Sammons, Hanifee strong on bump in victory

TOLEDO – The Toledo Mud Hens defeated the Columbus Clippers 5-2 on Saturday night at Fifth Third Field.

The pitching matchup consisted of Bryan Sammons for the Mud Hens and Jerad Eickhoff for the Clippers.

Sammons made quick work of the Clippers in the first inning, needing just eight pitches to retire the side in order. Brayan Rocchio struck out to begin the ballgame, followed by a lineout from Oscar Gonzalez and Kyle Manzardo flied out to end the inning.

Eickhoff matched Sammons, retiring the Mud Hens in order in the first inning. Wenceel Perez grounded out to begin his afternoon. Justyn-Henry Malloy struck out and Colt Keith grounded out to end the inning.

Johnathan Rodriguez hit a leadoff single for the first hit of the game. Jhonkensy Noel lined out for the first out of the second inning. George Valera would draw a walk, but Angel Martinez would ground into an inning-ending double play.

Eddys Leonard, Ryan Kreidler and Justice Bigbie each singled to load the bases to begin the bottom of the second inning. Dillon Dingler would drive in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly, making it 1-0 Mud Hens. Eickhoff locked it down, striking out both Michael Papierski and Nick Solak to end the inning and escape the jam with minimal damage.

Sammons would begin the inning with a strikeout of Bryan Lavastida. Daniel Schneemann would hit a one-out single to roll the order over. Schneemann would be stranded as Sammons struck out both Rocchio and Gonzalez to end the inning.

Eickhoff would strikeout Perez and get Malloy to groundout to begin the third inning with two quick outs. Keith would draw a two-out walk, followed by a single by Leonard, before a popout by Kreidler ended the inning.

Sammons retired the Clippers in order in the fourth inning, getting Manzardo to popout, striking out Rodriguez and getting Noel to flyout to end the inning.

Bigbie would reach on a leadoff single and a double by Dingler would set the Mud Hens up for a big run-scoring opportunity. Papierski would drive home a run with a sacrifice fly, and Dingler would come home on a wild pitch, making it 3-0 Mud Hens. Eickhoff would get both Solak and Perez to groundout to end the inning. That would close the book on Eickhoff after 4.0 innings pitched, allowing three runs on six hits, one walk and four strikeouts. Eickhoff claimed the loss, falling to 1-7 on the season.

Sammons would wrap a stellar outing by retiring the Clippers in order again in the fifth inning. Sammons got Valera to popout, Martinez to groundout, and then punctuated his outing with a strikeout of Lavastida. Sammons would finish after 5.0 innings pitched, allowing two hits, one walk and six strikeouts. Sammons claimed the win, improving to 1-3 on the season.

Adam Scott would enter to pitch the fifth inning for the Clippers. Malloy grounded out to begin the inning. Keith hit a one-out single, but would be caught stealing to end the inning after Leonard lined out.

Brenan Hanifee enter to pitch the sixth inning for the Mud Hens. Schneemann grounded out to begin the inning. Rocchio and Gonzalez would hit singles on back-to-back pitches. Manzardo would put the Clippers on the board with a RBI groundout, making it 3-1 Mud Hens. Hanifee would get Rodriguez to lineout to end the inning.

Scott would return to pitch the sixth inning. Kreidler hit a leadoff single to get the Hens started. Bigbie would lineout and Dingler would strikeout for the first two outs. Kreidler would swipe second base, but would be stranded after Papierski grounded out to end the inning. That would close the book on Scott after 2.0 innings pitched, allowing two hits and one strikeout.

Hanifee would get Noel to groundout to begin the seventh inning, but would find himself in trouble. Back-to-back singles by Valera and Martinez, followed by Lavastida reaching on a fielder’s choice would load the bases. Hanifee would strand the bases loaded by striking out both Schneemann and Rocchio to end the inning and escape the jam.

Cody Morris would enter to pitch the seventh inning for Columbus. Morris would retire the Mud Hens in order, striking out Solak, getting Perez to popout and Malloy to lineout to end the inning. That would close the book on Morris after 1.0 inning pitched with one strikeout.

Hanifee would return for the eighth, retiring the Clippers in order again. Gonzalez and Manzardo would both strikeout, followed by Rodriguez grounding out to end the inning.

Michael Kelly entered to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning for Columbus. Keith smacked a leadoff double to get the Hens rolling. After Leonard lined out, Kreidler drew a one-out walk to put two runners on base. After a wild pitch moved both runners up, Bigbie drove home two runs on a sacrifice fly, a rare feat which made the lead 5-1 for the Mud Hens. Dingler would get hit by a pitch, but would be stranded after Papierski struck out to end the inning. That would close the book on Kelly after 1.0 inning pitched, allowing two runs on one hit, one walk and one strikeout.

Hanifee would return to finish it out for the Mud Hens. Noel would slug a leadoff home run, shortening the lead to 5-2. Valera would strikeout for the first out. Martinez would groundout for the second out. Lavastida would strikeout to seal a 5-2 Mud Hens victory, as well as a series win in the final home series of the season. Hanifee finished with his second save of the season after pitching 4.0 innings, allowing two runs on five hits (one home run) and six strikeouts.

NOTABLES:

• Justice Bigbie: 2-3, 2 RBI, R
• Colt Keith: 2-3, 2B, R, BB
• Ryan Kreidler: 2-3, R, BB
• Eddys Leonard: 2-4, R
• Dillon Dingler: 1-2, RBI, 2B, R, K
• Michael Papierski: 0-3, RBI, 2 K
• Bryan Sammons: W, 5.0 IP, 2 H, BB, 6 K
• Brenan Hanifee: SV, 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, HR, 6 K

The Mud Hens will remain in Toledo for their home finale against the Columbus Clippers, tomorrow, Sunday, September 17^th with first pitch coming at 2:05 pm ET.