IL1 Toledo Mud Hens

Bulls Score Four in 6th En Route to Sweep of Hens

Published on July 27, 2016 under International League (IL1)
Toledo Mud Hens News Release


A day after falling 5-4 in 14 innings, the Mud Hens were taken down again on the road by the Durham Bulls. The Hens took the lead in the 4th on a towering blast by Chad Huffman, but an extended sixth inning allowed the Bulls to score four en route to topping off a series sweep of Toledo.

Mud Hens starter Warwick Saupold looked great to begin the game, giving up just three hits through five shutout innings. In the sixth, however, things got shaky. Nick Franklin smacked a double to lead off the inning against Saupold, and Taylor Motter walked to put men on first and second. Then, on what looked like an oncoming double play off the bat of J.P. Arencibia, Jordanny Valdespin could not handle the feed from shortsop Argenis Diaz. The ball ricocheted into the outfield allowing Franklin to score and tie the game up.

At this point, Saupold was removed for lefty Joe Mantiply. Saupold finished the day giving up four hits spread over five innings. He struck out five and walked two. Both runners he left on base would score, tallying three runs - two earned - on his final line.

Casey Gillaspie blooped a single into left that loaded the bases. Richie Shaffer flew out to left, and Motter tagged from third to give the Bulls a 2-1 lead. Jaff Decker blooped another hit into right, and Mantiply was done. The single was Mantiply's first hit allowed to a lefty since joining Toledo.

Manager Lloyd McClendon made the move for Ruben Alaniz, who was welcomed with another bloop single - this one off the bat of Daniel Robertson that brought in Arencibia to make it 3-1. Alaniz got Jake Goebbert to fly out to left, but Gillaspie scored by tagging up. Alaniz struck out the next hitter to stop the bleeding and keep it a 4-1 game.

In the visiting half of the seventh, John Hicks looked to get a rally going with a leadoff double. Diaz lined out to second before a pitching change was made. Alex Presley grounded out to move Hicks up to third with two down. JD Martinez got the run in with a double of his own, making it a very manageable 4-2. Martinez finished the night going 3-for-5 with an RBI.

Drake Britton came on for Alaniz in the eighth, but the Bulls got another run to push their lead to 5-2. Goebbert picked up his second RBI of the night by driving in Decker - who reached on a fielders choice - with a single to center.

Tyler Sturdevant was inserted to close the game out for the Bulls, and he made it interesting. Presley and Martinez recorded back-to-back singles with one out. With two men on, the tying run came to the plate in the form of Casey McGehee, who grounded into a fielders choice for the second out. Steven Moya stepped to the plate with the same chance to tie the game with one swing, but Sturdevant struck him out on three pitches to end it.

The Hens will be eager to get home after the series sweep at the hands of the Bulls. The Hens won the first two games of the road trip against Norfolk, but dropped the following two to the Tides and three more at Durham. First pitch will be at 7:05p on Friday, July 27th, as Fifth Third Field welcomes the Gwinnet Braves for three games. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

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International League Stories from July 27, 2016


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