Mud Hens hobble Bisons

4/14/2008

BUFFALO - Yesterday was about wiping the slate clean and getting back in the win column. That's just what the Mud Hens did, in edging the Buffalo Bisons 6-4.

Jeff Larish (2-for-4) had a pair of doubles, and Matt Joyce (1-for-4) hit a two-run home run in front an announced crowd of 5,540 at Dunn Tire Park.

The Hens (7-3) combined 13 total hits, error-free defense, and good situational hitting to register the win, after dropping a tough 3-0 loss to Buffalo on a cold Saturday.

"[Saturday] was just one of those days you've got to write off and today the weather was better and we came back out and we swung the bats well," said Mud Hens manager Larry Parrish.

Mud Hens starter Eddie Bonine (2-0) went six innings for the win. Bonine gave up two earned runs, struck out four, while issuing a walk and hitting one batter.

With Toledo up 3-1 in the fourth, the Bisons (4-7), having already scored once in the fourth, had chance to do more damage as they had two runners in scoring position with one out.

But Bonine escaped the jam by striking out Andy Gonzalez and Brad Snyder back to back

Bisons starter Matt Ginter (0-1) went 52/3 innings, striking out six and giving up five earned runs in a losing effort.

Matt Joyce's home run - the fourth of the season and his Triple-A career came off Ginter in the sixth that scored Jeff Larish to extend the Mud Hens lead to 5-1.

"The home run I saw great, every other at-bat I didn't see [the ball] well," Joyce quipped.

"As long as you get that one that you see well and you hit that one good, that helps."

Ben Francisco went 3-for-4 for a Bisons team that plated two runs in the seventh to close the gap to 6-4, but they couldn't get any closer.

Derek Wathan went 3-for-4 and Brent Clevlen had a solo shot in the fourth inning that put the Mud Hens up 3-0.

Hens closer Blaine Neal worked a scoreless ninth to notch his third save.

"[Saturday] was a tough game I don't think it was as bad of a loss as some people might think," said Joyce.