Keider Montero goes 4.1 as the Mud Hens get the win

The Toledo Mud Hens got back into the win column tonight with a win over the Columbus Clippers 7-3 at Huntington Park.

Keider Montero got the start today for the Hens as he came into this game 0-0 with a team-leading 1.69 ERA.

In the top of the first, Akil Baddo continued his hot streak by singling to the opposite side into left field to start the game. Justyn-Henry Malloy followed Baddoo’s single with a walk to put runners on first and second. Jace Jung then hit a pop-out to the left fielder which advanced both runners up 90 feet. Buddy Kennedy then also hit a pop out to center field with both runners attempting to tag however the Clippers were able to tag out Malloy at third but not before Baddoo was able to score giving the Mud Hens the 1-0 lead.

Montero wasted no time dealing as he was able to strike out the first batter while getting a quick groundout to produce two quick outs. The Clippers were able to hit a double down the right field line, but Montero stranded him at second as he was able to strikeout the following batter to end the inning.

The top of the second saw Ryan Vilade stay hot as he hit a double to the right field wall with Justice Bigbie following him with a walk. Riley Unroe then reached first on a throwing error which scored Vilade from second to extend the Hens lead to 2-0. Baddoo then continued the damage as he singled up the middle to score another run making it 3-0. Malloy then cleared the bases as he doubled to the right field wall to score two more runs which made it 5-0 Hens.

In the bottom of the second, Montero gave up a lead-off home run to make it 5-1. Montero then gave up a single; following that a ground ball right to him at the mound was overthrown to Jung at second base to now put runners at first and second, a walk then loaded the bases up.

With the bases loaded some nonsense ensued as a line drive to Jung at second was caught with Jung throwing it to second in an attempted double play with the runner being called safe. The shortstop Unroe then threw it to first to double up the runner at first who was then called safe as well. Bligh Madris then threw it to third to attempt the double play with the initial call being safe by one umpire and then out by another. A very confusing play resulted in the umpires meeting and calling the inning over on a double play; however also called was the runner at third to count as a run batted in which ultimately shouldn't have counted as he never touched third base after the line drive.

In the top of the third, Madris was able to get that run back as he hit a solo shot to right field to make it 6-2.

In the top of the fourth, Anthony Bemboom started the inning with a walk with Unroe hitting a double to put runners at second and third. Malloy then walked to load the bases up for Jung as he was able to deliver a single just over the second baseman's head and into right field to make it 7-2.

Montero continued to deal in the bottom half of the fourth as he mowed down the Clippers as they went down 1-2-3.

In the top of the fifth, Bigbie reached first on an infield single with Bemboom hitting a ground-rule double to center field to put runners on second and third, but a strikeout and a groundout ended the inning with no runs across the plate.

Montero went out to start the bottom of the fifth and recorded a strikeout but that was all for his outing as he was replaced by Wilmer Flores. Flores then gave up a walk to his first batter but was able to strike out his next as a line out to left field ended the inning.

Jung then in the top of the sixth was hit by the pitch with Kennedy singling to put two runners on. But to no avail, as Madris flies out to center and Vilade strikes out looking to end the inning.

A scoreless bottom half of the sixth by the Clippers sent us to the top of the seventh where again the Mud Hens put two runners on by yet another hit by pitch, this time at Bigbie along with an Unroe walk but a strikeout and a line out ended the inning with the runners stranded.

Angel Reyes then replaced Flores in the mound to start the bottom of the seventh as he started the inning by walking his first and second batters faced to put runners on first and second with no outs. A nice 5-4-3 double play by the Hens defense still had a runner on third with two outs as a wild pitch did have the Clippers put a run across the plate to make it 7-3 still in favor of the Hens.

Jung then led off the eighth with a standup triple as both the right and center fielder missed the ball allowing Jung to end up at third. However, two groundouts held Jung at third and a fly out to left field ended the inning with no one able to bring him home.

A 1-2-3 bottom half of the eighth sent us into the ninth as it appeared the Hens offense was going to follow suit with two quick outs but Unroe notched his second double of the night to extend the inning. Baddoo then walked on four pitches to put runners on first and second but a Malloy strikeout ended any insurance the Hens were hoping to get.

In the bottom of the ninth Trey Wingenter came in to close out the Clippers as his first batter hit a single into left field and his second batter faced he walked on just four pitches. He then got a groundout but it did advance both runners 90 feet. Wingenter then struck out the next batter and got a pop out to center field ending the game 7-3 in favor of the Hens.

The Mud Hens and Clippers continue their series tomorrow with the first pitch set at 7:00 pm.

Notables:

Keider Montero (4.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 5 K)

Akil Baddoo (2-5, 2 H, RBI, BB)

Justyn-Henry Malloy (1-4, 2 RBI, 2 BB)

Jace Jung (2-4, RBI)

Riley Unroe (2-4, 2 2B, BB)