Lester powers two doubles in loss 

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Coming in without a loss in the current series, the Mud Hens were looking to take game four in Columbus. Along with seeking to win tonight’s game, Toledo was looking to reach ten games over .500 for the first time this year, and to creep up in the International League West standings. The Mud Hens were in third place in the division, trailing the first place Nashville Sounds by 6.5 games. Toledo was sitting below Columbus by four games, as the Clippers only trailed Nashville by 2.5 games. LHP Ricardo Sanchez made his Mud Hens debut for tonight’s game, after being acquired by Detroit via trade for cash considerations from Philadelphia. He was previously pitching for the Leigh Valley Iron Pigs, before coming to Toledo.

Tonight’s game was a pitching duel for the first three innings, as LHP Ricardo Sanchez would battle by not giving up an earned run. However, a single and an error would cost the Mud Hens a run in the second, as they trailed 1-0 through three. It would take until the fourth inning for the Mud Hens to get into the hit column, as Josh Lester would hit a double to center, with one away. Next batter, Spencer Torkelson would walk, but the Mud Hens would fail to bring in any runs.

Heading into the fifth inning with the same score, LHP Ricardo Sanchez was feeling determined to win the pitching duel against Columbus’s Peyton Battenfield, as he struck out the side in order, giving him four total for tonight’s game. After he struck out the side, Josh Lester would hit his second double of the night in the top half of the sixth. Lester now has 34 doubles on the season, which leads the team. The Mud Hens would again fail to bring him in, as the game remained 1-0.

With a crooked inning still bound to occur, the Columbus Clippers would do just that in the sixth. After a leadoff double to begin the bottom half of the sixth, followed by a walk, the Clippers would hit a three-run blast off the bat of Bo Naylor. The big swing would end the night for LHP Ricardo Sanchez, as he would tally five innings of work in his Toledo debut. Despite the home run, he would only allow three earned runs, and just one walk, along with tallying the four strikeouts. The Clippers would tally another home run in the inning, this time off the bat of George Valera. His first homer of the year gave Columbus a 5-0 lead, as the game headed into the seventh inning.

The Mud Hens were looking to respond fast after the momentum shift from the previous inning. Daz Cameron would lead off with a single, following a ground out to move him to second. Jamie Westbrook would hit his 17th double of the year, scoring Cameron. Westbrook’s 37th RBI of the year cut the lead down to a 5-1 score. The Clippers would respond with another run in the bottom half of the inning, taking back their five-run lead.

In the eighth, the Clippers would obtain their third home run of the night. George Valera would hit his second home run of the game, increasing their lead to a 7-1 score. The Mud Hens would have one last chance in the ninth, and they did not go down without a fight. With one out in the bottom half of the ninth, Jamie Westbrook would single to center, along with John Valente tallying an infield hit. Following a flyout, Zack Short would hit his 26th double of the year to score both Valente and Westbrook, cutting the lead down to a 7-3 score. Ryan Kreidler would follow up with a ground-rule double, bringing the Columbus lead down to a 7-4 score. That would be all the fight the Mud Hens had left, as Columbus took game four of the series.

Despite tonight’s loss, the Mud Hens tallied four doubles tonight. Two of them came off the bat of Josh Lester. The Mud Hens had three multi-hit batters for tonight’s game, including John Valente. He continues to put up solid numbers when he is in the starting lineup. Josh Lester now leads the team with 24 multi-hit games this season.

NOTABLE BATTERS:

Zack Short: 1-5, R, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K

Ryan Kreidler: 1-4, 2B, RBI, BB, 2K

Josh Lester: 2-5, 2 2B, 2 K

Jamie Westbrook: 2-4, R, 2B, RBI, K

John Valente: 2-4, R

NEXT UP: The Mud Hens 5-game winning streak may have come down to an end tonight, but they will have a chance to clinch their first series win over the Columbus Clippers this season. Tomorrow, RHP Bryan Garcia (1-2, 3.86 ERA). will look to lead the way for the Mud Hens, as he will be on the mound for Toledo. He will take on Columbus’s RHP Cody Morris (0-0, 3.00 ERA). First pitch is set to be at 7:05pm.