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IL1 Toledo Mud Hens

Hens Fall to Bats for First Loss of Season

April 7, 2019 - International League (IL1)
Toledo Mud Hens News Release


Toledo, OH - The Toledo Mud Hens (3-1) fell to the Louisville Bats (1-3) on Sunday at Fifth Third Field by a score of 8-4 for their first loss of the 2019 season, despite tallying eight hits in the game.

Louisville lit up the run column first, scoring in the top of second inning off of a Brian O'Grady home run. The hit was O'Grady's first time going yard this season after hitting eight last year for the Bats. Of those eight 2018 home runs, six came in the month of August for O'Grady.

The Mud Hens put their first runner of the game on base in the bottom of the second with a Jacob Robson walk. However, after a few throws over, Louisville pitcher Vladimir Gutierrez was able to throw out Robson with a pickoff to first.

In the third, Chris Okey legged out a double for Louisville with one out, marking his first Triple-A hit. After a sacrifice fly for Blake Trahan, the Bats added another run on a Christian Colon single to the left side that just missed Toledo shortstop Pete Kozma's outstretched glove. The run gave Louisville a 2-0 advantage.

Toledo came out swinging in the bottom of the third. A Dawel Lugo rip down the third base line kicked off the bag allowing Lugo to not only reach safely, but stretch the hit into a leadoff double. Lugo would advance to third on a single by Kozma before scoring on Daz Cameron's sacrifice fly to center field.

The Bats quickly answered the Mud Hens run. To leadoff the fourth inning, an Aristides Aquino's line drive just cleared the left field wall for Aquino's first home run of the season. Next up, Josh VanMeter singled, stole second and was advanced to third setting up an Okey RBI single to give Louisville a 4-1 lead.

In the top of the sixth, the Bats increased their lead. VanMeter singled to right, but a throwing error by Robson allowed Aquino to round third and score from first. In the next at-bat, Nick Longhi sent a shot to center field for a two-run home run, moving the Louisville lead to 7-1.

Toledo turned to small ball offense in their half of the sixth. Both Cameron and Danny Woodrow reached on infield singles. During Woodrow's at-bat, Cameron stole second, his first stolen base of the season, then advanced to third on the base hit. Cameron would score on a Ronny Rodriguez sacrifice fly. At the start of Victor Reyes' at-bat, Woodrow kept the small ball mentality going, taking second for his team leading third steal of the season.

The Mud Hens continued to chip away in the seventh. After back-to-back singles to start the inning from Robson and Lugo, Cameron Rupp took a walk to load the bases. Following a Louisville pitching change, Kozma took one for the team, earning his base via hit by pitch to allow Robson to score. On a wild pitch, Lugo would also score with Rupp and Kozma advancing.

Feeling some pressure, the Bats added another run in the eighth inning. Kyle Wren reached and was advanced by Okey and went to third on a wild pitch. A Trahan fly ball to center field allowed Wren to reach home, pushing the Louisville lead to 8-4, which would end as the final.

Getting the start for Toledo was left-hander Tyler Anderson. Anderson went 3.2 innings for the Hens, giving up four runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out four. He was relieved by Caleb Thielbar with two outs in the fourth inning.

Thielbar went two innings in relief for the Mud Hens. In the fourth, he was able to get a fly out to end the inning, but the Bats timed him up by the sixth. His final line included five hits, three runs and two strikeouts.

Eduardo Paredes was the next pitcher out of the pen for Toledo. In 1.1 innings of action, Paredes allowed just one hit while not walking or striking out any batters. Paredes was followed by Sandy Baez out of the Mud Hens bullpen. In one inning of relief, Baez struck out one, but allowed one hit, one walk, one wild pitch and one run scored.

In the ninth inning, the Hens called on the right-handed Zac Reininger out of the pen. In his one inning, Reininger allowed just one hit, coming from Phillip Ervin, with the catcher Rupp throwing Ervin out on a steal attempt.

For Louisville, the right-handed Gutierrez saw his first Triple-A action of his career, getting the start. In his first start with the Bats, Gutierrez lasted 5.1 innings and allowed two runs off of four hits and one walk, but tallied three strikeouts.

Jackson Stephens was the first arm to enter in relief for Louisville. Stephens was able to end the sixth for the Bats, but had different success in the seventh. After coming back out, Stephens allowed back-to-back singles and a walk to load the bases before exiting as the Bats optioned for righty Sal Romano. Stephens would have two earned runs credited to him following the inning.

Romano went two innings for Louisville, giving up just two hits while striking out three. He also hit one batter and threw a wild pitch. The Bats called on Anthony Bass in the ninth inning with a four run lead. Bass accomplished a one-two-three inning with all three outs coming by groundout.

What's Next

Toledo will have an off day on Monday before returning to Fifth Third Field on Tuesday for their second series of the season. The Mud Hens will be hosting the Indianapolis Indians on Tuesday and Wednesday. Both games are scheduled for a first pitch of 6:35 p.m. (EST).

Kyle Funkhouser is scheduled to be back on the hill for the Hens on Tuesday. The right-hander went three innings on Opening Day for Toledo, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four.

Hens Notes

After receiving Saturday off, Woodrow was back in the lineup for the Hens.

Kozma saw his first action of the season, starting at shortstop and batting ninth.

The Hens 3-0 start was their best start since the 2009 season when they also began 3-0. The 2009 season saw the Mud Hens finish in second in the West division.

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