Mud Hens feel heat in Louisville

6/24/2010

LOUISVILLE - The sweltering temperature wasn't the only heat the Mud Hens faced Wednesday in a 7-4 loss to the Bats.

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Edinson Volquez made his first rehabilitation start for Louisville, pitching five innings during the matinee matchup with the Mud Hens in which the radar gun equaled the mid-90s thermometer readings at Louisville Slugger Field.

Volquez, a 2008 all-star with the Reds, allowed three hits and one earned run on 80 pitches.

The Mud Hens scored first on a sacrifice fly by Will Rhymes in the top of the third inning.

But the lead did not last long as the Bats scored in the bottom of the inning and took the lead for good on Todd Frazier's two-run homer in the fourth, his ninth of the season.

Frazier went 2 for 4 with three RBIs and was matched by teammate Zack Cozart, who also drove in three runs by going 2 for 4 at the plate.

The Mud Hens challenged in the eighth when Jeff Frazier hit his International League-leading 24th double of the season and later scored on a single by Ryan Strieby, who went 3 for 4 with two RBIs.

Wilkin Ramirez, who went 2 for 3 with two runs, hit his second homer of the season, a solo shot in the ninth to pull the Hens within three.

Aroldis Chapman (1-0), another flamethrower on the Reds'

horizon, earned the win in his first career relief appearance. Ruddy Lugo (2-4) took the loss for Hens, allowing nine hits and four earned runs.

The Hens conclude their series with the Bats at 7:05 p.m. today.