Mud Hens split games in Syracuse

Toledo loses 1-0 in opener, win 4-3 in second

8/16/2012

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Mud Hens split a twinbill with the Syracuse Chiefs on Wednesday.

In the first contest Toledo saw its six-game winning streak snapped when the Chiefs claimed a 1-0 victory. In the nightcap the Hens, who had just three hits in the first game, collected 11 in the second -- including four by Justin Henry -- and hung on to claim a 4-3 victory.

In the first game Syracuse scored the game's only run in the second inning when Sandy Leon slammed a home run off Mud Hens starter Casey Crosby. Crosby allowed just four hits, one walk and struck out four.

But Chiefs starter Jeff Mandel was stronger, giving up just two hits and a walk while fanning five in six innings. He retired eight in a row after allowing two baserunners in the first inning, and Toledo loaded the bases with one out in the fourth but failed to score.

Christian Garcia retired the Hens in the seventh to record his 10th save of the season.

In the second game, Syracuse got a pair of first-inning runs off Hens starter Brooks Brown, one scoring on a single by Mark Teahen and the other coming home when Henry in center field misplayed a ball hit by Zach Walters.

Toledo got one run back in the second when Danny Worth led off with a single, stole second, then came home on a double by Cale Iorg.

The Mud Hens then took a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning as Brad Davis singled, then moved to third on a single by Henry to set the table for Jerad Head.

Head singled to center to score Davis, and when the Chiefs' Corey Brown misplayed the ball, Henry scored the go-ahead run.

Al Alburquerque relieved Brooks Brown in the fourth and needed a double play to avoid trouble after allowing three hits.

But the right-hander, on a rehab assignment with the Hens, struck out four of the last five batters he faced and had five whiffs total in 2⅔ innings to earn the win.

Toledo added an insurance run in the seventh off Mike MacDougal as Henry, Head and Donny Kelly collected three straight singles, with Kelly's hit scoring Henry.

That insurance run proved vital when Syracuse scored a run off reliever Zach Miner. Eury Perez and Corey Brown drew back-to-back walks with one out, and Perez scored on a single by Negrych.

But Miner then got Teahen to hit into a game-ending double play to earn his second save of the year.

Hens show 2013 schedule

The Mud Hens will play their 2013 home opener on Thursday, April 11 against Louisville, the team announced Wednesday with the release of its 2013 schedule.

The Hens' 72-game home schedule, which includes 33 weekend dates, shows nine games in April, 17 games in May, 13 games in June, 14 games in July and 19 games in August, with the season ending on Saturday, Aug. 31 against Columbus.

There are three School Celebration Days on the schedule: Wednesday, May 15 versus Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Monday-Tuesday, May 20-21 against Syracuse. The only holiday games the Hens will play at home next season is on the Fourth of July against Columbus.

The 2013 season will mark the 27th consecutive season the Mud Hens have served as the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, as well as the 12th season the team will play at Fifth Third Field.