Hens Fall in Finale After Sixth Inning Fireworks
June 19, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Toledo Mud Hens News Release
Fans were treated to a pitcher's duel through the first five innings of Sunday night's series finale against the Rochester Red Wings. Hens' veteran Thad Weber squared off with the Red Wings' Nick Greenwood as both had their full arsenals working on the bump. However, a seven run sixth for Rochester would be the difference in the series finale.
Weber's night started off particularly well, as the right hander needed just six pitches to get through the first three hitters of the ball game in the top of the first. The efficiency from Weber continued in innings two, three and four as he faced just one over the minimum, striking out two and picking off one runner over that span.
Nick Greenwood matched Weber through the first four frames, as the Toledo offense was able to muster just one base hit through four. In the fifth, Greenwood allowed a one out single to Hens' backstop Miguel Gonzalez. The knock was followed by a fielder's choice off the bat of Anthony Gose. Gose would steal second, and come around to put the first run on the board as Jeff McVaney brought him in with an RBI single to left, his first Toledo hit since being called up from Erie (AA) earlier this week.
The pitcher's duel came to a close in the top of the sixth, and that's when the real fireworks started. After surrendering three straight hits to the top of the Rochester lineup, Thad Weber's night was finished as Lloyd McClendon pulled his starter from the ball game. But the skipper did it with authority as he let home plate umpire Eric Gillam hear it after a questionable strike zone had put Weber in some tough spots all game long. Both Weber and McClendon were ejected from the game, and the Rochester bats took advantage of the Toledo bullpen that followed.
Following Weber's ejection, the Red Wings sent seven more hitters to the plate as their offense was off and running. The 1-0 Toledo lead had quickly vanished as Rochester sent seven runners across the plate off Toledo relievers Drake Britton and Preston Guilmet. The half inning was highlighted by back to back RBI doubles from former Mud Hen Tommy Field and SS Wilfredo Tovar, as the 1st place Red Wings took a 7-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth.
Greenwood's night came to a close after 5.0 innings as the lefty surrendered just one run on four hits with two strikeouts and left in line for the win.
Toledo gave Rochester a bit of its own sixth inning medicine off Red Wings' relievers Dan Runzler and Sean Burnett in the home half. After a JaCoby Jones strikeout, Tyler Collins and John Hicks both drew walks putting runners at first and second with just one gone. Dean Green followed the base on balls with a single to shallow left field loading the bases for Argenis Diaz. The sixth hole hitter was able to do just as both Collins and Hicks has previously done, as he drew a bases loaded walk to make the score 7-2.
The walk marked the end of Runzler's night as he was only able to record one out. Anthony Gose greeted the next Red Wing out of the pen, Sean Burnett, with his first hit since June 11th, sending a seeing eyed single through the infield and bringing around Dean Green and Argenis Diaz as the Rochester lead was cut to just three.
Kurt Spomer was the most effective bullpen arm for Toledo on Sunday evening as the side winder hurled two scoreless frames, keeping the three run deficit intact while striking out two.
Both teams would tack on one more run a piece, in the bottom of the 8th for Toledo and in the top of the 9th for Rochester to make the score an 8-5 final as Rochester took the series.
The Hens take their show on the road as they are back in action on Tuesday against the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. First pitch is set for 7:05 PM.
International League Stories from June 19, 2016
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- Hens Fall in Finale After Sixth Inning Fireworks - Toledo Mud Hens
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- Bisons Best IronPigs 5-3 in Extra-Innings Win - Buffalo Bisons
- Pigs Drop Heartbreaker in 10th, 5-3 - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
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- Goodwin, Chiefs Walk off on Father's Day - Syracuse Mets
- RailRiders Edge G-Braves, 1-0 - Gwinnett Stripers
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- Pompey Placed on DL, Korecky Activated, McCoy Traded - Buffalo Bisons
- Bisons Notes - Buffalo at Lehigh Valley (1:35 p.m.) - Buffalo Bisons
- SWB Game Notes - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Pigs Try to Take Series from Bisons - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- LHV Game Notes - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
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