Torkelson/Cameron go back-to-back in series win

TOLEDO, Ohio – Leading the series 3-2, the Mud Hens were seeking to win their second series over the Louisville Bats. For today’s series finale, Josh Lester came in riding on an eight-game hitting streak. Before today’s game he was 10 for his last 35 at-bats. He looked to keep his hitting streak alive. Michael Pineda made his second rehab assignment of the series, hoping to duplicate his last outing on Tuesday. In his last outing, he struck out six batters in four innings of work. He would give up only three hits and just one run.

The Bats struck first in the opening inning, as Leonardo Rivas hit a single to center, with Stephen Piscotty hitting a double to left, driving in Rivas. Piscotty would move to third on an error by Toledo, throwing the ball to the plate. Pineda would strike the next batter, Cristian Santana on three pitches. Then, Juniel Querecuto would single to left, scoring Piscotty, giving Louisville a 2-0 lead. The inning would end on a caught stealing, as Ali Sanchez threw out Querecuto.

In the bottom half of the inning, Josh Lester would extend his hitting streak to nine games. He would hit an infield single to first base, but the Hens would fail to score. In the top half of the second, Pineda would settle in, as he tallied a 1-2-3 inning with obtaining another strikeout.

The Mud Hens would respond in the third, as John Valente would lead off with a stand-up triple. His triple puts him at a six-game hitting streak. Ali Sanchez would drive him in on a ground ball, making it a 2-1 game in favor of the Bats. However, the Mud Hens would put up a crooked inning in the fourth, as they scored three runs. Josh Lester would lead off the inning with a walk. Then, Spencer Torkelson and Daz Cameron would go back-to-back in home runs. Both home runs came on 0-2 counts, as the Hens now led 4-2. After the home runs, a couple of walks and a single by Andre Lipcius would load the bases, with one away. The Bats would stop the bleeding on a 5-4-3 double play.

In the top half of the fifth, Michael Pineda would post another shutout inning. With two away, Isaiah Gilliam would beat the shift, hitting a groundball down the third base line. Josh Lester would throw him out at second, as the Bats would fail to threaten. Pineda would finish his five strong innings, giving up just two runs on five hits. During the process he struck out four batters and allowed no walks.

The Mud Hens would tally another run in the sixth inning, as Brendon Davis hit a solo shot to left field off the Fifth Third Field scoreboard. The Mud Hens now had a 5-2 lead after Davis’s seventh homer of the season.

With the score remaining the same, the Bats would threaten in the eighth inning. Eric Yang would lead off the inning with a single to left, followed by a double by Isiah Gilliam. Angel De Jesus would retire Lorenzo Cedrola on a ground ball to first, and strike out the next batter, Leonardo Rivas. De Jesus would escape the inning, retiring Stephen Piscotty.

The Mud Hens won today’s game with a score of 6-2. The sixth run came off a bases loaded walk, as Ryan Kreidler would drive in his 22nd RBI of the season. Andre Lipcius has now reached over the .300 column, as he went 2-3 for today’s game. Along with the impressive offense, the Toledo bullpen was flawless, going four total innings, allowing three hits, no walks, and obtaining four strikeouts. Luis Castillo, Miguel Del Pozo, Angel De Jesus, and Nick Vincent would each tally an inning of work. Castillo, Del Pozo, and De Jesus each obtained a hold, as a result.

NOTABLE BATTERS:

Spencer Torkelson: 2-3, HR, 2 RBI, R, BB

Daz Cameron: 1-4, HR, RBI, R, 3 K

Brendon Davis: 1-3, HR, RBI, R, BB, K

Andre Lipcius: 2-3, R, BB

NOTABLE PITCHER:

Michael Pineda: GS, W (1-2), 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

NEXT UP: The Mud Hens will head to Rochester after their series victory. They will look have a better outcome than last series, only winning two out of the six games. Last time up, the Mud Hens were victorious after a walk-off home run by Josh Lester. First pitch is set for 7:05pm ET.