Mud Hens score 7 runs on 7 hits in 7th
5/29/2004OTTAWA, Ont. - The Toledo Mud Hens turned the tables on the Ottawa Lynx this year.
The Hens won the season series 6-2 following last night s 11-2 win at Lynx Stadium. They split the four-game series after losing the first two games.
In the 2003 season, the Lynx swept the Hens in Ottawa and won the season series 6-2.
“Especially after you lose the first two, you have to be happy to leave with the split,” said manager Larry Parrish.
Last night the Hens exploded for seven runs on seven hits in the seventh inning, Lucky 7-7-7. Four of those runs came off Lynx starter Brian Forystek (2-3), as did single runs in the first, second and fourth innings. The final four runs were off reliever Andrew Lorraine.
“All on a difficult night. It was cold and windy out there,” Parrish said.
Hens starter Shane Loux (4-5) yielded just two hits through six innings, but his offense was his worst enemy. The seven-run seventh kept Loux in the dugout for an extended period in the sub 50-degree temperature.
When he came out in the bottom of the inning, the Lynx broke up the shutout with two runs on two hits.
“Our guy threw well,” said Parrish. “That was a long inning for him to have to go back out there on that kind of night. I don t think he was quite as sharp.”
“When you get a big lead like that sometimes you sort of have a letdown. You think you don t have to be as sharp.”
Jimmy Hayes and Eric Eckenstahler each threw an inning of shutout relief.
Center fielder Nook Logan led the offense with four hits and three runs batted in. First baseman Joe Vitiello continued to assault International League pitchers; he had three more hits including two doubles, and had two RBIs.
The Hens will begin a four games series in Rochester tonight. Andy Van Hekken (3-2) will start for Toledo, while the Red Wings will send Pete Munro (6-2) to the hill.
Outfielder/designated hitter Dmitri Young is expected to join Toledo for a two-game rehabilitation assignment today and may be activated by the Tigers on Monday, according to Detroit manager Alan Trammell. He has been out since the second game of the season with a broken bone in his leg.