IL1 Toledo Mud Hens

Mud Hens' Pitching Unable to Merritt a Victory

Published on July 6, 2016 under International League (IL1)
Toledo Mud Hens News Release


The Toledo Mud Hens dropped the final game of a three game set at Huntington Park Wednesday night against the Columbus Clippers by a score of 8-4, despite a three hit game off the bat of JaCoby Jones.

A night following a 10-0 Toledo shutout victory, Chad Bell started his eighth game of the season, but this stint was a bit shorter than the southpaw had planned. Bell, who came into the game with a 4-2 record and 3.48 ERA, only managed to pitch into the fourth inning while allowing six hits, five earned runs, and recording two strikeouts. Bell's counterpart, Ryan Merritt, pitched five innings of work with only one stressful inning. Merritt earned his fifth win of the season while allowing six hits, four earned runs, and recording four strikeouts.

The Mud Hens threatened with a JaCoby Jones one-out double in the top of the first, but the Hens failed to push him across. The Clippers struck in the bottom half of the first via an Erik Gonzalez leadoff oppo bomb to make it 1-0 Columbus.

Chad Bell had settled down and retired nine batters in a row before Gonzalez stepped back up in the bottom of the third and laced a single to center. The speedy leadoff hitter proceeded to steal second and eventually come around to score on a Ronny Rodriguez gap shot to right field to make it 2-0 Clippers. Columbus tacked on more run in the third inning after a Yandy Diaz single coupled with a Dixon Machado throwing error allowed Rodriguez to score and make it 3-0.

Toledo got on the board in the top of the fourth inning when Jones got things started with a triple to right field. Back-to-back hits to left field off the bats of John Hicks and Chad Huffman, which were misplayed because of the sun in the left fielder's eyes, led to the first run, making it 3-1 Clippers. Next up was Jeff McVaney, who continued his hot hitting ways with an infield RBI single plating Hicks and making it 3-2. A Tyler Collins sacrifice fly to left field scored Huffman and made it a 3-3 game in the fourth. However, after McVaney swiped second for his first stolen base as a Hen, Miguel Gonzalez notched the fifth Hen hit of the inning to make it 4-3 Toledo.

Columbus had a quick response for the Mud Hen four run fourth with some runs of their own in the bottom half of the fourth. Michael Choice began the fourth with a leadoff walk followed by Guillermo Quiroz and Joey Butler singles to load the bases prior to a Collin Cowgill bases loaded walk to make it 4-4. Chad Bell was unable to record an out in the fourth, as he was replaced by Kurt Spomer with the bases loaded and nobody out. Bryson Myles acquainted Mr. Spomer to the game by ripping a two-RBI single to left field making it 6-4 Clippers. However, Spomer, who pitched two innings while allowing three hits and no runs, bounced back to induce a 6-4-3 double play to get out of the inning without any further damage.

Drake Britton replaced Joe Mantiply, who pitched a scoreless sixth inning, on the mound in the seventh inning, but two walks and a single followed by a bases loaded hit by pitch made it a 7-4 game. The Clippers extended their lead to 8-4 when Quiroz knocked an RBI single to centerfield knocking Britton out of the game, who was replaced by Ruben Alaniz, who responded with a strikeout and groundout to get out of the inning.

Toledo heads to Indianapolis tomorrow night to begin a two game set with tomorrow night's game slated for a first pitch at 7:05 p.m. The Mud Hens return home for three games Saturday and Sunday against the Bats with a doubleheader set to start at 5:05 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

Toledo Tidbits:

Mud Hens in the Majors- For many people, the Fourth of July was all about fireworks and friends, but for Dustin Molleken, it was about making his first ever Major League appearance, as he came out of the bullpen Monday night for the Detroit Tigers going two innings while striking out two, allowing two hits and one run. Daniel Norris had started the same game, but had to leave with an oblique injury in the third inning, and Norris is now on the 15-day DL with the Tigers. Steven Moya continues to rake for the big club including a huge two-run single in Wednesday's win; a game which was won by fellow former Hen, Michael Fulmer, which was the first win against Cleveland on the season.

The Mud Hen Middle-Man- Buck Farmer hasn't had the best AAA season of his career with the Toledo Mud Hens going 1-4 with a 6.42 ERA in ten games of work. However, in his ten games and 16 innings of work with the Detroit Tigers, the Georgia native has a 0-0 record with a 3.94 ERA while striking out 15. Farmer has been an intricate arm within the Tigers organization this season serving as an extended inning relief man for the Tigers and a starter for the Mud Hens when he is available.

Jones with a Jolt of Life- For the first time since April 2015, JaCoby Jones saw his minor league batting average dip below .200. Lloyd McClendon figured it was time for a day off Tuesday night, which was only the second off day since his AAA call up. Jones must've utilized his off day, as he went 3-4 with a double and a triple Wednesday night, his first multi-hit game since June 14.

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International League Stories from July 6, 2016


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