Hens bounce back with victory over Redbirds

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Toledo Mud Hens broke a 1-1 tie with five unanswered runs to capture a 6-1 win over the Memphis Redbirds on Saturday at AutoZone Park.

Drew Hutchison recorded seven strikeouts over a season-high six innings of work to pick up his second victory in as many starts, surrendering an unearned run on four hits, a pair of walks and a hit batter. From there, Buck Farmer pitched two scoreless innings out of the Hen Pen, before Miguel Del Pozo hurled a 1-2-3 ninth.

At the plate, Juan Centeno notched his second straight multi-hit game as he went 2-for-4 with a two-run double and a single, while Kody Clemens announced his return to the Toledo (13-15) lineup with a two-RBI triple in the top of the fifth inning. Isaac Paredes finished 1-for-4 with an RBI single, a sacrifice fly and a run, while Yariel Gonzalez hit his team-leading seventh home run of the campaign to lead off the top of the sixth frame.

Only a 98-minute rain delay could slow down the Mud Hens as they looked to snap a three-game losing streak to the Redbirds (12-17). Daz Cameron hit the second pitch of the game down the right-field line for a leadoff triple, and scored when Paredes lined a sacrifice fly into right to give the visitors a 1-0 edge.

Memphis eventually pulled even with an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth. After Luke De Jong doubled over the head of left fielder Christin Stewart, Connor Capel hit a line drive to left that struck the top of the glove of a charging Stewart for a three-base error.

The Mud Hens reclaimed the lead for good by scoring three times in the top of the fifth. Aderlin Rodríguez picked up a walk to start the inning, while Christopher Proctor registered his first career hit at the Triple-A level, a single through the left side that put runners on first and second with one out. Two batters later, Paredes lined a two-out, opposite-field single into right to plate Rodríguez, before Clemens ripped a stand-up triple off the center-field fence that brought home Proctor and Paredes and gave Toledo a 4-1 advantage.

After Memphis left the bases loaded to end the fifth inning, the Mud Hens capitalized with a pair of insurance markers in the closing stages. One day after his league-best 16-game hitting streak came to an end, Gonzalez made it a 5-1 cushion in the sixth stanza when he smashed an 0-1 pitch over the wall in left-center.

Toledo added its sixth and final run in the top of the eighth. Renato Núñez drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second when Rodríguez also reached on a base on balls and scored when Centeno clubbed a ground-rule double that got wedged against the wall in front of the Memphis bullpen.

What’s Next:
The Mud Hens look to salvage a series split as they conclude their six-game set against the Redbirds on Sunday at AutoZone Park. First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. EDT.

Hens Notes:
• Christopher Proctor made his first career Triple-A start on Saturday. He has made two pinch-hit appearances for the Mud Hens this season, both times in relief of designated hitter Renato Núñez. Proctor joined the Mud Hens after starting one game with High-A West Michigan, going 1-for-4 with a double on May 7 at Fort Wayne.

• Kody Clemens made his first start for the Mud Hens since finishing 2-for-5 with a triple and a run on Opening Night against Nashville. Clemens went 2-for-11 with a pair of RBI during a three-game rehab stint with Low-A Lakeland.

• Juan Centeno has recorded multiple hits in two straight games and three of his last four starts. In all, Centeno is 6-for-12 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs over his last five appearances.

• The Mud Hens are 7-6 this season when scoring the game’s first run. Toledo also owns the Midwest Division's second-best run differential (+19), trailing only Omaha (+29).