Mud Hens enter all-star break with win

7/14/2013

LOUISVILLE — The Mud Hens will enter the all-star break on a two-game winning streak after beating Louisville 11-3 Sunday.

Toledo scored four times in both the third and fifth innings, then added a three-run seventh to beat the Bats for the second straight game.

The Hens outscored Louisville 21-3 in the two-game series.

Blaine Hardy started for Toledo in place of Pat Misch and gave up solo home runs in the first two innings. The Bats got a solo home run from Neftali Soto, his 11th this season, in the first, and in the second Nevin Ashley hit his fifth homer of the year.

In the third inning Toledo used singles by Avisail Garcia and Nick Castellanos sandwiched around a walk to Danny Worth to load the bases with one out. Danny Dorn quickly unloaded them by hammering the first pitch from Chad Rogers over the fence in right for a grand slam, his 19th home run of the season.

In the fifth Worth led off with a double. After a one-out intentional walk to Dorn, Ben Guez singled in Worth. Mike Cervenak drew a walk that loaded the bases, and Bryan Holaday singled to left to bring home Dorn.

Kevin Russo grounded into a fielder’s choice that plated Guez, and Argenis Diaz beat out a grounder into the hole at shortstop for a single that allowed Cervenak to score.

In the seventh Toledo took advantage of the wildness of Bats reliever Jose Arredondo as Cervenak was hit by a pitch with one out and Holaday walked. With two outs, a single by Diaz scored one run, and a double by Worth scored two more.

That was more than enough offense as Hardy allowed just two runs on five hits in five innings to earn the win. Jose Ortega gave up a home run to Jason Donald in the seventh, the only run he allowed in two innings, while Jess Todd threw two scoreless innings to close out the victory.

NOTE: The Tigers also promoted pitcher Jon Link to Toledo from Double-A Erie. Link was 3-1 with a 1.13 ERA in five starts for the SeaWolves.