Toledo, Ohio – The Toledo Mud Hens claimed a 5-3 victory over the Memphis Redbirds in a game called in the seventh due to poor weather. Tonight’s conetst dominated by two things: mother nature and Renato Nunez. Nunez put the team on his back tonight, launching two two-run homers and a double in a three hit performance. Derek Hill also recorded two base hits in his first game back with Toledo while on a rehab assignment with the Detroit Tigers.
After a lengthy rain delay postponed the start to tonight’s game against the Memphis Redbirds, Mud Hens starter RHP Ricardo Pinto took the mound after nearly 80 minuets of waiting. The start was Pinto’s third of the season for the Hens, being promoted from Erie after six starts for the Seawolves. It was a smooth first inning for the righty, striking out one and only allowing a lone single. The Hens would threaten but failed to score in the bottom of the first as Derek Hill singled, Renato Nunez doubled, and Aderlin Rodriguez walked before Toledo left the bases loaded.
Pinto pitched another scoreless inning in the top of the second, working his way around a leadoff double. The Hens offense was quiet in the bottom of the inning though, their only baserunner coming via a Juan Centeno two out walk.
Pinto threw his first 1-2-3 inning of the game in the top of the third, adding another strikeout victim to his running total. Derek Hill led off a big inning for the Hens in the bottom of the third, reaching on an infield single. Renato Nunez followed up Hill’s second hit of the night with his own, except this one very nearly left the stadium. The threat didn’t end there though as Kody Clemens walked, Aderlin Rodriguez doubled, and JaCoby Jones singled to load the bases. Clemens would score on a sacrifice fly by Yariel Gonzalez before Memphis escaped the inning.
Now leading 3-0, Pinto continued his shutout with another scoreless inning in the top of the fourth, working his way around a leadoff walk. The extra base hits continued to rain in the bottom of the fourth for Toledo as Juan Centeno led off the inning with ground rule double to straight away centerfield. Renato Nunez wouldn’t squander the RBI opportunity, launching his second homer of the night for the Hens, extending the Hens lead to 5-0.
Pinto got into the most trouble of his start in the top of the fifth, surrendering a double and a single with two outs before escaping the jam. Still leading 5-0, the Hens would be retired in order in the bottom of the fifth.
RHP Erasamo Ramirez entered the game in the top of the sixth, closing the book on Pinto’s best start of the season for the Hens. Pinto’s final line was 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, and 2 K’s. It was a laborious inning for Ramirez as he loaded the bases on a double and two walks. Two runs would come in to score on a wild pitch that Juan Centeno couldn’t locate. Another run came into score on a RBI single. Ramirez’s struggles led to LHP Ian Krol entering the game from the bullpen to get the innings final out. Krol would do just that, striking out the third Redbrid of the night for Toledo.
Krol returned to the mound to pitch the top of the seventh for the Hens, giving up a leadoff walk before a sudden downpour forced the game into the second rain delay of the night. Upon the resumption of the game Krol would walk a batter and strikeout three. The Hens would get a batter and a half into the bottom of the seventh before the game was delayed for the third time due to inclement weather. After this delay the game was called.
What’s Next: The Mud Hens take on the Memphis Redbirds again tomorrow in game five of a six game series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.