IL1 Toledo Mud Hens

Hens Score Early and Often in Win

Published on April 25, 2019 under International League (IL1)
Toledo Mud Hens News Release


In the top of the first, Willi Castro got the Mud Hens going in the hit column with a base knock to shallow left field. Mikie Mahtook kept it going, taking a 3-0 pitch down the third baseline, just barely staying fair, for a single. Harold Castro carried the momentum into his at-bat, knocking a double to left, scoring both W. Castro and Mahtook to give Toledo a 2-0 lead in the first inning, and tallying his first two RBIs of the night. Dawel Lugo would walk to give the Hens two runners on once again with two outs. However, the Knights were able to escape the inning down just two.

In the bottom of the first, the Knights added a run of their own. D.J. Peterson took a shot to right field for his fifth home run of the season, cutting the Hens lead to 2-1.

The Hens kept the scoring going in the top of the second. To leadoff the inning, Bobby Wilson sent a shot to left center for his second home run of the season. In the next at-bat, Jacob Robson beat out the throw for an infield single. Robson would advance to second on a groundout by Danny Woodrow, then steal third during Willi Castro's at-bat. That would be as far as Robson would get as Charlotte got out of the inning with just one run allowed.

To open the bottom of the second, Danny Mendick reached first on a short dribbler to short before scoring on a Preston Tucker double off the left field wall. The run brought the score to 3-2 Toledo.

Toledo scored for the third straight inning in the top of the third. After a leadoff walk by Mahtook, H. Castro laid down a sacrifice bunt. With a throwing error, Castro reached safely with Mahtook scoring. After advancing to third, Castro scored on a groundout by Cameron Rupp to increase the Mud Hens lead.

With two on and two out in the bottom of the third, the Knights added another run, but the inning was ended by a relay that snagged an out at third base to end the inning.

In the top of the fourth, with two outs, Josh Lester knocked a double into the left field gap. After a pitching change, Mahtook drew another walk to join Lester on the base paths. The two out rally was capped off by a Harold Castro home run to left center field to increase the Mud Hens lead to 8-3.

Lester added another double in the top of the sixth, this time gaining an RBI with it while Willi Castro scored. The run gave the Hens a 9-3 lead. Lester advanced to third on a Mahtook single, giving Toledo runners at the corners with no outs, but the Knights escaped with just the one run allowed.

In the bottom of the sixth, Charlotte utilized a Mendick home run to start the inning to chip away at the Toledo lead. After a Nate Nolan walk, Ryan Goins added the second home run of the inning for the Knights, bringing the score to 9-6, Mud Hens. In the next at-bat, Charlie Tilson knocked the third home run of the inning for Charlotte, making it 9-7, Toledo.

In the top of the seventh, Bobby Wilson exited the game after beating out a throw at first with an apparent leg injury. Victor Reyes entered to run for Wilson. Reyes would end up scoring, coming in on a Willi Castro single, increasing the lead to 10-7.

Toledo tacked on another run in the top of the eighth. After a seeing-eye-ball single up the middle, Mahtook advanced to third and then scored on a wild pitch, moving the score to 11-7, Toledo.

Spenser Watkins got his first start of the season for the Mud Hens. He made two appearances for Toledo during the 2018 season, going 1-1 with a 4.66 ERA over 9.2 innings. Watkins pitched 5.2 innings for Toledo, allowing seven runs on ten hits and two walks while striking out five.

The Mud Hens called on the right-handed Eduardo Jimenez out of the pen with two out in the sixth. Jimenez pitched 1.1 innings for the Hens, striking out one while also allowing one hit.

Next for Toledo was Caleb Thielbar. Over 2.0 innings of work Thielbar struckout three while not allowing a Charlotte batter to reach base.

For Charlotte, Dylan Cease took the mound. Pitching 3.2 innings, he allowed seven hits and three walks while striking out five. Toledo was also able to capitalize on five runs, three earned off of Cease.

Juan Minaya came in to relieve Cease with two outs in the top of the fourth with a runner on second. Minaya pitched just 0.1 innings, giving up two runs on one walk and one hit.

Next out of the pen was Caleb Frare who lasted 2.0 innings for the Knights. He gave up four hits and one run while striking out four for Charlotte. Then, Aaron Bummer took the mound for the Knights.

Bummer tossed 2.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out two, before being pulled for Evan Marshall. Marshall pitched the ninth inning, allowing a hit while striking out one.

What's Next:

RHP Beau Burrows will take the mound on Friday, April 26 as the Hens move their road trip to the next stop, Gwinnett. This will be the first time this season Toledo and Gwinnett have faced and will serve as the fourth game of the Mud Hens six game road trip.

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

5. RHP Beau Burrows: DNP

8. OF Daz Cameron: DNP

9. RHP Kyle Funkhouser: DNP

10. IF Willi Castro: 4 for 6, 2 R, 1 RBI

15. IF Dawel Lugo: 1 for 4, 1 BB

18. OF Jacob Robson: 1 for 4

22. RHP Bryan Garcia: DNP (IL)

23. LHP Matt Hall: DNP

24. LHP Tyler Alexander: DNP

26. RHP Sandy Baez: DNP

Check out the Toledo Mud Hens Statistics

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International League Stories from April 25, 2019


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