Louisville breezes by Mud Hens

8/5/2008

LOUISVILLE - Aaron Harang hung six shutout innings on Toledo as the Louisville Bats blistered the Mud Hens 11-0 last night.

The crowd of 8,820 at Louisville Slugger Field witnessed the second-most lopsided loss of the season for the Hens, who were routed at Rochester 13-0 July 22.

The defeat dropped the Mud Hens six games back of International League West-leading Louisville.

Harang, sent down from Cincinnati on a rehab assignment after going on the disabled list in early July with a strained right forearm, handled the Mud Hens with ease.

"He threw very well. His fastball had life to it," Louisville manager Rick Sweet said. "He was free and easy and he felt good. Whether he's ready to go back, that's their call. But he looked healthy to me."

Meanwhile, Toledo starter Yorman Bazardo had trouble finding the strike zone as the Bats rocked him for 10 runs on eight hits over 31/3 innings.

Louisville finished with 13 hits to Toledo's seven.

"We had a tough time getting them out," Toledo manager Larry Parrish said.

Bazardo's control problems began in the second inning. He walked three to load the bases, then on a full-count pitch with two outs he hit No. 9 hitter Paul Janish to force in a run. The next batter, Chris Dickerson, cleared the bases with a double to right field as Louisville took a 4-0 lead.

The Bats scored once in the third. Adam Rosales used three bats, he broke the first two, for a leadoff double to center field. He moved to third on Kevin Barker's groundout, then scored on Drew Anderson's single.

The Bats' onslaught continued in the fourth. Michael Griffin singled with one out, then Janish doubled down the third base line to score him. Dickerson followed with his fourth RBI of the game on a single to center. Then Rosales delivered an RBI double to chase Bazardo (4-8).

Ian Ostlund came on in relief and walked the first batter he faced, struck out the second, then gave up a two-run single to Ryan Hanigan. The runs were charged to Bazardo.

It was the third straight loss for Bazardo, but the thing that made this a bizarre outing was the four walks. He had walked a combined six in his last five starts, and he hadn't allowed more than four runs in any of those outings.

Two plays in the sixth inning epitomized the night for the Mud Hens.

In the top of the inning Freddy Guzman grounded out to second, but he never got out of the batter's box. He slipped and watched the throw to first from his knees.

Then in the bottom of the inning right fielder Brent Clevlen lost a fly ball in the twilight and it hit the ground behind him.

Louisville forced Toledo to use five pitchers.

"We've got a couple scouts in town and they've seen everybody in the bullpen, some of them twice," Parrish quipped.