IL1 Toledo Mud Hens

Offensive Explosion Lifts Verlander, Hens over Indy

Published on June 1, 2015 under International League (IL1)
Toledo Mud Hens News Release


On an overcast Sunday afternoon in Indianapolis, the Toledo Mud Hens' offense brought the thunder to Victory Field in an 11-6 rout of the Indians. On rehabilitation assignment from the Detroit Tigers, former American League Rookie of the Year, Cy Young, and MVP winner Justin Verlander made his first Triple-A start of his career. However, the bats of the Mud Hens stole the show by scoring a stellar 11 runs on 11 hits.

Despite being on the road, Victory Field was packed with Mud Hens' and Tigers' fans eager to see Verlander take the mound for the first time in 2015. Verlander missed the start the season due to a right tricep's strain, and hadn't pitched in game action since the end of March in spring training. On a short leash due to a pitch count restriction, he did not make it out of the third inning. As was anticipated with the layoff, Verlander didn't have his usual pinpoint command, and allowed three runs on six hits. Still, he was able to strikeout three batters. When Larry Parrish made his way out to the mound to remove him from the game, the crowd gave Verlander a standing ovation.

On the other side of the baseball, the Mud Hens' offense exploded. Mike Hessman had another monster day at the plate, leading the way with three hits and five RBIs. In the fifth inning with the game tied 3-3, the King stepped to the plate with one out and two runners on base. After fouling off two straight, Hessman sent the sixth pitch of the at bat over the left field fence for his seventh home run of the season, giving Toledo a 6-3 lead.

In the sixth inning, the Hens decided that a four run fifth wasn't enough, so they did it all over again. With the bases loaded and one out, Steven Moya stayed in the box on a pitch that got away from Indianapolis reliever A.J. Morris, and drove in a run by getting hit by a pitch. Not done yet, Hessman followed with a single to drive in his fifth run of the day. The Mud Hens added another run in the seventh to pad their lead to 11-3.

Lost in the offensive barrage was the job that Rafael Dolis did out of the bullpen for Toledo. Dolis releived Verlander in the third inning, and went on to throw three and a third innings of scoreless baseball. Josh Zeid earned his second save of the season, this time going the rare route of the three inning save. Indianapolis put up three runs in the bottom of the ninth, but the rally was in vain.

Your Toledo Mud Hens travel to Columbus to take on the Clippers in a doubleheader on Monday. First pitch for the first game of the night is scheduled to be thrown at 5:35 p.m.

Check out the Toledo Mud Hens Statistics

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International League Stories from June 1, 2015


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