LOUISVILLE, KY.: Tigers prized prospect Daz Cameron drove in four runs for the first time since 2018 and for the seventh time in his career as the Toledo Mud Hens posted a 6-2 victory over the Louisville Bats in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Louisville Slugger Field.
Cameron
LOUISVILLE, KY.: Tigers prized prospect Daz Cameron drove in four runs for the first time since 2018 and for the seventh time in his career as the Toledo Mud Hens posted a 6-2 victory over the Louisville Bats in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Louisville Slugger Field.
Cameron went 4-5 at the plate, also registering his seventh career four-hit effort as part of the win. It was his second four-knock effort at the Triple-A level, also achieving the same feat on September 11 last season in Toledo’s huge 21-4 victory at Iowa. Daz has hit safely in four straight and in 14 of his last 15 games, dating back to April 27.
The Hens pushed across the opening run of the game in the first. Birthday boy Kody Clemens reached on an error by JT Riddle, Cameron singled, and Ryan Lavarnway was issued a free pass to load the bases for Jamie Westbrook, who’s fielder’s choice and a subsequent throwing error by Cristian Santana plated Clemens for a 1-0 lead.
Cameron’s second Triple-A homer of the year, a bomb to center field off the rehabbing Cincinnati Red Mike Minor, moved Toledo’s advantage to 2-0 in the third.
Minor (0-1) accepted the losing end of the decision for the Bats, surrendering three hits, two runs, a walk, and striking out four over 2 and 1/3’s innings.
The Mud Hens continuously made the Bats pay for their fielding miscues on Sunday. After a Short single earlier in the fourth, Cameron reached on another one of Louisville’s five errors, a bad throw by shortstop Juniel Querecuto, to put two on for Lavarnway. His RBI knock opposite Reiver Sanmartin bumped Toledo’s lead to 3-0.
Lavarnway reached base three times, going 2-4 at the plate. He has multi-hit efforts in three of his last six assignments.
Short and Clemens again got on in advance of Cameron in the top of the sixth, who swatted a single through a drawn in Bats infield for a two-run single and a 5-0 edge.
Short climbed aboard three times, notching two hits and scoring three times. Clemens advanced his current hitting streak to three with a double in the sixth.
Lorenzo Cedrola banged his third long ball of the year in the bottom half of the sixth to put Louisville on the board.
Cameron capped off his big offensive day with an RBI double in the eighth that scored Short.
Three hits in the bottom of the eighth, including an RBI single by Cedrola, brought the Bats within 6-2.
Elvin Rodriguez (2-1) was lights out over five stanzas to secure the victory on the hill for Toledo. He scattered two hits, a walk, and five punchouts. Ricardo Pinto tossed two innings of one-run baseball. Derek Law relieved Miguel Del Pozo in the eighth, blanking the Bats over five outs and earning his fifth save of the season.
ADDITIONAL TOLEDO TIDBITS: With Friday’s win at Louisville, Toledo has now won four consecutive series since dropping the opening two of the season. After beginning the season at 3-8, Sunday’s victory moved the club’s mark to 16-7 since April 16. Toledo clubbed eight homers in the series, notching at least one in each of the five victories. Josh Lester collected his sixth multi-hit effort of the season and the second of the series against the Bats, going 2-5 at the dish.
NEXT UP: After taking Monday off, Toledo’s long road trip transitions to Indianapolis as the Mud Hens will battle the Indians in a six-game set. Tuesday’s first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Victory Field.