Hens Outlast Clippers in Series Finale Slugfest
The Toledo Mud Hens defeated the Columbus Clippers 11-9 on Monday night. The Hens are now 35-45 overall and 2-4 in the second half. There were several lead changes all throughout this game as both offenses were flying high, just like in game one of this series. Of the 18
The Toledo Mud Hens defeated the Columbus Clippers 11-9 on Monday night. The Hens are now 35-45 overall and 2-4 in the second half.
There were several lead changes all throughout this game as both offenses were flying high, just like in game one of this series. Of the 18 total half innings played tonight, at least one run was scored in 13 of them. The Mud Hens scored in every inning except the second and seventh, and the Clippers scored in every inning but the fourth, fifth, and eighth. The Mud Hens set a season high with 17 hits in one game, led by Colt Keith and Donny Sands who had three apiece.
Ashton Goudeau started for Toledo and threw 4.0 innings, giving up four runs on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts. It was Goudeau’s first start since May 27th, having pitched just 2.2 innings in relief since then.
Andre Lipcius and Nick Maton got the Hens on the board in the first inning with back-to-back RBI singles. After Columbus retook the lead in the bottom of the second, Nick Maton delivered his second RBI single to tie the game back up at 3-3 in the top of the third inning. The Clippers would retake the lead again in the bottom of the third inning (4-3), after which Toledo responded again in the top of the fourth to take the lead right back (5-4). Riley Greene scored Grant Witherspoon with an RBI groundout to tie it, and a Colt Keithsacrifice fly scored Akil Baddoo to take a 5-4 lead.
Today was Riley Greene’s first game of his major league rehab assignment. The Detroit Tigers placed him on the IL on May 31st with a left fibula stress fracture. Tonight, he batted second and played DH, going 0-4 with an RBI. Joe Rizzo pinch hit for Greene in the eighth inning.
Center fielder Grant Witherspoon hit his first home run of the year for the Hens in the fifth inning, and Justyn-Henry Malloy joined him with a home run of his own in the sixth. It was Malloy’s 14th homer of the year and third of this series.
The Clippers would fight back and tie the game at 8-8 in the bottom of the seventh, but that would be the last time they would share the lead. Colt Keith hit an RBI single in the eighth to retake the lead 9-8, and Johan Camargo and Joe Rizzo each hit RBI singles in the ninth to give the Hens an 11-8 lead.
The Clippers brought the winning run to the plate after loading the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth against Braden Bristo, but he was able to escape the jam after inducing a double play and a strikeout to end the game and record his first save of the year with Toledo.
The Mud Hens return home tomorrow for a six-game series against the Louisville Bats. Tomorrow’s 4th of July game begins at 7:05 P.M. at Fifth Third Field.
Notables:
Ashton Goudeau: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Colt Keith, 3-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB
Donny Sands: 3-4, 2 2B, R, BB
Grant Witherspoon: 2-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Justyn-Henry Malloy: 1-4, HR, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB
Nick Maton: 2-5, 2 RBI
Akil Baddoo: 1-3, 2B, R, BB
Joe Rizzo: 2-2, RBI