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IL1 Toledo Mud Hens

IronPigs Spoil Hessman's Record Breaking Night

August 3, 2015 - International League (IL1)
Toledo Mud Hens News Release


Monday night the Battle of the Breakfast came to Fifth Third Field as the Mud Hens took on the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. For the second straight night, the Hens lost an extra inning affair, this time 10-8. However, Monday night will hardly be remembered for the loss. Mike Hessman hit a home run in the seventh inning to break the all time affiliated minor league home run record, the 433rd of his storied career. The King has officially earned his crown.

Tim Melville looked strong to start, but was on the wrong side of luck in the first inning. Tyler Henson led off for the IronPigs with a ground ball hit slowly to the left side of the infield that allowed him to reach base with a single. Chase d'Arnaud followed and hit a soft line drive into right field for their second straight hit. With two outs, Melville gave up a seeing-eye ground ball to Kelly Dugan that got through the infield to score two runs.

In the third inning, Manny Pina got the offense cooking with his third home run of the year, a solo shot just left of the 370 sign in right-center field. The Hens weren't done though, as two out hits from Corey Jones and Marc Krauss produced another run to tie the game 2-2.

The IronPigs came right back in the fourth inning, getting two runs on a home run off the bat of Erik Kratz. However, the Mud Hens were not ready to let the eggs get scrambled. After falling behind in an 0-2 count, Steven Moya laced a double off the right field wall. Daniel Fields followed with his second home run in as many games, a two-run shot off the right field foul pole. The offense of the IronPigs would not go away in the fifth inning, as they answered with another two runs off of Melville to take a 6-4 lead.

After failing to score in the fifth and sixth innings, the Mud Hens got back into the game in a big way in the seventh. Alexi Casilla led off the inning with an infield single, and then Corey Jones reached on an error with one out. Marc Krauss, batting in the three spot, patiently worked a walk to bring Hessman to the plate. Then, with the bases loaded, Hessman officially cemented his name in baseball history. With one mighty swing of the bat, King Hessman hit a grand slam off the scoreboard in left field for his 433rd career affiliated minor league home run, breaking the record set by Buzz Arlett in 1937.

Even after Hessman's fireworks, the fried swine wouldn't go away without a fight. Josh Zeid started the eighth inning, but allowed a leadoff single and was taken out after. Tom Gorzelanny came in and struck out the first batter he faced, but then allowed a home run to Kratz for his second of the game, tying the game at eight.

No one was able to score through the ninth inning, and the Mud Hens headed to their second straight extra inning game. In the eleventh inning, the IronPigs fried the Hens for two runs off of Rafael Dolis to take a 10-8 lead. The Mud Hens loaded the bases in the bottom half of the eleventh, but weren't able to complete the comeback.

The Battle of the Breakfast continues on Tuesday as the Mud Hens take on the IronPigs at 7 p.m. from Fifth Third Field. There will be a special pregame ceremony on Friday to honor Hessman's crowning achievement.

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