Hens rally to gain a split

5/16/2004

LOUISVILLE - Toledo s rally came up short in the first game but was successful in the second as the Mud Hens split their doubleheader with Louisville last night.

Louisville starter Jung Keun Bong (3-4) had one of his better outings of the season in the second game. The right-handed native of South Korea limited Toledo to two hits until Joe Vitiello unloaded a two-run homer to right-center field in the sixth for a 2-1 lead. Marcus Thames walked to reach ahead of Vitiello.

Bong left the game in the top of the seventh after Warren Morris reached on first baseman Aaron Holbert s error. The umpire ruled Morris safe when Holbert dropped the throw from second baseman Felipe Lopez. But Morris went to the dugout instead of staying on the base. After a long discussion amongst the umpires, Morris returned to first. Louisville manager Rick Burleson s protests were to no avail.

Juan Cerros relieved Bong and seemed to fall behind every hitter. Toledo got a sacrifice fly from Thames, and a bases-loaded walk to Mike DiFelice made it 4-1.

Adrian Burnside (1-1) picked up the win for Toledo with Franklyn German earning his 10th save.

The Bats scored on catcher Steve Lomasney s two-out home run in the second.

Lomasney also played a part in saving a run in third, chasing down a wild pitch and throwing to Bong in time to get Brant Ust trying to score from third.

Louisville scored all of its runs in the first three innings of the opener, jumping to a 7-1 advantage. The Hens scored four runs in the sixth but didn t mount another serious threat.

Cincinnati Reds slugger Austin Kearns delivered in the first and second innings for Louisville, both times with Felipe Lopez on first base and Jermaine Clark at second. Kearns, on a rehabilitation stint (left forearm fracture), grounded into what should have been a first-inning double play. But the ball got by second baseman Morris, allowing Clark to score and Lopez to move to second.

When the Hens turned a double play, it looked like starter Pat Ahearne (3-2) would escape further harm. But Bobby Darula followed Jim Chamblee s single with an RBI triple to make the score 3-0.

In the second Toledo pulled within 3-1 on Eric Owens sacrifice fly,

With two outs, Clark walked and Lopez singled. This time, Kearns crushed a 2-1 offering on a line over the wall in left field for a 6-1 Bats lead.

It looked like this one would be a rout after Jim Chamblee led off the fourth with a home run, but Toledo rallied in the bottom half.

Thames led off with a home run, his team-leading 10th. That was also the Hens first hit. plated three more runs on Danny Klassen s RBI double and sacrifice flies by Owens and Ust.

Louisville reliever Aaron Myette (2-1) worked the final three innings.

NOTE: Toledo reliever and Louisville native Matt Anderson entered the game in the sixth inning with two on and two out and needed three pitches - all over 90 mph - to retire Clark on a fly out.