Hens' Porcello gives Parrish record-tying victory

6/25/2010

LOUISVILLE - Rick Porcello, who was demoted from Detroit on Sunday, was impressive in his Toledo debut, throwing eight innings of one-hit ball in leading the Mud Hens to a 5-1 win at Louisville Thursday night.

Porcello allowed just a fifth-inning double by Juan Francisco, one walk, and one unearned run while striking out three in eight innings to give Hens manager Larry Parrish his 540th victory in Toledo, tying Cal Ermer for the franchise record.

The 21-year-old Porcello is the second pitcher demoted by the Tigers to throw eight innings of one-hit ball in his first Mud Hens start. The other was Max Scherzer, who turned the trick on May 20 against Durham.

Porcello faced the minimum 12 batters in the first four frames, allowing only a walk to Francisco in the second - and Francisco was erased on a double play.

With one out in the fifth, Francisco doubled, then came home when the next batter, Ryan Hanigan, reached base on a throwing error by Brent Dlugach. Porcello got the next batter, Todd Frazier, to hit into a double play.

Casey Fien pitched a scoreless ninth to close out the win.

Meanwhile, the Mud Hen offense scored twice in both the second and third innings to give Porcello some breathing room.

Ryan Strieby led off the second by drawing a walk from Bats starter Ben Jukich, and one out later Wilkin Ramirez hammered his third home run.

In the third, Will Rhymes led off with a bunt single, then stole second. Rhymes moved to third on a single by Dlugach, who also stole second. Strieby walked, and Jeff Larish drew a walk that forced in a run.

Ramirez then beat out an infield single that scored Dlugach.

Toledo added a gift run in the fifth when Jeff Frazier led off by reaching first base on a strikeout that came on a wild pitch. He moved to second on a single by Strieby and came home on a single by Larish.

The Mud Hens finished their scoring with an unearned run in the ninth thanks to a pair of Louisville errors.

The Hens begin a four-game series in Indianapolis tonight.

Ramirez was named to the World Team in the All-Star Futures Game, which will be played Sunday, July 11, in Anaheim.

Ramirez, who also played in the 2008 Futures Game, had 15 home runs and 42 RBIs for Double-A Erie, ranking among the Eastern League leaders in both categories before his promotion to Toledo.

LHP Andy Oliver, who will be promoted from Double-A Erie to start for the Tigers tonight in Atlanta, was chosen for the U.S. Team in the Futures Game.

The Mud Hens placed 2B Scott Sizemore on the disabled list yesterday with a hip strain. IF Justin Henry, who was hitting .274 with a home run and 13 RBIs in 54 games with Erie, was promoted to take Sizemore's place.

On Wednesday Toledo added RHP Zach Simons from Double-A Erie and sent LHP Matt Hoffman to the SeaWolves.