Skubal dominates rehab appearance in Mud Hens win

Allentown, PA- The Toledo Mud Hens beat the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 4-3 in an extra-inning thriller.

Nick Nelsonmade the start for Lehigh Valley on the mound. Nelson had a 3.86 ERA entering the game and a 0-0 record on the season, making his eighth start on the rubber.

Tarik Skubal made his first appearance with Mud Hens in a rehab start as he looks to work his way back to Detroit. Skubal is making his third rehab start of the season, making two previous starts with West Michigan.

Through the first three innings of play, each team was held scoreless. Great starting pitching from both sides leads to each team having just one hit. Skubal finished his day for the Mud Hens pitching three innings and striking out five IronPig hitters in an excellent rehab start.

Bryan Sammons entered the game in the fourth inning for the Mud Hens and picked up where Skubal left off, putting up a zero on the scoreboard.

Nick Nelson was replaced by Trey Cobb in the fifth inning for the IronPigs. Joe Rizzo greeted Cobb with a leadoff double to become the second runner in scoring position so far in the game for the Mud Hens. Cobb was able to get two outs but Parker Meadows smoked a homerun out to right field to give the Mud Hens a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the IronPigs responded with two of their own. Two walks and a single loaded up the bases for the IronPigs with just one out before Estaban Quiroz roped a single centerfield to score two runs and tie the game at 2-2.

Taylor Lehman came to pitch the sixth inning for the IronPigs and worked around a one-out double from Andre Lipcius to end the inning without giving up a run.

Seth Ellege came in from the bullpen to pitch the last out of the fifth and the sixth inning for the Mud Hens and kept the game tied heading into the late innings.

Both bullpens kept the game tied at two going into the ninth inning.

Jace Vines kept the Mud Hens scoreless in the top of the ninth inning for the IronPigs. Miguel Diaz pitched the bottom of the ninth of the Mud Hens and got into trouble after a one-out double from Simon Muzziotti and an infield single from Scott Kingery put runners on second and third with one out. Miguel Diaz bounced back in a big way for the Mud Hens, striking out the next two batters he faced to force the game into extras.

Jermey Walker pitched the tenth inning for the IronPigs to kick off extra innings, and retired the side in order, stranding the free runner at second base.

Aneurys Zabala pitched the tenth inning from the Mud Hens. Zabala got a flyout on the first batter he faced which allowed the free runner to advance to third with one out. Zabala then got a shallow fly out to left field but it wasn't deep enough to score the runner. With two outs and runners on second and third, Zabala stuck out the final batter of the inning to take the game into the eleventh inning.

The Mud Hens got runners on the corners with one out. Andre Lipcius hit a sac fly out to the left field that scored what was the free runner to give the Hens a 3-2 lead in the top of the inning. In the bottom of the inning, the IronPigs struck back scoring their free runner and tying the game at three.

In the top of the twelfth inning, the Mud Hens were able to score the free runner thanks to a single from Michael Papierski to take a 4-3. In the bottom of the inning, Matt Wisler came in and shut the door on the IronPigs, retiring the side in order and take the victory in LeHigh Valley.

NOTABLES:

Tarik Skubal: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K

Parker Meadows:1-6, R, 2 RBI, HR

Joe Rizzo: 1-4, R, BB, 2B

Andre Lipcius: 2-4, RBI, 2B