Hens blow one to Lynx
5/2/2003OTTAWA, Ont. - The Toledo Mud Hens couldn't decide on being heroes or martyrs last night in Ottawa against the Lynx. They decided on martyrs.
After blowing a 4-0 lead, the Hens blew an opportunity to get in some extra swings as the Lynx scored in the bottom of the ninth for a 6-5 win.
Actually it was Danny Klassen and A.J. Hinch who looked like they would wear the hero labels, as they combined for five hits, two runs and four runs batted in.
Steve Avery gave up a one-out double to Eddy Garabito that allowed Steve Lomasney to score from second base with the winning run. Garabito also doubled home a pair of runs in the seventh inning to give the Lynx a 5-4 lead.
Lynx first baseman Carlos Mendez started the comeback with a three-run home run off Hens starter Nate Robertson in the sixth inning. It was the third home run and ninth RBI for Mendez in the last two games.
“The way [Robertson] was pitching, he didn't give up much until that hit. Mendez got a ball up and he hit it pretty well,” said Hens manager Larry Parrish.
“But he made the cardinal sin that inning and walked the leadoff guy. We thought he was still good up to that point.”
Robertson did have a 4-0 lead to work with when he took to the mound in the bottom of the sixth inning. Hiram Bocachica and Kevin Witt both singled to start the fourth off Lynx starter John Stephens. Both scored thanks to a Derek Nicholson sacrifice fly and a single by Klassen.
The Hens added two more runs in the sixth inning off reliever Rigo Beltran when Hinch doubled to bring home Nicholson and Klassen. Stephens was knocked out of the game when Nicholson's liner hit him in the ankle and sent him to hospital for x-rays.
Lynx closer Mike Garcia couldn't hold the Hens back in the ninth, allowing the tying run. Klassen singled before Hinch cracked his second double of the game to bring him home.
Garcia (1-1) blew the save but ended up with the win. Avery (0-1) took the loss.
“They did a good job,” Klassen said of the Lynx. “It's tough to come back on a [chilly] night like this.”
Shane Loux (3-0) will start the second game of the series for the Hens tonight at 6:05 against Sean Douglass (2-3).