Homers help Hens again to victory
6/12/2010ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Toledo Mud Hens continued their “home run derby” against Lehigh Valley Friday night, clearing the fences for two more home runs to help clinch an 8-4 victory.
Toledo smashed five home runs Thursday, accounting for all but one run in a doubleheader sweep of the Iron Pigs.
It might have looked as if maybe the Mud Hens batters were a little tired last night when the first two hitters "only" managed a double (Scott Sizemore) and a triple (Wilkin Ramirez) as the Hens grabbed an early two-run lead.
But by the time the eighth inning came around, however, it was back to showing off Toledo's home run power.
Jeff Larish, the first man up in the eighth, homered (No. 8) to right to break a 4-all tie.
Ryan Strieby then applied the clincher in the ninth as his sixth home run of the season with Ramirez and Larish on base gave the Hens their final four-run advantage.
Reliever Brendan Wise, the fourth Toledo pitcher, was the recipient of the late surge for the victory. He came in to get the final out in the seventh inning and finished the game. Ruddy Lugo started and was followed by Scot Drucker and Daniel Schlereth.
Toledo scored single runs in the third and fourth. In the third, Frazier singled, then scored on an error on Strieby's grounder.
In the fourth, Brent Dlugach singled, then stole second and third before scampering home on Jeff Kunkle's single.