singles scored a run. A fielders choice put runners at the corners but finally got the inning’s first out. Another walk would load the bases for Louisville as Shore continued to struggle with command. A clutch double play turned by Zack Short would end the inning, limiting the Bats damage to just a single run, as they now led 2-1.

Trailing once again, the Mud Hens looked to take the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. A hit by pitch allowed leadoff man Grayson Greiner to reach, although he was quickly erased in a double play. Yariel Gonzalez would also draw a walk with two outs but wouldn’t be able to come around to score. Looking to keep it a one run game, trailing 2-1, LHP Ian Krol would take the mound for the Hens in the bottom of the fifth. Krol would work a quick inning, retiring the Bats in order.

Looking to get momentum back on their side, Zack Short led off the top of the sixth with a line drive to left field. However, Short would quickly become a victim of the Bats second double play of the night. A double by Cole Peterson put the potential game tying run in scoring position with two outs. A walk by Daz Cameron continued to give the Hens life as center fielder Jacoby Jones singled to right, scoring Peterson and tying the game 2-2. A wild pitch then scored Cameron and advanced Jones, giving the Hens their first lead of the night. Continuing the hit parade, catcher Juan Centeno entered the game for Greiner, sending a quick double to right field, scoring Jones and extending the lead, 4-2. A single by Isaac Paredes continued to extend the Toledo led, as Centeno scored, making it 5-2 Hens. Yariel Gonzalez then hit a blooper to right, putting runners at the corners before the Bats finally recorded the elusive final out. After a long inning of sitting on the bench, RHP Jason Foley would enter the game in relief of Krol in the bottom of the sixth. Foley would pitch a 1-2-3 inning thanks to an inning ending double play.

Leading off the top of the seventh after batting around in the sixth, Zack Short found himself starting the inning the same way he did previously, reaching base on a smoked ball, this time for a double. Derek Hill followed up the at bat with a hard hit single to left field, scoring Short and extending the Toledo lead to 6-2. Cole Peterson then stepped up to bat and ripped a double to left, scoring Hill. A wild pitch further advanced Peterson to third before a ground rule double by Jacoby Jones would score him and extend the Mud Hens lead to 8-2. Yet another wild pitch advanced Jones to third base before walk to Juan Centeno put runners at the corners with just one out. Toledo would have to settle for just the three runs though, as Louisville closed out the inning. After another long inning of sitting on the bench, RHP Nolan Blackwood came onto pitch in relief of Jason Foley. Blackwood got into a bit of trouble in the bottom of the seventh, surrendering a single and a walk back to back before buckling down and closing out the inning.

Going into the eighth with a comfortable 8-2 lead, Derek Hill would collect his third hit of the night, a single right back up the middle. Cole Peterson would then collect his third double of the night, putting runners at second and third. Daz Cameron would cash in on the RBI opportunity, lining a single to right that would score both Hill and Peterson. Entering the game with a now 10-2 lead, RHP Alex Lange took over on the mound for the Hens. It would prove to be a laborious inning for Lange as he yielded a pair of walks and a single, but ultimately surrendered just a lone run.

Now leading 10-3, Isaac Paredes would take a four pitch walk in the top of the ninth but that would be all the offense the Mud Hens could muster. LHP Robbie Ross Jr. would enter the contest looking to put the finishing touches on one of the Hens best wins of the season. Ross Jr. would do just that, retring the side in order.

What’s Next: The Mud Hens continue their six game road series against the Louisville Bats tomorrow with game three. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

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