Toledo claims 11-3 victory, finishes sweep of Norfolk

7/21/2011

NORFOLK, Va. — The Mud Hens cruised to an 11-3 victory Thursday to finish a four-game sweep of the Norfolk Tides at Harbor Park.

The victory was the sixth in a row for Toledo, aided in large part by right fielder Ben Guez who went 4-for-5 including a home run in the sixth inning off Will Startup.

After a scoreless first, the Mud Hens put up four runs in the second inning as Guez, Max St. Pierre, Will Rhymes, and Argenis Diaz each contributed with a RBI at the expense of Tides pitcher Brian Matusz (0-3).

Toledo added a fifth run in the third ining.

With two outs and no one on, Clete Thomas drew a walk and stole second. Iorg hit a line drive-double to left, scoring Thomas.

The Tides’ Jake Fox closed Toledo’s lead to 5-3 after he drove a three-run home run over the left field wall off Hens starter Brayan Villarreal
(2-5).

The Hens stretched their lead again the fourth.

For the second straight inning, the Hens had a two-out rally.

Toledo tallied five two-out runs with the highlight of the inning
being Thomas’ three-run shot that was driven over the right center fence.

Guez got his third RBI of the contest as he belted a solo homer over the left field wall in the sixth.

Villarreal giving up three runs on five hits in six innings, while striking out two and walking two.

Matusz lasted 3⅔ innings, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits. He struck out two.

The Mud Hens will travel to Durham to begin a four-game series at 7 Friday night.

The Hens return to Toledo on Tuesday for an eight-game homestand with games against Norfolk and Syracuse.

NOTES: The Hens last successful four-game series sweep on the road was in April this year against Syracuse. ... The last Mud Hen to get four hits in a game was Timo Perez on May 3 at Pawtucket.