Mud Hens snap losing streak with win over Cubs

The Toledo Mud Hens snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the Iowa Cubs.

Leading off the game for the Mud Hens for the first time this season was Justyn-Henry Malloy. Malloy faced off against Iowa Cubs starter Chris Clarke who entered the game with. 3.38 ERA and an 0-1 record.

Parker Meadows walked with one out in the inning. Meadows then stole second base to put himself into scoring position. With two outs in the inning, Steele Walker roped a single into right field for the game's first run and the Mud hens grabbed a 1-0 lead.

Sam Clay started the game on the mound for the Mud Hens, making his second appearance for Toledo. Clay worked a one-two-three first inning with two strikeouts.

With two outs in the top of the second inning, Corey Joyce singled, then Brendon Davis walked to put runners on first and second. Justyn-Henry Malloy came in clutch with a two-out RBI single to left field to score the Mud Hens' second run of the game.

Clay gave up a leadoff single to start the inning, but then got a groundball double play and retired the next batter to pitch a scoreless second inning.

The Mud Hens went down in order at the top of the third. Matt Wisler entered the game in the bottom of the third inning for the Hens. With runners on first and second with one out, Darius Hill hit a single to left field to score the Cubs' first run of the game and cut the Hens' lead down to 2-1.

In the top of the fourth inning, Clark retired the first two Mud Hens hitters before Corey Joyce roped a double to left field. Clarke was able to put away the next batter and keep the Mud Hens at a one-run lead.

Austin Bergner entered the game from the bullpen for the bottom of the fourth inning for the Mud Hens. Bergner recorded three strikeouts in three batters to end the fourth inning.

Justyn-Henry Malloy hit a leadoff single to start the fifth inning for the Hens. Anthony Kay entered the game for Cubs from the bullpen. After giving up the single, Kay got a double play to clear the bases with two outs. Tyler Nevin was hit by a pitch with two outs but Kay was able to keep the inning scoreless.

Bergner continued to pitch into the fifth inning for the Hens, recording two more strikeouts and racking up a total of five strikeouts in six batters faced.

Riley Thompson entered the game in the top of the sixth inning for the Cubs in the top of the sixth inning and struck out all three batters he faced to keep the Mud Hens offense quiet.

Bergner continued to dominate on the mound for the Mud Hens. In the sixth inning, Bergner struck out two more hitters before giving up his first baserunner via a walk. Bergner was able to retire the next batter and keep the Cubs off the board holding onto the 2-1 lead.

In the top of the seventh inning, Riley Thompson recorded the first two Mud Hen batters in order before Justyn-Henry Malloy hit a solo home run out to centerfield to grow the Mud Hens lead to 3-1.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Bergner mowed down the Cubs half of the inning in order to keep the Mud Hens lead going into the eighth inning.

Tyler Nevin lead off the top of the eighth inning with a double to the right-center field gap. Nevin advanced to third on a groundball to the second basemen hit by Steele Walker. Andre Lipcius then hit a sacrifice fly out to left field to score Nevin ad grow the Mud Hens' lead to three.

Miguel Diaz entered the game in from the Bullpen in the bottom of the eighth inning for the Hens. Diaz pitched a perfect eighth inning to bring the Mud Hens to the ninth inning with a 4-1 lead.

The Mud Hens were held off the board in the top of the ninth inning going to the bottom of the ninth.

Diaz continued to pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Cubs were able to put two men on and bring the tying run up the plate with just one out. Diaz then recorded back-to-back strikeouts to record the save and victory for the Mud Hens.

This win snaps a nine-game losing streak for the Hens.

Notables:

Justyn-Henry Malloy: 3-4, R, 2RBI, HR

Corey Joyce: 3-4, R

Austin Bergner: 4IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 9K (1-0)

Migeul Diaz: 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 2K (S,6)