Mud Hens End Three-Game Losing Streak
Published on July 4, 2019 under International League (IL1)
Toledo Mud Hens News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Toledo Mud Hens put an end to a three-game losing streak after Thursday's 7-6 win over the Indianapolis Indians.
It's the first win for the Mud Hens at Victory Field this season after being swept in the first road series back in mid-April
Drew VerHagen got his 82nd start of his minor-league career and 53rd with Toledo. The 28-year-old native of Royce City, Texas, earned the win for the fourth time in his last five appearances, tying a season-high in strikeouts (9).
Mitch Keller, the 2014 Pittsburgh Pirates second-round draft pick, lasted 5.2 innings and allowed six earned runs on nine hits for the loss.
The Mud Hens improve to 4-7 on the year against their IL West Division rival.
Indianapolis jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on three consecutive singles and a sacrifice fly to right field.
VerHagen had only allowed a run in his last start against Indianapolis on June 8 at Fifth Third Field.
Dustin Peterson would respond with his 10th home run of the season in the following inning.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound infielder joins Mikie Mahtook (11) as the two active Mud Hens hitters to register double-digit homers through the early half of July.
Peterson was coming off his three-RBI outing in Wednesday's loss to Columbus. He now leads the team with 39.
With two outs, a Jacob Robson base hit began a sting of four runs churned on two doubles and two singles in the third.
Ronny Rodriguez would pick up his first RBI since being optioned from Detroit earlier this week.
Dawel Lugo has recorded five doubles in his last six games.
Keller entered Thursday's game having only given up a run in two combined starts against the Mud Hens this year.
Cole Tucker's home run to center field and another solo shot by Christian Kelly in the third and fourth innings, respectively, made it 5-4 in favor of Toledo.
The final run earned to Keller would be Kade Scivicque's third double since transferring from Double-A Erie on June 15.
Scivicque, the 2015 Tigers fourth-round draft pick, smashed a line drive down the left field in the sixth to score Daz Cameron.
Cameron reached second on his 10th stolen base of the season to become the fourth Mud Hens hitter to notch double-digits.
With reliever Geoff Hartlieb on the mound for Indianapolis in the ninth inning, Willi Castro drove in his second RBI of the game on a single to left.
Castro is set to join the International League All-Star Team to compete in the 2019 RMHC Triple-A All-Star Game, July 10 in El Paso, Texas.
The Indians nearly completed the rally in their final at-bat off Eduardo Jimenez with a two-out and two-run home run from Jason Martin.
Jimenez went the last seven relief appearances dating back to June 13 without an earned run given up.
What's Next:
Ryan Carpenter (3-5, 5.00 ERA) is probable to start in Game 1 of a doubleheader Friday against the Indians.
Opening pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. (EST).
Live coverage is available on MiLB.TV and Fox Sports 1230 WCWA-AM.
#RoadToDetroit Report (rankings according to MLB.com 2019 Prospect Watch):
5. OF Daz Cameron : 1-for-4, Run
6. RHP Beau Burrows : DNP
7. IF Willi Castro: 2-for-5, Run, 2 RBIs
10. RHP Kyle Funkhouser : DNP
12. C Jake Rogers : DNP
16. OF Jacob Robson: 1-for-4, Walk, Run
18. RHP Bryan Garcia : 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
19. OF Danny Woodrow : 0-for-4
22. RHP John Schreiber : DNP
26. RHP Sandy Baez : DNP (IL)
27. LHP Matt Hall : DNP
28. IF/OF Dustin Peterson: 2-for-5, Run, 2 RBIs
Hens Notes:
- A day before earning his sixth promotion to Detroit this season, Victor Reyes was honored as the International League's Player of the Month for June. In the last 23 games with the Mud Hens, Reyes led the league in hits (40), batting average (.435) and doubles (11).
- Tyler Alexander was optioned to Toledo on Thursday after starting Game 2 of Detroit's doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. The 24-year-old left-hander allowed two runs and five hits while striking out four over five innings in the non-decision.
International League Stories from July 4, 2019
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- Knights Walk off to Top Tides 3-2 - Charlotte Knights
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- Four-Run Third Leads Toledo Past Indy on Fourth of July - Indianapolis Indians
- Mud Hens End Three-Game Losing Streak - Toledo Mud Hens
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