TOLEDO – The Toledo Mud Hens defeated the Columbus Clippers 8-3 on Thursday night at Fifth Third Field.

The pitching matchup consisted of Spencer Turnbull for the Mud Hens and Joey Cantillo for the Clippers.

Brayan Rocchio ambushed Turnbull for a leadoff single. Turnbull would strikeout Oscar Gonzalez for the first out of the game. Kyle Manzardo walked to put a second runner on base. Johnathan Rodriguez would strikeout and Jhonkensy Noel would lineout to end the inning, getting Turnbull out of the jam.

Cantillo would get two quick outs, getting Nick Maton and Justyn-Henry Malloy both to groundout. Colt Keith and Eddys Leonard drew back-to-back walks, followed by a three-run home run by Ryan Kreidler, putting the Mud Hens up 3-0 early. Cantillo would strikeout Justice Bigbie to end the inning.

Turnbull would strikeout George Valera for the first out of the second inning. Angel Martinez drew a one-out walk. Bryan Lavastida and Daniel Schneemann clubbed back-to-back singles, Schneemann’s single would drive in a run, making it 3-1 Mud Hens. Turnbull would strikeout Rocchio to finish his outing. Turnbull hadn’t pitched in almost a month, so a low pitch count was expected. Brendan White would enter, getting Gonzalez to popout to end the inning. That would close the book on Turnbull after 1.2 innings pitched, allowing one run on three hits, two walks and four strikeouts.

After a rough first inning, Cantillo would retire the Mud Hens in order in the second inning. Both Michael Papierski and Donny Sands grounded out and Dillon Dingler struck out to end the inning.

White returned for the third inning, getting the Clippers in order. Manzardo lined out to begin the inning, and back-to-back strikeouts of Rodriguez and Noel would end the inning. That would close the book on White after 1.1 innings pitched with two strikeouts.

Cantillo would get Maton to flyout to begin the third inning. Malloy would walk to draw closer to the single-season record. Keith would popout for the second out. Leonard singled to put a second runner on base, but both would be stranded as Kreidler popped out to end the inning.

Sam Clay would enter to pitch the fourth inning for the Mud Hens. Clay would retire the Clippers in order, getting Valera to flyout, striking out Martinez, and getting Lavastida to flyout to end the inning.

Cantillo would get two quick outs in the fourth inning, striking out Bigbie and getting Papierski to groundout. Sands drew a two-out walk and Dingler doubled to start a threat for the Mud Hens. Cantillo would strikeout Maton to end the inning.

Clay would return to pitch the fifth inning. Clay would get both Schneemann and Rocchio to groundout to start the fifth inning. Gonzalez would single and Manzardo would club a game-tying two-run home run, knotting the game at 3-3. Clay would get Rodriguez to groundout to end the inning. That would close the book on Clay after 2.0 innings pitched, allowing two runs on two hits (one home run) with one strikeout.

Cantillo would retire the Mud Hens in order again in the fifth inning. Malloy would strikeout, Keith would groundout and Leonard would strikeout to end the inning.

Layne Henderson would enter to pitch the sixth inning for the Mud Hens. Noel would hit a leadoff single, but would be erased as Valera grounded into a double play. Henderson would get Martinez to flyout to end the inning. That would close the book on Henderson after 1.0 inning, allowing one hit. Henderson would claim the win, improving to 2-1 on the season.

Cantillo would strikeout both Bigbie and Papierski to begin the sixth inning, but that would end the night for Cantillo. Cantillo would leave after 5.2 innings pitched, allowing four runs on four hits (two home runs) with four walks and eight strikeouts. Cantillo would take the loss, falling to 5-4 on the season. Cade Smith would enter, getting Sands to flyout to end the inning.

Rony Garcia would enter to pitch the seventh inning for the Mud Hens. Garcia would strikeout both Lavastida and Schneemann to begin the inning. Rocchio would single, but was stranded after Gonzalez lined out to end the inning.

Smith would return to pitch the seventh inning. Dingler would strikeout for the first out. Maton would stroke a one-out double to try to add some insurance. Malloy would flyout for the second out. Keith would club a two-run home run, making it 6-3 Mud Hens. Leonard would single, and Kreidler would club a two-run home run, his third of the game! That would make it 8-3 Mud Hens. Smith would strikeout Bigbie to end the inning. That would be the end of the line for Smith after pitching 1.1 innings, allowing four runs on four hits (two home runs) with two strikeouts.

Garcia would remain in the game to pitch the eighth inning for the Mud Hens. Manzardo would flyout to begin the inning. Rodriguez would draw a one-out walk, but would be stranded after Noel struck out and Valera flied out to end the inning. That would close the book on Garcia after pitching 2.0 innings, allowing one hit and one walk with three strikeouts. Garcia would collect his third hold of the season.

Michael Kelly would enter to pitch the eighth inning for the Clippers. Papierski would draw a leadoff walk, but would be erased as Sands grounded into a double play. Kelly would strikeout Dingler to end the inning. Kelly would finish with 1.0 inning pitched, allowing one walk and one strikeout.

Aneurys Zabala would finish it out for the Mud Hens. Zabala would retire the Clippers in order to finish it out. Martinez would flyout, Lavastida would strikeout and then Schneemann would popout to end the game, sealing a 8-3 victory for the Mud Hens. Zabala would finish with 1.0 inning pitched and one strikeout.

NOTABLES:

• Ryan Kreidler: 3-4, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 3 R
• Colt Keith: 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB
• Eddys Leonard: 2-3, 2 R, BB, K
• Brendan White: 1.1 IP, 2 K
• Layne Henderson: W, 1.0 IP, H

The Toledo Mud Hens will remain at Fifth Third Field for game four of the series with the Columbus Clippers, tomorrow, Friday, September 15^th with first pitch coming at 7:05 pm ET.