Taking the mound in the top of the first, RHP Mark Leiter Jr. made his third start of the season for the Hens, throwing a quick 1-2-3 inning. The Mud Hens would threaten with two outs in the bottom of the first with Renato Nunez and Christin Stewart both recording singles but would ultimately be unable to score.
Leiter Jr. would work another quick inning in the top of the second, inducing two flyouts and the his first strikeout of the evening. JaCoby Jones led off the bottom of second inning with a sharp line drive single followed quickly by a Yariel Gonzalez single. Dustin Garneau would later drive in Jones with a sacrifice fly to deep left field. Leading 1-0, the Hens would continue to threaten by loading the bases on a pair of Jacob Robson and Isaac Paredes walk but would have to end up settling for one as Columbus escaped the frame.
Leiter Jr. continued to impress in the top of the third, throwing his third consecutive perfect inning, notching two additional strikeouts in the process. The Mud Hens continued to put runners on base in the bottom of the inning as Aderlin Rodriguez reached on a walk and JaCoby Jones singled for the second time in as many at bats. Yariel Gonzalez would drive both in with an RBI double off the left field wall, extending the Hens lead 3-0. Dustin Garneau reached base a second time on a hit by pitch later in the inning but would be stranded as the Clippers ended the inning.
Leiter Jr. surrendered his first base runner in the top of the fourth, unfortunately losing the perfect game, no hitter, and shut out on the same play as Columbus sent a leadoff homer to left. Two more Clippers would reach base in the inning via a walk and a hit by pitch but Leiter Jr. would escape the jam without allowing either to score, striking out two more in the process. Isaac Paredes led off the bottom of the inning with a walk but was cut down on a double play shortly after. Not wanting to be retired in order for the first time in the game, Christin Stewart drilled a ball into left center field. After ricocheting off the top of the wall, Stewart rounded second dead set on making it home. Stewart would make it into home safely, making it the first inside the park home run hit by a Mud Hen since August of 2019. Aderlin Rodriguez also recorded a walk later in the inning but wouldn’t make it around to score.
Leiter Jr. came back to start the top of the fifth for the Hens, making it his longest start of the season for Toledo. Leiter Jr. would retire the side in order, notching two additional strikeouts. Toledo kept the basepaths busy in the bottom of the sixth with Cole Peterson and Jacob Robson recording back to back walks. An Isaac Paredes single would score Peterson and extend the Mud Hens lead, 5-1.
RHP Henry Martinez entered the game in relief to start the top of the sixth, allowing a pair of singles to start the inning before settling in and retiring the side. JaCoby Jones maintained the Mud Hens streak of not being retired in order with a walk in the bottom of the inning.
Martinez returned to pitch the top of the seventh, giving up a leadoff walk in an otherwise stress free inning. For the first time in the game the Mud Hens were retired in order in the bottom of the seventh.
Martinez would face the first batter in the top of the eighth and promptly give a up leadoff homer. LHP Locke St. John then entered the game giving up a double and single before successfully navigating the jam. In the bottom of the inning Renato Nunez doubled to left center field, extending his hitting streak to six games. Nunez would be left stranded however as the Clippers ended the frame.
RHP Wladimir Pinto entered the game in the top of the ninth for the Hens, giving up a double before retiring the side and earning the save.
What’s Next: The Mud Hens take on the Clippers yet again tomorrow in game three of a six game set. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.