Rodriguez, Stewart Homer Twice as Hens Roll
May 13, 2018 - International League (IL1)
Toledo Mud Hens News Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Ronny Rodriguez and Christin Stewart each belted a pair of solo home runs for the Toledo Mud Hens in a convincing 10-4 victory over the Louisville Bats on Sunday at Louisville Slugger Field.
Rodriguez and Stewart highlighted the slugfest, each going 2-for-5 with two solo shots. Chad Huffman finished 2-for-3 with a solo home run, two walks, and three runs scored, while Jason Krizan went 1-for-3 with a three-run blast, a pair of walks, and two runs scored. In total, the Mud Hens (23-12) smashed a season-high six home runs on the afternoon, one shy of matching a modern-era franchise record.
Making his third start of the season for the Mud Hens (23-12), Drew VerHagen allowed two runs, one of which was earned, over 3.1 innings of work. The 27-year-old allowed three hits and three walks while striking out five. A.J. Ladwig also fanned five batters in 5.2 innings of relief, surrendering two earned runs on five hits and a walk for his team-best fifth win of the year.
Winners of two straight and seven of their last eight, the Mud Hens started the scoring in the top of the opening stanza, as Christin Stewart belted a one-out solo shot to deep right to give Toledo a 1-0 lead. However, Louisville (12-21) fought back to even the score in the bottom of the first. Mason Williams drew a leadoff walk before Cliff Pennington singled into center to put runners on first and second with nobody down. Later in the inning, Brandon Dixon whacked a one-out double off the wall in left to plate Williams, but Pennington was thrown out at the plate trying to score from first to keep the game at 1-1.
Toledo recaptured the lead with a pair of solo blasts in the top of the third. Rodriguez led off the frame with a drive over the wall in left, and Huffman gave the Mud Hens a 3-1 edge with a 432-foot rocket to right-center.
Louisville was able to manufacture a run in the bottom of the same inning. Williams clubbed a leadoff single into center, reached third on a throwing error, and eventually scored on a wild pitch to trim Toledo's lead to 3-2.
The Mud Hens gained some breathing room with two more runs in the top of the fifth. Huffman and Krizan picked up back-to-back walks to put runners on first and second with one out, and Kody Eaves brought them both home with a double off the center-field wall to give Toledo a 5-2 cushion.
Toledo continued to tee off on Louisville pitching, tallying three home runs as part of a five-run sixth inning. Rodriguez and Stewart hit back-to-back, marking the first time in consecutive at-bats since Matt den Dekker and JaCoby Jones accomplished the feat on June 20, 2017 at Indianapolis. After Jim Adduci doubled to center and Huffman picked up a walk, Krizan. The Bats wrapped up the scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth, but never threatened to mount a comeback as Toledo improved to 6-3 against Louisville this season.
The Mud Hens return to Fifth Third Field on Tuesday to open a three-game series against the Charlotte Knights. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
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