Hens top Bats

4/16/2009

LOUISVILLE - Toledo Mud Hens manager Larry Parrish came to Louisville hoping he wouldn't have to go to his bullpen too much.

He leaves with a three-game sweep, thanks in large part to his starting pitching.

The Hens held off a late Louisville charge to win 4-3 last night before an announced crowd of 5,492 at Louisville Slugger Field.

Toledo (6-1) used its bullpen early and often in its season-opening series at Indianapolis. Hens' starters accounted for 19 of 401/3 innings there, and at least three relievers pitched in in each of the first four games, thanks to pitch counts and a 14-inning Game 4.

But against the Bats (3-4) Toledo's starters - Ruddy Lugo, Chris Lambert and Scot Drucker - pitched 21 of 27 innings and allowed only nine hits and three earned runs while striking out 21.

"Those three guys did a whale of a job for us," Parrish said.

Last night it was Drucker. The right-hander picked up his first Triple-A victory, shutting out Louisville over six innings and yielding just three hits and two walks while striking out seven in his second start.