Louisville, KY- The Toledo Mud Hens (55-61) defeated the Louisville Bats (52-63) in game one and dropped game two on Thursday, August 13, at Louisville Slugger Field. Today's doubleheader was making up games two and three of the series that repeatedly got postponed due to inclement weather in the area. The forecast has been a consistent obstacle both teams have had to face up to this point in the series. Toledo has shown its dominance so far taking two of the three games that have been played.
Game 1 – W, 5-3
After an 89-minute delay, three quick outs opened the contest for the visiting Hens. Toledo’s defense returned the favor to the home team right after.
Justice Bigbie tallied the first base hit of the day in the second, followed by Cal Stevenson’s sharp double. Back-to-back strikeouts shut the door on the Hens’ scoring opportunity in that frame. The Bats were held hitless again by the Hens in the bottom.
Bennett Lee led off the third with a strong double. Max Anderson came up behind him with a sacrifice straight to back center field and brought Lee home. (1-0)
Sawyer Gipson-Long walked three Bats to load the bases. After a mound visit, Ricky Vanasco replaced the starter out of the bullpen and successfully got the Hens out of the jam.
Jung dropped a double down in the fifth and landed on third after a wild pitch. Josue Briceño walked for runners on the corners. Brett Callahan shot Toledo’s fourth double to the right which brought in Jung and put the Hens up by 2. Bigbie bopped one for another RBI in the inning. (3-0) Bases loaded with Hens caused a Bats pitching change but that didn’t stop Max Burt from knocking a 2RBI-single before getting the third out.
A three-run blast narrowed the gap to two in the bottom of the sixth (5-3). The Hens were able to handle the pressure as they walked away from game one on top.
Game 2 - L, 4-3
The Bats struck first in game two. Edwin Arroyo sent a solo shot into the stands and shortly after, Michael Chavis, knocked a two-run ball out of the park for an early 3-0 lead. Toledo could not answer in the next inning and got sent back to the dugout in order.
The third frame consisted of a leadoff single and then back-to-back home runs off the bats of Seby Zavala and Jace Jung which tied it at three. (3-3)
Toledo missed an opportunity to pull away in the fifth after leaving one man on third when the inning ended.
Bigbie drew a walk in the sixth, then Cal Stevenson was intentionally walked so pitcher, Johnathan Lavallee, could face Max Burt for the final out. Burt grounded into a force out and the inning stopped there.
Still tied at three going into the seventh, neither club pulled ahead and the game went into extra innings.
Louisville loaded the bases which challenged Toledo’s defense in the eighth. A walked in run ultimately sealed game two and finished Louisville on top, 4-3.
The Hens pitching staff only allowed two walks in the second game, number two happening in the extra eighth inning.
Toledo stays in Louisville for game four on Friday, August 14. The matchup has a first pitch time of 7:15p.m. and the Hens look to stay ahead of the Bats in the series.
Notables
Game 1
M. Burt – 1/3, 2RBI
J. Bigbie – 2/4, R, RBI
B. Callahan – 1/3, R, RBI, 2B, BB
Game 2
J. Jung – 2/4, HR, RBI
S. Zavala – 2/2, HR, 2RBI, BB