IL1 Toledo Mud Hens

Mud Hens Win in 11th over Bats

Published on April 6, 2019 under International League (IL1)
Toledo Mud Hens News Release


Toledo, OH - The Toledo Mud Hens (2-0) scored in the bottom of the eleventh on a squeeze bunt Friday in a 4-3 win over the Louisville Bats (0-2) in Fifth Third Field's first extra inning game of the year.

The Mud Hens bats were lively early in the game. Ronny Rodriguez knocked a double to deep center in the top of the first. After stealing third, Rodriguez scored on a double by Victor Reyes to shallow center field to tie the game at one.

Toledo kept the momentum rolling in the second inning. Willi Castro led the inning with a single, followed by a Cameron Rupp walk and Jacob Robson single to load the bases. With the bases juiced, Danny Woodrow drew a walk to force Castro in to give the Mud Hens a 2-1 lead after the second inning, tallying Woodrow's third RBI of the young season.

The Hens kept it going in the third. After clubbing 11 home runs during his 2018 campaign, Brandon Dixon put an 0-2 pitch over the right field fence for his first home run of the season. The solo shot gave Toledo some insurance, increasing their lead to 3-1.

It wasn't until the eleventh inning that the Hens were back on the board. With the bases loaded, Danny Woodrow completed a squeeze bunt that scored Willi Castro for Toledo, capturing their second win of the season.

Ryan Carpenter was handed the ball on the hill to start the evening for Toledo. The start was No. 15 for Carpenter in a Mud Hens uniform following his 14 starts from last season. He provided a solid start for the Mud Hens going four innings. The 28-year-old allowed just one run on three hits while striking out four and walking three.

Carpenter was relieved by Paul Voelker at the start of the fifth inning. Voelker went two full innings in relief, allowing one run on just two hits. He also tallied two strikeouts in the appearance and no walks.

Jose Fernandez came in to pitch the seventh inning, striking out one of the three batters he faced. Fernandez was followed by Eduardo Paredes out of the pen, who picked up the ball in the eighth inning. Parades went two innings for the Mud Hens, allowing one run on two hits and one walk.

In extra innings, Toledo brought on Zac Houston to hold down the fort. The 6'5" Houston held the Bats scoreless over two innings of extra innings work.

Louisville scored first on the evening, driving in a run in the first inning.

After a leadoff walk, Sherman Johnson was advanced to third by a Phillip Ervin single before scoring on a Brian O'Grady sacrifice fly to right field. However, the Mud Hens ended the inning quickly with Cameron Rupp throwing Ervin out at second on a steal attempt.

The Bats' bats were stagnant for three innings before Kyle Wren led off the fifth inning with a double. Wren would score after two sacrifice flies, coming off the bats of Sherman Johnson and Christian Colon, with Colon picking up the RBI.

A few innings later, the Bats tied the game up at three. In the top of the eighth, Johnson led off with a single before coming around to score on an O'Grady single. This marked the second time of the game that O'Grady knocked in Johnson for Louisville.

In the eleventh, with the bases loaded, Louisville called on pinch hitter Josh VanMeter. However, the Mud Hens had other plans with Houston getting VanMeter to fly out to right field.

On the mound to start for the Bats was right-hander Lucas Sims. Sims went three innings for Louisville, allowing three runs, all earned, on seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts. He was replaced by fellow right-hander Jesus Reyes.

Reyes lasted two innings for Louisville, allowing one hit and one walk en route to striking out two. He was replaced in the sixth inning by Ian Krol. Krol came in for just one inning, facing three batters and striking out one.

The Bats called on Sal Romano in the seventh from the bullpen. Romano pitched two innings for Louisville, registering three strikeouts, all in his first inning, and just one hit. He was replaced by Anthony Bass in the top of ninth.

Bass went two innings as well for Louisville, registering one strikeout and no hits in the outing. He was relieved by Jimmy Herget in the bottom of the eleventh. Herget allowed the run to the Mud Hens in the eleventh.

Offensively, the Mud Hens were led by Danny Woodrow who recorded two RBIs on the night, including the game winning bunt in the bottom of the eleventh.

What's Next

The Mud Hens and Bats will be back at Fifth Third Field on Saturday for game three of the four game series. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. (EST) with the right-handed Beau Burrows set to take the mound for the first time this season.

Hens Notes

Brandon Dixon's third inning solo home run was the first round-tripper of the season for the Mud Hens.

Cameron Rupp showcased his arm from behind the plate, throwing out two runners in the game.

This was the second consecutive night that Woodrow tallied multiple RBIs.

Check out the Toledo Mud Hens Statistics

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International League Stories from April 6, 2019


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