Mud Hens surrender lead in late innings

Toledo, Ohio - The first place Toledo Mud Hens hosted the second place Indianapolis Indians at Fifth Third Field. It was the opposition who came away with the 5-4 victory.

The Mud Hens collected hits that were more about quality than quantity, boasting as many runs than hits in the game. It all started when Edwin Espinal nailed a solo shot in the second inning. Teammate Christin Stewart joined in the fun an inning later, giving Toledo an early 2-0 lead.
Toledo's starter, Tyler Alexander, did not get a decision after spreading two runs and nine hits across 5.1 innings. He did strikeout six. The starter for Indianapolis had a different looking day, with the same result. Nick Kingham went 5.2 innings, striking out nine and giving up only three hits, and the no decision. But two of the three hits were longballs.
After Kingham struck out Dawel Lugo and Mike Gerber to start the Mud Hens half of the second, things looked bleak. However, Espinal got a hold of over over the left field fence. This was the first bomb that Kingham has allowed at the AAA level this season. His second came only an inning later, when Stewart hit an absolute shot over the fence in right field.
The Indians responded in the fourth inning with an RBI single of the bat of Wyatt Mathisen that scored Kevin Kramer. Alexander kept the opposition quiet in the fifth, but got into early trouble in the sixth. Daniel Stumpf came in relief with runners on second and third, only one away. The reliever struck out Pablo Reyes, then Jarrod Saltalamacchia threw down to third to pick off Mathisen, and end the inning.
Things got interesting for the Mud Hens in the bottom of the seventh With the game tied, three runners on by way of a walk, and two away, Ronny Rodríguez drew the fourth walk of the inning by Dovydas Neverauskas to drive in the go ahead run. Another run scored in the inning when Damien Magnifico threw a wild pitch.
Junichi Tazawa came in to close the door in the ninth. He walked to first two batters he faced, then struck out Reyes. Espinal made a great diving stop, and threw a runner out at second base for out number two. With one base open Tazawa walked Christopher Bostick. Jordan Luplow signled homer two runs, and a throwing error brought home a third. That gave the Indians a 5-4 lead.
The Mud Hens were able to get a runner to third in the ninth inning, but that was it. Walks gave Toledo the lead in the seventh, and wound up hurting them in the ninth.
What's Next:
The Mud Hens get set for game two of this series that pits the top two teams in the IL West against each other. First pitch is set for 12:05 PM.
#RoadToDetroit Report (rankings according to MLB.com 2018 Prospect Watch):
5. OF Christin Stewart: 2-for-4, single, home run, walk, one RBI
11. OF Mike Gerber: 0-for-3, walk
12. IF Dawel Lugo: 0-for-3,walk
15. RHP Grayson Long: DNP (DL)
16. RHP Bryan Garcia: DNP (DL)
18. LHP Tyler Alexander: 5.1 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO
Hens Notes:
• Junichi Tazawa is the tenth Mud Hens pitcher to receive an save opportunity in 2018. It is the first game this year where a ninth inning lead has been blown.
• The Mud Hens are 4-6 against second place Indianapolis in 2018. Toledo is 17-13 overall against the IL West.
• Toledo is 7-21 in games where they have been outhit by the opposition.
• After a homerun drought, Christin Stewart has now had a homer in two consecutive games.