IL1 Toledo Mud Hens

Hens Come Back to Win Slug Fest

May 10, 2019 - International League (IL1)
Toledo Mud Hens News Release


MOOSIC, Pa. - The Toledo Mud Hens outlasted the Scranton / Wilkes Barre RailRiders 12-8 in a slug fest Friday evening at PNC Field.

The Mud Hens (13-19) roped 15 hits and plated 12 runs in a game where no starter was available to pitch as it defeated the RailRiders (17-14). Willi Castro and Dawel Lugo led the way each going 4 for 5 at the dish while combining for four RBI and four runs scored with a double and triple.

Toledo used seven pitchers, all relievers, striking out a combined 10 while allowing eight hits and four walks to a hot-hitting Scranton team.

Jacob Robson led off with a single over the outstretched glove of second baseman Cliff Pennington. Castro then ripped a single through the hole between the first and second basemen moving Robson to third. Castro then stole second on the fourth pitch of Josh Lester's at bat. Lester than hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Robson and move Castro to third. Mikie Mahtook then launched his fifth long ball of the campaign over the wall in center giving the Mud Hens a 3-0 advantage.

RHP Zac Houston, typically a reliever in the eighth or ninth inning, started the game for Toledo in a bullpen game after LHP Nick Ramirez was called up to Detroit. In the opening frame, Houston sent Scranton / Wilkes-Barre down in order.

Houston faced Logan Morrison to open the bottom of the second inning as Morrison hit a double off the left field wall causing the Mud Hens to go to the bullpen and bring in RHP Nolan Blackwood. Kyle Higashioka then singled to right field moving Morrison to third. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch giving the RailRiders a run. Mandy Alvarez then followed a Trey Amburgey walk with a double scoring Higaskioka and moving Amburgey to third as the scored moved to 3-2 still in favor of Toledo. Zack Zehner then ground out to Lester at third as Amburgey scored to tie the game. Pennington then earned a walk to give Scranton / Wilkes Barre runners on first and second. Aaron Hicks then walked to load the bases and send Blackwood to the dugout as RHP Will Vest came on. Dustin Peterson then misplayed a ball at first as each runner moved up a bag and Tyler Wade reached first as the RailRiders took the lead. Vest then threw a pitch in the dirt that got away from Rupp as Pennington scored with Hicks and Wade moving to third and second respectively. Ryan McBroom then doubled off the wall in right center field clearing the bases as Scranton took a 7-3 lead going into the third inning.

Robson then countered the big inning from the opposition with a double to start the third. Castro kept the hitting going with a triple off the right center field wall scoring Robson. Lester then hit his second sacrifice fly of the contest to score Castro and bring Toledo with in two as the score moved to 7-5.

Amburgey sent a ball deep over the right field wall to begin the bottom of the third and give Scranton a three-run lead into the fourth inning. Daz Cameron let a ball fly 439 feet into the mountain behind the left field wall to bring the Mud Hens within two to lead off the fourth inning. Lugo then doubled down the right field line as the bats stayed hot for Toledo. Lugo moved to third as Rupp made the first out of the inning on a soft ground ball to the second baseman. Victor Reyes then earned a nine pitch walk to put runners on the corners. Robson then loaded the bases with one out by drawing a walk. Castro then notched his third hit of the game with a two-RBI single to tie the game at eight as Robson moved to third. Mahtook then reached on an E5 scoring Robson and moving Castro to third as the Hens took a 9-8 lead into the bottom of the fourth.

LHP Jose Fernandez made his return to the mound in a Mud Hens jersey in the fourth inning after appearing in four games with the Tigers after being called up on April 23. Fernandez allowed a walk but blanked the RailRiders on the scoreboard in one inning of work. As the bullpen day continued, RHP Joe Navilhon came on to deliver the fifth. Navilhon shined in relief not allowing a run over two innings while suffering a hit and striking out two as LHP Caleb Thielbar took the hill. Thielbar sent the RailRiders down in order as the Hens clung to a one run lead going into the ninth frame.

Peterson reached first on an error with two-outs to start a rally in the ninth. Cameron and Lugo then hit back-to-back singles as Peterson just beat a tag to give Toledo a two-run lead. Rupp then cleared the bases with a single as the Mud Hens went up 12-8 before the bottom of the ninth.

RHP Jose Cisnero came in to close the game for Toledo in the bottom of the ninth and shut down Scranton in a win for the Mud Hens.

What's Next:

The Mud Hens look to take game two from the RailRiders tomorrow afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 4:05 pm at PNC Field.

#RoadToDetroit Report (rankings according to MLB.com 2019 Prospect Watch):

5. OF Daz Cameron: 2 for 5, home run, RBI, two runs scored

6. RHP Beau Burrows: DNP (IL)

7. IF Willi Castro: 4 for 5, triple, three RBI, two runs scored

11. RHP Kyle Funkhouser: DNP (IL)

17. OF Jacob Robson: 2 for 4, double, three runs scored

18. IF Dawel Lugo: 4 for 5, double, RBI, two runs scored

21. OF Danny Woodrow: DNP

24. RHP John Schreiber: DNP

25. RHP Zac Houston: 1.0 IP., 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

27: RHP Sandy Baez: DNP

28. LHP Matt Hall: DNP

29. IF/OF Dustin Peterson: 1 for 5, double, run scored

Hens Notes:

- The Mud Hens went 3-3 against the RailRiders during the 2018 campaign and begins 2019 1-0.

- RHP Zac Houston made the first start of his professional career this evening.

- Tonight marked the seventh game where the Mud Hens scored 10 or more runs this season.

- Toledo used seven pitchers in tonight's contest.

- 17 of the 20 runs were scored in the first three- and one-half innings of the game.

- #RoadToDetroit prospects went a combined 13 for 24 while hammering three doubles, a triple and a home run and driving in five runs and scoring ten runs.

Check out the Toledo Mud Hens Statistics



International League Stories from May 10, 2019


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