IL Toledo Mud Hens

Defense Strong in Loss to Saints

July 28, 2023 - International League (IL)
Toledo Mud Hens News Release


PAUL, Min. - The Toledo Mud Hens fell to the St. Paul Saints 8-2 on Friday night at CHS Field.

The pitching matchup consisted of Sawyer Gipson-Long for the Mud Hens and Dallas Keuchel for the Saints.

Nick Solak would get the game underway with a flyout against Keuchel. Justyn-Henry Malloy would get the Mud Hens in the hit column with a one-out single, but would be stranded after Keuchel picked-up back-to-back strikeouts of Colt Keith and Tyler Nevin to end the inning.

Gipson-Long would get Andrew Stevenson to lineout to begin his outing. However, back-to-back walks of Anthony Prato and Trevor Larnach put Gipson-Long in a jam. He would bounce back by inducing groundouts by Gilberto Celestino and Mark Contreras to escape the jam and end the inning.

Keuchel would retire the Mud Hens in order in the second inning, all via groundouts. Wenceel Perez grounded out to third, Donny Sands grounded out to first and Michael Papierski grounded out to third to end the inning.

Gipson-Long would begin his second inning of work by striking out Jair Camargo for his first strikeout of the evening. Austin Martin would single and swipe second, then Chris Williams would be hit by a pitch to put Gipson-Long in another early jam. Ernie Yake would lineout as Malloy made a dazzling diving catch to save at least one run. Gipson-Long would strikeout Stevenson to end the inning.

Corey Joyce would greet Keuchel with a leadoff single in the top of the third inning. However, Joyce would be erased as Andrew Knapp grounded into a double play. That was when the Hens would establish a two-out rally. Solak walked and Malloy singled to put runners on the corners with two outs. Keuchel would throw a wild pitch that allowed Solak to score and put the Mud Hens up 1-0. Keith would then single to move Malloy to third and put runners back on the corners with two outs. Keuchel would strand the runners by striking out Nevin to end the inning.

Gipson-Long would need just six pitches to retire the side in the bottom of the third inning. Prato would groundout, Larnach would flyout and Celestino would groundout to end the inning and retire the side.

Keuchel would get two quick outs to begin the fourth inning, as Perez grounded out and Sands struck out. Papierski would line a two-out single into right field, but would be stranded after Joyce was struck out looking to end the inning.

Gipson-Long would strikeout Contreras to begin the bottom of the fourth inning. Camargo would single and move to second base on a passed ball. Martin would club his first Triple-A home run to put the Saints up 2-1. Williams would popout for the second out. Yake would single and swipe second base to put the Saints right back into scoring position. Gipson-Long would strikeout Stevenson to end the inning.

Keuchel would get right back to work with two quick outs to begin the fifth inning, with Knapp grounding out and Solak striking out. Malloy would club a game-tying solo home run to dead center field to knot it at 2-2. Keuchel would strikeout Keith to end the inning.

Gipson-Long would return to pitch the bottom of the fifth inning. Prato would draw a leadoff walk to begin the inning. Larnach would strikeout for the first out. Prato would get caught stealing for the second out. Malloy would continue to put on a show as he made a leaping grab to retire Celestino with a lineout to end the inning.

Keuchel would return for the top of the sixth inning, and would retire the Mud Hens in order. Nevin would groundout, Perez would strikeout and Sands would groundout to end the inning and Keuchel's night. Keuchel will finish with 6.0 innings pitched, allowing two runs on six hits (one home run), one walk and eight strikeouts. Keuchel would claim the win, improving to 1-0 on the season.

Gipson-Long would return for the bottom of the sixth inning. Contreras would open the inning with a go-ahead solo home run, making it 3-2 Saints. Gipson-Long would get his first out by striking out Camargo, but a one-out single by Austin Martin would chase Gipson-Long from the game. Braden Bristo would enter the game for the Mud Hens. Williams would draw a walk to put two runners on base with one out. Yake would clobber a three-run home run to extend the St. Paul lead to 6-2. That would close the book on Gipson-Long, who finished with the loss after pitching 5.1 innings, allowing four runs on six hits (two home runs), three walks and six strikeouts. Gipson-Long is now 0-2 on the season with the Mud Hens. Bristo would strikeout Stevenson for the second out. Prato would draw a walk to get the Saints back on the bases. Bristo would strikeout Larnach looking to end the inning.

Caleb Thielbar would enter to pitch the seventh inning for St. Paul. Thielbar would need just eight pitches to retire the Mud Hens in order. Papierski popped out, Joyce struck out and Knapp flied out to end the inning.

Bristo would remain in the game for the Mud Hens to pitch the bottom of the seventh inning. Bristo would set the Saints down in order. Back-to-back strikeouts of Celestino and Contreras and a leaping grab by Solak on a lineout by Camargo would get Bristo through the inning, and end his outing. Bristo pitched 1.2 innings, allowing two runs on one hit (one home run), two walks and four strikeouts.

Oliver Ortega would enter to pitch the top of the eighth inning for the Saints. Ortega would strikeout the side in order. Solak would strikeout swinging, while both Malloy and Keith would strikeout looking to end the inning.

Blair Calvo would enter to pitch for the Mud Hens in the bottom of the eighth inning. Calvo would get two quick outs, getting Martin to flyout and Williams to lineout. Yake would then club his second home run of the night, this time a solo shot, extending the league to 7-2. Yake's first two Triple-A home runs would be the dagger in the Mud Hens. Stevenson would keep the inning going with a two-out double. Prato would draw his fourth walk of the game, and then Larnach would draw a walk of his own to load the bases with two outs. Celestino would get hit by a pitch to bring home a run, making it 8-2 Saints. Calvo would strikeout Contreras to strand the bases loaded and end the inning. Calvo pitched 1.0 inning, allowing two runs on two hits (one home run), two walks and one strikeout.

Ortega would remain in the game to pitch the ninth inning for the Saints. Ortega would get two quick outs to begin the ninth inning by striking out Nevin and getting Perez to groundout. Sands smacked a two-out double to keep the game alive for the Mud Hens. Ortega would strikeout Papierski to seal the 8-2 win for the Saints. Ortega would finish the game with 2.0 innings pitched, striking out five batters.

NOTABLES:

Justyn-Henry Malloy: 3-4, HR, RBI, R, K

Sawyer Gipson-Long: L, 5.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 HR, 3 BB, 6 K

The Toledo Mud Hens will remain in St. Paul for game five of the six-game series tomorrow, July 29th at CHS Field with first pitch coming at 8:07 pm EST.

Check out the Toledo Mud Hens Statistics



International League Stories from July 28, 2023


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