Hens Split Doubleheader at Lehigh Valley
May 22, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Toledo Mud Hens News Release
Due to a rainout on Saturday, the Mud Hens (18-24) were to play two 7-inning games on Sunday at Lehigh Valley's Coca-Cola Field. The Hens would go on to split the doubleheader with the IronPigs, taking the first game on the advantage of an early offensive outburst and dropping the second despite another solid performance on the mound by Thad Weber.
The offense's early start in Sunday's opening game featured a 4-run first inning. Dixon Machado doubled down the left field line to score Anthony Gose, who reached on a leadoff walk, to open the scoring and give the Hens an early 1-0 lead. Chad Huffman then short-hopped the wall in deep left-center field to continue his dominance at the plate in the month of May. Nate Schierholtz singled up the middle to make it 3-0 in favor of Toledo. Jordany Valdespin added another run with an RBI single of his own to chase Lehigh Valley's Mark Appel just two outs into his start.
Starting pitcher Daniel Norris, in his eighth start of the year, picked up his first win with a solid performance on the bump. The southpaw went five innings and allowed two runs, only one of which was earned. He surrendered just three hits and three walks while racking up a season-high seven strikeouts. Norris ran into trouble twice, but was able to strand baserunners and avoid big innings both times. The Hens' pitching staff held Lehigh Valley to a simple 1-for-12 at the plate with runners in scoring position.
The lefty's initial trouble came in his first frame of work after an infield error and walk set the IronPigs up to chip away at their early deficit. Norris traded a run for a 6-4-3 double play and followed with a strikeout to escape the inning with minimal damage. The IronPigs would threaten again in the third, loading the bases with one out on singles by Taylor Featherston and J.P. Crawford and a walk by Andrew Knapp. Again, Norris worked out of the jam by knocking down a comeback grounder to get the out at first while Featherston scored. He then rung up Cam Perkins to end the inning with his team in front 4-2.
More run support came in the 5th when Casey McGehee doubled home Huffman to make it 5-2. The double marks the seventh straight game in which McGehee has tallied a hit. The Hens would tack on an extra run in the seventh on a Huffman single that scored Gose and extended the lead to 6-2. Gose reached base by way of a single, making it so that he has hit in each of his four games since coming to the Hens from Detroit.
Bruce Rondon came on to finish the game in the seventh and, after allowing leadoff walks, was able to let just one run cross and seal a 6-3 victory for Toledo in the opening set of Sunday's twin bill.
The Hens' offense was not as active in the second contest, as the IronPigs pitching staff combined to allow just one hit en route to a 3-0 shutout of Toledo. The lone hit for the Hens came off the bat of McGehee, who pushed his hitting streak to an eighth game with a single to center in the top of the second. Luis Garcia is credited with the win for the IronPigs after pitching a perfect 5th inning in which he struck out the side. Edward Mujica closed out the seventh for Lehigh Valley to record his 11th save of the season.
Thad Weber took the tough-luck loss on the mound, as he was unable to receive any kind of run support. While giving up eight hits and three walks, he limited damage and plated only three runs through six innings. Two of those runs came on back-to-back solo homers in the top of the seventh by Nick Williams and Darin Ruff. Weber had only surrendered two home runs all season up until Sunday. While he takes his second loss of the season and first on the road, Weber's mark still sits at a pretty 5-2 with a 1.86 earned run average.
The Mud Hens return home for a six-game homestand that will feature a three game tilt with Durham followed by three more with Buffalo. The action begins Tuesday, May 24th at 6:35 p.m. at Fifth Third Field.
International League Stories from May 22, 2016
- Hens Split Doubleheader at Lehigh Valley - Toledo Mud Hens
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- Bulls Drop Series Finale in Ninth, 3-2 - Durham Bulls
- Pigs Split Doubleheader with Mud Hens - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Home Run Propels RailRiders to Series Victory - Indianapolis Indians
- Bats Lose 8-6 in Extra Innings - Louisville Bats
- Bisons' Walk-Off in Series Finale with PawSox, 2-1 - Buffalo Bisons
- Sanchez Homers, Bleier & Co. Blank Tribe - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- PawSox Drop Series to Bisons with 2-1 Loss - Pawtucket Red Sox
- Tides Beat Chiefs in Series Finale - Syracuse Mets
- SWB Game Notes - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Pigs Look to Stay Hot against Mud Hens - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- LHV Game Notes - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Bisons Notes - Pawtucket at Buffalo (1:05 p.m.) - Buffalo Bisons
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