Early Offense Pushes Hens Past Stripers
Published on June 20, 2018 under International League (IL1)
Toledo Mud Hens News Release
GWINNETT, Georgia - The Toledo Mud Hens defeated the Gwinnett Stripers by a score of 5-3 on Wednesday night at Collray Field.
Jim Adduci launched his seventh long ball of the season in the top of the ninth inning to give the Hens the insurance they needed to win the game.
Mikie Mahtook started things off for the Mud Hens (42-28) by pounding a ball to first and reaching on an error by the Stripers (31-38) first baseman Rio Ruiz. Jim Adduci then put a single into shallow right field, advancing Mahtook to third. Dawel Lugo worked a 3-2 count and doubled down the third baseline to score Mahtook and Adduci. Christin Stewart then hit a line drive up the middle to score Lugo and give the Mud Hens a three-run advantage with no outs in the first. With one out, Jason Krizan laced a single into right field that moved Stewart to third. The Hens left two stranded after recording four hits and three runs in the inning.
Southpaw Tyler Alexander received the ball to start the game on the hill for Toledo. In the first inning he threw 25 pitches, 18 of them were strikes. The Stripers scored one run on two hits and at the end of the first the Hens led 3-1. In the second inning, Alexander needed only six pitches to take down Gwinnett.
In the bottom half of the fifth inning, Danny Santana singled into left and scored Tyler Smith. Gwinnett closed the gap to 3-2 with the Hens still leading.
With a one out single in the sixth inning, Espinal notched his 11th multi-hit game of the campaign. Jarrod Saltalamacchia followed up the first baseman's hit by drawing a walk. Pete Kozma followed suit by drawing a walk and initiating a pitching change by the Stripers. Mahtook drew his third walk of the game to score Espinal and give the Hens a two-run advantage.
Paul Voelker came in to replace Tyler Alexander in the bottom of the sixth inning. Alexander picked up his second win in a Mud Hens uniform allowing two runs on six hits in five innings of work. He also punched out four batters and suffered one walk. Voelker delivered one scoreless inning allowing zero hits and two walks. Kevin Comer came on to pitch the bottom of the seventh. Comer did not allow a run on one hit and one walk while striking out two. Zac Reininger came on in relief of Comer in the eighth inning.
In the eighth inning, Gwinnett was able to score a run and making it a one run game yet again. Going into the ninth, Toledo led 4-3.
Adduci blasted his seventh home run of the year over the right field fence to lead off the ninth inning for the Mud Hens.
In the final two innings, Reininger allowed one run on two hits. He fanned four batters and walked none earning his fourth save of the season.
What's Next:
The Mud Hens will go head-to-head with the Stipers looking for a sweep in the series finale beginning at 12:05 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.
#RoadToDetroit Report (rankings according to MLB.com 2018 Prospect Watch):
10. OF Christin Stewart: 1-for-5, RBI
11. OF Mike Gerber: DNP
12. IF Dawel Lugo: 1-for-5, run scored, 3B, 2 RBI
15. RHP Grayson Long: DNP (DL)
16. RHP Bryan Garcia: DNP (DL)
18. LHP Tyler Alexander: (W) 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 SO, 1 BB
Hens Notes:
- Lugo and Adduci have both hit safely in nine consecutive games.
-Toledo is 31-8 when scoring the games first run. When leading after seven innings the Hens are 39-1 and when up after eight 38-0.
- The Mud Hens have swept three teams this season and have yet to be swept as they look to make that a fourth sweep tomorrow.
- The Mud Hens have won seven of their last eight meetings against the Stripers, dating back to last season.
- Toledo is 8-2 in games played on Wednesday's which is its best winning percentage of any day.
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