Hens score six in third inning, win series finale
The Toledo Mud Hens defeated the Buffalo Bisons 7-3 on Sunday afternoon. After having dropped the first two games in the series, Toledo took the series finale. The Hens are now 6-9 in the second half and 39-50 overall. Joey Wentz started the game for the Mud Hens. He lasted
The Toledo Mud Hens defeated the Buffalo Bisons 7-3 on Sunday afternoon. After having dropped the first two games in the series, Toledo took the series finale. The Hens are now 6-9 in the second half and 39-50 overall.
Joey Wentz started the game for the Mud Hens. He lasted 4.2 innings and gave up two runs on eight hits, with three walks and three strikeouts. Wentz almost pitched the minimum five innings required to qualify for the win, but was replaced by Sam Clay with two outs in the fifth inning. Clay was able to record the final out of the inning, leaving the bases loaded with Bisons.
The bulk of Toledo’s scoring came in the top of the third inning. Parker Meadows led off the inning with a double and was knocked in by Nick Solak’s RBI single. Colt Keith walked, and Tyler Nevin singled to load the bases for Joe Rizzo, who scored two with an RBI double. Donny Sands scored another with a sac fly, then consecutive walks from Grant Witherspoon and Corey Joyce reloaded the bases. John Valente grounded into a fielder’s choice to score another run, after which Parker Meadows reached base for the second time in the inning, scoring another. Meadows scorched a ball up the middle which deflected off the shortstop’s glove and was ruled an error. Nick Solak was the 11th man to bat in the inning and grounded out to end it. The Hens totaled six runs in the inning. All six of the runs were credited to Bisons reliever Trent Thornton, although one was unearned.
The Mud Hens wouldn’t score again until the eighth inning. Valente and Meadows led off the inning with a hit by pitch and a single respectively, and Nick Solak came up big with an RBI double to add an insurance run.
Buffalo’s hitters certainly had their chances in this one, but Toledo’s pitching staff was locked in with runners on base today. The Bisons actually out hit the Hens 11-10, but were just 2-15 with runners in scoring position, and stranded 12 runners on base. Blair Calvo and Aneurys Zabala each pitched scoreless innings in relief, and Miguel Diaz gave up one run in 2.0 innings to close out the game.
The Hens begin a six game homestand against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, which starts Tuesday July 18th at Fifth Third Field. First pitch is at 7:05 P.M.
Notables:
Joey Wentz: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Nick Solak: 3-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI
Parker Meadows: 2-4, 2B, R, BB, SB
Grant Witherspoon: 2-4, 2B, R, BB
Joe Rizzo: 2-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI