Miscue in 10th costly for the Hens
4/24/2001FORT MILL, S.C. - Randall Simon's error in the bottom of the 10th inning allowed Chris Ashby to score the winning run as the Charlotte Knights defeated the Toledo Mud Hens 2-1 last night at Knights Stadium.
Ashby opened the frame with a single off Kevin Tolar, the third Toledo pitcher. Mark Johnson walked and Jason Dellaero blooped a single over shortstop Giomar Guevara to load the bases.
Tolar, who fell to 0-2, struck out McKay Christensen before getting Liu Rodriguez to hit a slow roller to Simon at first base. He bobbled it, allowing the winning run to score.
Both of Charlotte's runs were unearned. The Knights scored their other run in the second to take a 1-0 lead. Joe Crede was safe on Guevara's error and scored on Jeff Inglin's double to left center.
The Hens tied the count in the sixth. Marty Gazarek opened the frame with a double. He moved to third on a sacrifice by Guevara and scored on Simon's line-drive single to right field.
Both starting pitchers did well. Toledo's Adam Pettyjohn went seven innings, allowing only four hits and one run. He struck out six and walked none.
After Inglin's double in the second, he retired 15 of the next 16 batters, including 10 in a row. After hitting Jeff Liefer with two out in the sixth, he allowed one more hit before being lifted.
Charlotte's Kip Wells also worked seven innings. He allowed four hits and one earned run. He fanned eight and walked only two. He retired 15 of 17 batters at one point, including eight in a row.
Toledo had a chance to score in the seventh and 10th. David Lindstrom doubled with two out, but Pedro Santana grounded to third to end the inning.
Jarrod Patterson opened the 10th with a single. But Santana and Gazarek flied out to end the threat.
Game 2 in the three-game series is tonight at 7:15. The Hens' Shane Loux (2-0, 6.75 ERA) will go against Matt Ginter (0-1, 3.38) as the Hens try to break their four-game losing streak.