Oliver shuts down Bats as Hens get win

Left-hander outduels ex-Reds starter Volquez

8/23/2011

LOUISVILLE -- Andy Oliver was faced with a big challenge Monday night, and he passed with flying colors, getting the victory in Toledo's 3-2 win over Louisville.

Oliver was matched up against Louisville's Edinson Volquez -- the Reds' opening day starter -- and he held the Bats to one run and three hits in seven innings. Oliver started the game by striking out five of the first six batters he faced. He didn't surrender his first hit until Juan Francisco led off the fourth inning with a double.

The Bats pushed across the game's first run in the fifth.

Oliver started the inning by giving up a pair of singles and a walk. Kristopher Negron then drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to left.

However, Oliver escaped any additional trouble, which turned out to be key because Volquez was mowing down the Hens. The right-hander set down the first 15 batters he faced.

However, the Hens broke through in the sixth when Jeff Salazar opened the frame with a walk. Danny Worth got the Hens' first hit and produced their first run when he smacked an RBI double to center to bring Salazar around to score. Following an Omir Santos sacrifice bunt, the Hens took the lead when Andy Dirks blooped a single to center to drive in Worth.

The Bats had an opportunity for a big inning in the seventh when their first two hitters reached base. However, the momentum of the entire inning turned when Negron attempted a sacrifice.

It appeared at first that Negron could have been hit by the pitch. However, the home plate umpire decided that Negron made an attempt to bunt and a strike was a called. With the runners dashing for second and third on the bunt attempt, Santos nailed the runner at third.

Toledo pushed across an insurance run in the eighth. Worth started the inning with a leadoff walk, then stole second, and advanced to third on a Santos sacrifice bunt.

Will Rhymes singled in Worth to extend Toledo's lead to 3-1.

The Bats got a run closer in the eighth when Jeremy Hermida drove in a run with a single. However, Enrique Gonzalez struck out the side in the ninth to earn his 10th save.