IL1 Toledo Mud Hens

Toledo Sweeps Double-Header against Indy

Published on June 8, 2019 under International League (IL1)
Toledo Mud Hens News Release


The Mud Hens combined for 11 runs, including three home runs, to win both games on Saturday against the Indianapolis Indians, extending their win streak to three, and having now won seven of the last eight.

Game One

In the second inning, the Mud Hens logged the first base hit of the game, coming in the form of a single off the bat of Victor Reyes. Reyes would attempt to steal second, but was unsuccessful. Next up, Mikie Mahtook also singled and attempted a steal, sliding in safe at second for his seventh stolen base with Toledo. With Kody Eaves up, the Indians' first baseman Eric Wood dropped a pop-up in foul territory, eventually leading to Eaves walking to put two on for the Hens with one out. A double steal by Toledo would move Mahtook to third, his eighth steal, and Eaves to second, his second stolen base. Dustin Peterson would single up the middle, extending his hit streak to seven games, to score Mahtook, giving the Hens an early 1-0 lead.

On the mound for Toledo to start was the left-handed Gregory Soto. Soto came out of the gates hot, sending down the first ten batters he faced, striking out four of the ten outs.

The run was ended by a walk issued to Ke'Bryan Hayes in the top of fourth with one out. Hayes would move up to second on a wild pitch, but Soto would come back by tallying his fifth strikeout of the game. However, a steal of third and a throwing error down the line, allowed Hayes to score, evening the game at 1-1. With the score tied, Will Craig singled through the left side of the infield followed by a double from Pablo Reyes that nearly cleared the wall, scoring Craig to give Indianapolis a 2-1 lead.

Soto would toss 5.2 innings for the Hens before exiting. He was able to strikeout eight, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks before being replaced by Ethan DeCaster out of the bullpen, who was able to get a strikeout to end the sixth.

With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Willi Castro singled to give the Hens their first runner since the fourth inning. Castro would then score, showing hustle, moving from first to home on a Victor Reyes double to left field that was missed by the diving fielder, tying the game at 2-2 entering the seventh inning.

With two outs in the top of the seventh, the Hens made a change on the bump, putting in the left-handed Caleb Thielbar. DeCaster commanded a full inning, although split between the sixth and seventh, recording three outs, DeCaster struck out two while allowing a base hit.

In the Hens half of the seventh, Eaves began with a towering shot that hit off the left field wall for a double to open for Toledo. After two outs were recorded, Eaves moved up to third on a base knock by Jacob Robson to put two on with two outs for the Mud Hens. Robson would move up to second with a stolen base, taking away the force out at second. However, that would be all, sending the shortened game to extra innings.

Entering the bottom of the eighth, the Indians made a pitching change. The starter Eduardo Vera pitched seven innings, allowing three hits and two walks resulting in two runs while striking out five. He would be relieved by Sean Keselica.

With Daz Cameron beginning the inning at second, Daniel Pinero took advantage of the opportunity, pushing a single through the left side of the infield to score Cameron and walk it off for the Hens in game one of the double-header.

Game Two

In game two, the Hens bats stayed alive, beginning in the second inning. To begin the Toledo half, Victor Reyes sent a shot to The Roost in right field, nearly clearing the stadium for the first run of the game. Dustin Peterson would complete the encore a batter later putting a ball off the scoreboard to give the Mud Hens an early 2-0 lead.

From the bump for the Hens to begin game two was Drew VerHagen. In the first three innings alone, VerHagen tallied four strikeouts, giving up just one hit in his first time through the Indians lineup.

As for the Indians starter, Yefry Ramirez, he would pitch into the fourth inning, logging 3.1 innings officially, while striking out two and allowing two runs on five hits. He would be replaced by left-handed Brandon Waddell with runners at the corners. Waddell would get a ground out before a three-run Bobby Wilson home run to increase the Hens lead. Of the three runs from the home run, two were put on Ramirez's record with one going to Waddell.

In the top of the fifth, the Indians made noise in the batter's box. With one out, Eric Wood blooped a ball into right field for a double. He would advance to third on a single by Christian Kelly that found its way through the right side of the infield. A sacrifice fly to right field by Nick Franklin would allow Wood to score, moving the Toledo lead to 5-1 before a Jason Martin fly ball would end the half of the inning.

Toledo quickly got the run back in their half of the fifth. Cameron began the inning with a walk followed by a triple by Pinero to score Cameron, increasing the lead to 6-1, but the Hens weren't satisified. Reyes would chalk up another RBI with a double down the right field line to score Pinero. Reyes would come around to score on a Peterson double that fell in front of the falling center fielder, giving Toledo an 8-1 lead after five.

To start the sixth, the Hens made a change on the mound with Jose Manuel Fernandez entering for VerHagen. In the start, VerHagen tossed five innings, giving up one run on four hits while also striking out four. Fernandez walked the first batter he faced before Kevin Kramer singled through the right side of the infield to put two runners on. However, Fernandez would come back to strikeout the next batter, Will Craig. However, a double by Pablo Reyes would score Jake Elmore and move Kramer to third. A fly ball would put two outs on the board before a groundout would end the inning with the score still favoring the Hens, 8-2.

Entering the bottom of the sixth, Indianapolis made another pitching change with Jesus Liranzo replacing Waddell, who pitched 1.2 innings, giving up four runs on four hits and one walk with three strikeouts.

Toledo would also make a change in the top of the seventh. Fernandez tossed just one inning, giving up two hits and one walk resulting in one run while also striking out one. Next out of the pen for the Hens was Bryan Garcia. Garcia would send the Indians down in order to secure the 8-2 victory for the Mud Hens.

What's Next:

The Hens will conclude their five game home series with the Indians on Sunday at Fifth Third Field with a scheduled start of 4:05 p.m. Spenser Watkins is set to take the mound for Toledo while Indianapolis is slated to start Dario Agrazal. The game will also feature Muddy and Spike's Inflatable Theme Park with special guest appearances during the game from The Incredibles and Kids Run The Bases after the game.

#RoadToDetroit Report (ranking according to MLB.com 2019 Prospect Watch):

5. OF Daz Cameron: 0 for 7

6. RHP Beau Burrows: DNP (IL)

7. IF Willi Castro: 1 for 7

12. C Jake Rogers: 0 for 3

16. OF Jacob Robson: 2 for 6

18. RHP Bryan Garcia: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

19. OF Danny Woodrow: 0 for 3

22. RHP John Schreiber: DNP

25. LHP Gregory Soto: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K

26. RHP Sandy Baez: DNP

27. LHP Matt Hall: DNP

28. IF/OF Dustin Peterson: 3 for 6, 2B, HR, 3 RBI

Hens Notes:

- With his RBI single in the second inning of game one, Dustin Peterson now has 12 RBI over the last seven games.

- Victor Reyes now has a team-leading 45 RBI on the season with Toledo.

Check out the Toledo Mud Hens Statistics

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International League Stories from June 8, 2019


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