Wilk, Strieby help Hens close with win

Hens first baseman Ryan Strieby is congratulated by manager Phil Nevin after crushing a home run in the eighth inning Monday. THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY Enlarge | Photo Reprints

The Mud Hens closed the books on the 2011 season with a 3-1 victory over Columbus at Fifth Third Field Monday.

And the final contest provided a sweet finish for several Hens.

One was starter Adam Wilk, who proved that the elbow problems that knocked him onto the disabled list in August are now behind him.

The left-hander allowed just four hits in 3⅓ scoreless innings, throwing strikes with 42 of his 57 pitches and finishing with six strikeouts and no walks.

"His velocity was good, and he threw each of his pitches for strikes," Toledo manager Phil Nevin said of Wilk. "The important thing with Adam is that we know he's healthy.

"Any time you have an elbow thing, you hope the treatment and rest [make it better]. To know that he's back is big."

Wilk was on a pitch-count Monday after pitching only once since Aug. 15. In his last start at Indianapolis, he allowed four hits and four runs in just 2⅓ innings and was saddled with the loss.

"The first couple of innings my velocity wasn't there, but in the last couple of innings it picked up a little bit," Wilk said of that previous start. "But in this start my elbow felt great, and I was able to throw with the crispness that I'm used to.

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"It was a good start to finish the year with. I'll go to the off-season knowing that I can prepare myself for next season."

Toledo finished with a 67-77 record in last place in the International League West Divison, 21 games behind first-place Columbus.

While Wilk has spent time in Detroit this season, pitching in five games with the Tigers, he was not promoted following the game.

"Obviously I'm not happy that I didn't get called up, but that's not my decision," Wilk said. "It's been a good season, though. I was happy to be up there.

"[The Tigers] are only a few wins away from clinching the division, and to know that I was a part of that during the year was rewarding."

The three pitchers who followed Wilk Monday also were impressive. Jose Ortega came on in the fourth and retired the first eight batters he faced before the Clippers nicked him for an unearned run in the seventh. The 22-year-old right-hander, who has struggled with his control this season, struck out three and walked only one to claim his first Triple-A win.

"He threw a lot of strikes," Nevin said of Ortega. "He was starting to get up [in the strike zone] late, but he pounded the zone to the first hitters he faced."

Matt Hoffman retired all five hitters he saw, striking out three, while Enrique Gonzalez struck out the side in the ninth to earn his 13th save.

Ryan Strieby had one last strong day. In the first inning he came up with teammates Justin Henry on third and Jeff Salazar on second and ground a single up the middle to score both baserunners and give the Hens an early 2-0 advantage.

He came up again in the eighth when Toledo clinging to a 2-1 lead and launched his team-leading 19th home run of the season over the fence in left-center.

Strieby's 2-for-4 effort with three RBIs closes the books on his struggles at season's end. He hit just .229 in August and was 1-for-10 in September before Monday.

"You always want to finish the season strong, and it was good to end this season on a good note," Strieby said. "I wasn't swinging it very well the last couple of weeks.

"Coming out in the final game and getting a couple hits to help the team win does make it a little sweeter."

Although Strieby led the Mud Hens in home runs, RBIs (76), runs scored (66), and walks (60), the 26-year-old slugger said he didn't set any numeric goals for himself.

"I just wanted to be able to come to the ballpark and be available to play, and I feel I did that," said Strieby, who played in just 76 games last season and 86 the year before because of wrist problems. "I feel I showed I can do that, and that's a big step for me."

NOTES: After the game the Tigers announced that IF Danny Worth would be promoted to Detroit and join the team in Cleveland Tuesday. Nevin and Hens trainer Matt Rankin also will join the Tigers for the final month of the season; both will join the Tigers Friday in Detroit. ... Monday's crowd of 8,265 lifts Toledo's season attendance total to 549,438 in 69 home openings, an average of 7,963 fans per game. The season's total is the seventh-largest in franchise history.

Contact John Wagner at: jwagner@theblade.com or 419-724-6481.