Mud Hens top Louisville in rain-shortened game

4/15/2014

LOUISVILLE — The Mud Hens claimed a 6-2 victory at Louisville on Monday in a game called in the bottom of the sixth inning because of rain.

Toledo used a five-run fourth inning to earn its second win in a row over the Bats.

The Mud Hens opened the scoring in the first inning when J.D. Martinez slammed a solo home run, his third home run in two games and his fifth this season.

Then Toledo scored five times in the fourth off Louisville starter Jeff Francis, who shut out the Hens on opening day at Fifth Third Field.

Mike Hessman started the rally with a single, and Ben Guez drew a walk. Both runners moved up a base on a groundout by James McCann, and Hessman scored on a wild pitch by Francis.

Guez came home when a ball hit by Daniel Fields was misplayed by Bats leftfielder Jason Bourgeois for a two-base error.

Danny Worth drew a walk, and Brandon Douglas hit a ground ball that pushed Fields to third but forced Worth at second.

Ezequiel Carrera then lined a double that scored Worth, and a single by Hernan Perez brought Douglas home.

Toledo starter Duane Below pitched four scoreless innings, allowing three walks and three hits while striking out five.

Melvin Mercedes came on in the fifth and didn’t have any trouble until the sixth, when he gave up a one-out single to Max Ramirez, a double to Kristopher Negron, and a two-run triple to Tucker Barnhart. Mercedes (1-0) was credited with the victory.

The umpires called for the tarp after Barnhart’s hit, and the game was ended roughly 45 minutes later.

Francis (2-1) was handed the loss. He was slapped with six runs in four innings, although only two of the runs were earned.

By the time the game was called, Louisville had received almost a half inch of rain and a strong cold front was expected to send temperatures plummeting throughout the night.

The teams are scheduled to meet again today at 6:35 p.m., when the sun may make an appearance, but temperatures at first pitch are forecast to be in the low 40s.

The Hens return to Fifth Third Field on Wednesday for a brief two-game set with Columbus. Both games begin at 6:30 p.m.