Hens' Crafty Crouse Cruises in Victory over Chiefs
June 24, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Toledo Mud Hens News Release
Some timely hitting and premier pitching was the name of the game Friday night at NBT Bank Stadium, as Matt Crouse and the Toledo Mud Hens defeated the Syracuse Chiefs, 3-0, in their first meeting of the 2016 season.
Toledo's Matt Crouse pitched in and out of trouble throughout his seven innings of work in route to his second win of the season. Crouse, who gave up six hits and allowing no runs, appeared to be in trouble in the fifth inning when the first two batters got on base, but the impressive lefty induced a pop out followed by two strikeouts to get out of the jam. The Chiefs were back at it in the sixth inning, but a brilliant backhand play at first by Jordany Valdesin became a 1-6 double play to get Crouse out of the inning. Syracuse's Jaron Long dropped his second game of the season for the Chiefs by going seven innings and allowing eight hits and three runs while striking out five.
Toledo scratched out a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth inning thanks to a Dixon Machado single and an Anthony Gose double to set the table for a Casey McGehee RBI groundout. JaCoby Jones led off the seventh with a double to the left field wall, and then John Hicks stepped to the plate two batters later and knocked home Jones to make it 2-0. Dean Green made it a 3-0 game when he drilled his first double of the season as a Hen, plating Hicks.
Blaine Hardy relieved Crouse of his pitching duties in the eighth by tossing a 1-2-3 frame, and Bobby Parnell secured the shutout with a bases loaded game ending 6-4-3 double play to earn his sixth save of the season.
Toledo plays game two against Syracuse tomorrow night at NBT Bank Stadium, as the first pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m., and Thad Weber looks to earn his sixth win of the season.
Toledo Tidbits:
Moya our Main Man- Steven Moya continues to impress playing in the major league circuit. Prior to tonight's game against the Indians, Moya was 9-for-24 in his last seven games hitting .375 with three home runs, two doubles, and four RBIs. The Puerto Rico native, who spent his offseason working on his batting stance, has shown an ability to adjust to the off-speed pitch, and on Wednesday Moya hit two home runs, one of the opposite field variety off of a changeup.
Crouse Cruises- For the third time on the 2016 season with the Mud Hens, Matt Crouse pitched at least seven quality innings of baseball. Crouse went 7.1 innings on June 2nd against Louisville, as he earned a no decision allowing only four hits and no runs, and the crafty southpaw earned his second win of the season tonight going 7 innings allowing six hits and no runs against the Chiefs.
All-Star Game Voting- Triple-A All-Star Game voting is under way and your Toledo Mud Hens need YOUR votes. Send the likes of heavy-hitting Chad Huffman, the sure handed Dixon Machado, and the dominant Hen pen partners Preston Guilmet and Bruce Rondon. All-Star Game voting will remain open until June 24. VOTING ENDS TONIGHT, FRIDAY, AT 11:59 PM.
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