RHP Ricardo Pinto got the start for the Mud Hens, giving up two runs in the first. The runs came on a double which was immediately followed by a two run home run. Trailing 2-0 early, Riley Greene led off the bottom of the first by reaching on a fielding error at first base. Greene would quickly be erased on a pickoff attempt, however. The only other Hen to reach base in the inning was Spencer Torkelson, who walked.
Pinto bounced back in the top of the second, limiting the Columbus offense to a lone two out single. Meanwhile in the bottom half of the inning, Isaac Paredes led off the frame with a walk but was erased on a double play as the Clippers faced the minimum three batters.
Pinto threw another scoreless inning in the top of third, again limiting Columbus to a lone single. Toledo scratched their first run across the board in the bottom of the third as Ryan Kreidler walked and stole a base before scoring on a Spencer Torkelson single. Torkelson’s single came on a 12 pitch battle after falling behind 0-2 and working a full count.
With the deficit now cut to 2-1, Pinto continued to keep the Clippers off the board, throwing his first 1-2-3 inning of the night to start the fourth. Unfortunately, the Hens would similarly fall in order in the bottom of the inning.
Columbus expanded on their lead in the top of the fifth as a single and a walk both came in to score on a fielder’s choice-throwing error combo. Pinto would further allow a double before ending the inning. Now trailing 4-1, the Mud Hens went quietly in the bottom of the frame, falling in order for the second consecutive inning.
In his last inning of the night, Pinto retired the Columbus lineup in order, closing the book on a solid start. The Hens offense exploded for four runs in the bottom of the sixth as Riley Greene led off the inning with a triple to the right-center field gap. Spencer Torkelson wasted little time driving in Greene, sending a single to right, cutting the lead to 4-2. A Daz Cameron walk and a fielding error that allowed Aderlin Rodriguez to reach loaded the bases for Toledo. Josh Lester would capitalize on the RBI opportunity, singling to right, scoring Torkelson and Cameron. Now tied 4-4, a muscled RBI single by Ryan Kreidler was enough to score Rodriguez, giving the Hens their first lead of the game.
Unfortunately, this newly found Mud Hens lead evaporated almost instantly as the Clippers rallied back for a pair of runs of their own. RHP Will Vest, who started the inning in relief of Pinto, allowed a pair of singles to start the inning before a sacrifice bunt advanced both runners up a base. A fielding error allowed the tying run to score before an RBI single put another run on the board for Columbus. Suddenly trailing again, this time 6-5, the Hens would be limited to a Daz Cameron walk in the bottom of the seventh in an otherwise quite inning.
LHP Locke St. John started the top of the eighth for the Hens after taking over for Vest. St. John would allow a two out triple but nothing more. With time running out to mount a comeback, the Hens were unable to get anything going on offense in the bottom of the eighth, falling in order.
St. John continued to pitch into the ninth for the Hens, giving up a pair of singles and intentional walk before ending the inning. Still down by one, trialing 6-5, the Hens were still unable to get any traction going on offense, falling in order for the fourth time in the game.
What’s Next: The Mud Hens play the Clippers again tomorrow in game five of a six game series. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.