IL1 Toledo Mud Hens

Hens Fall After Overcoming 9-1 Deficit

Published on July 13, 2019 under International League (IL1)
Toledo Mud Hens News Release


Louisville, Ky. - At Louisville Slugger Field Saturday, the Toledo Mud Hens overcame a 9-1 deficit, tying the game in the eighth inning. However, a three-run bottom of the eighth would give the Louisville Bats a 12-9 victory.

In the top of the eighth inning, Mikie Mahtook launched a three-run home run to tie the game at 9-9 after Toledo trailed 9-1 in the fifth. However, Brian O'Grady would knock his second home run of the night in the bottom half of the inning to give Louisville a 12-9 lead.

To begin the game, Danny Woodrow drew a leadoff walk from Louisville starter Lucas Sims before stealing second base, his thirteenth of the season and second in as many games. Woodrow would move up to third on an infield hit by Willi Castro to the shortstop. Jacob Robson would hit into a fielder's choice to second with Castro out at second, but Woodrow scored in the process to give Toledo an early 1-0 lead.

Alex Blandino began for Louisville's half of the first with a single off of Toledo starter Drew VerHagen. Blandino would then score on a triple by Josh VanMeter to tie the game. VanMeter would be joined on the base paths by Christian Colon, who walked on five pitches. Colon would then steal second, number 18 for him on the year, leading the International League. Both VanMeter and Colon would score on a Brian O'Grady single. After the throw and an error, O'Grady ended up on third before the next batter stepped into the box. A fly ball to deep right field by Nick Longhi would score O'Grady to increase the Bats' lead to 4-1. Sherman Johnson then singled for Louisville before another fly ball would end the inning.

Dustin Peterson began the second inning for the Toledo the same way as the first, drawing a walk. However, a double play would clear the bases. Kade Scivicque would then rip a single to left field, extending his team leading hit streak to six games before the inning ended with a strikeout.

With one out in the bottom of the second, Blandino walked before VanMeter singled to put two on for Louisville. Colon then sent a ball up the middle for a single to score Blandino with VanMeter advancing to second. Next, O'Grady drove a low pitch over the wall for a three-run home run to increase the lead. Aristides Aquino then doubled to the left-center gap before moving up to third on a groundball. Johnson would walk to put runners at the corners and end the day for VerHagen.

Matt Hall came on to replace VerHagen, who totaled 1.2 innings, giving up eight runs on eight hits while walking three and striking out one. Hall would strikeout the first batter he faced to end the inning.

In the top of the fourth inning, Ronny Rodriguez led off with a single over the head of the Louisville shortstop. Dawel Lugo would then be hit by a pitch to put two on. A deep fly ball to center field would move Rodriguez up to third, giving Toledo runners at the corners, but that would be all the action.

At the start of the bottom of the fourth, Trevor Rosenthal entered to pitch for Toledo replacing Hall. Hall went 1.1 innings, striking out three while walking one.

Rosenthal was welcomed by Aquino who sent a line drive over the center field wall for a home run, his 21st to increase the Bats' lead to 9-1 before three outs were recorded.

In the top of the fifth, Daz Cameron reached on a walk to give Toledo a runner to start the inning for the fourth time of the night. After two strikeouts were registered, Robson also walked to put two on. Rodriguez would then load the bases with a single, but a third strikeout ended the inning.

Bryan Garcia entered in the bottom of the fifth for the Mud Hens, replacing Rosenthal. Rosenthal gave up one run on one hit over his one inning of work while striking out one.

At the top of the sixth, Jackson Stephens took the mound for Louisville, replacing Sims. Sims tossed five innings giving up one run on four hits and four walks while striking out five.

Stephens was greeted by a single to Peterson to begin the Hens half of the sixth. Scivicque would also single, giving Toledo two on. Woodrow would log another single, scoring Peterson to move the score to 9-2 Louisville.

In the bottom of the sixth, Caleb Thielbar replaced Garcia on the mound for the Mud Hens. In his one inning of work, Garcia gave up one hit and struck out one as well.

In the top of the seventh with one out in the inning, Rodriguez reached on an error after the ball was lost in the sun. After another out, Peterson knocked a double down the left field line to put runners at second and third. Next, Mikie Mahtook would leg out an infield single to third while Rodriguez scored to bring the score closer.

After Mahtook's hit, the Bats made a change on the mound with Joe Mantiply entering. Over 1.2 innings, Stephens allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits while striking out two. Mantiply would tally a strikeout to end the inning.

To start the top of the eighth inning, Cameron singled. He would later advance to second on a single by Woodrow to give Toledo two on in the inning. Rodriguez would load the bases after being hit by a pitch with two outs. Lugo would then bloop a single into shallow center field to score both Cameron and Castro followed by a single by Peterson to score Rodriguez, cutting the lead to 9-6.

Louisville would then make a pitching change, calling on Eric Stout out of the pen. Mantiply totaled one inning, giving up five runs on four hits and striking out three.

Stout would give up a three-run home run to Mahtook, tying the game and completing the comeback for Toledo from a 9-1 deficit. Of the three runs, two would be attributed to Mantiply's above line with one going to Stout. A groundball would end the inning with it all tied at 9-9.

Austin Adams took the mound for Toledo in relief to start the bottom of the eighth, replacing Thielbar. Thielbar completed two innings, giving up two hits and striking out three.

VanMeter singled to begin the half of the inning, moving to second on a walk to Alberti Chavez. O'Grady would then log his second home run of the game to give the Bats a 12-9 lead.

R.J. Alaniz came on for Louisville to pitch in the ninth. Stout gave up one run on one hit in his 0.1 innings of work. After an out was recorded, Woodrow would be hit by a pitch to give Toledo a runner. Woodrow would be out at second on a fielder's choice groundball by Castro, before the game ended in Louisville's favor.

What's Next:

The Mud Hens and Bats will conclude their series on Sunday with a 2:00 p.m. scheduled start before returning to Fifth Third Field on Monday. Toledo will take on Durham Monday through Thursday before facing Syracuse next weekend.

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

5. OF Daz Cameron: 1 for 4

7. IF Willi Castro: 2 for 6

10. RHP Kyle Funkhouser: DNP

12. C Jake Rogers: DNP

16. OF Jacob Robson: 0 for 5

18. RHP Bryan Garcia: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

19. OF Danny Woodrow: 1 for 4, RBI

22. RHP John Schreiber: DNP

26. RHP Sandy Baez: DNP (IL)

27. LHP Matt Hall: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

28. IF/OF Dustin Peterson: 3 for 4, 2B, RBI

Hens Notes:

- After stealing three bases as a team on Friday, the Mud Hens were back at it early on with Woodrow stealing second in the top of the first.

Check out the Toledo Mud Hens Statistics

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International League Stories from July 13, 2019


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