Hens finish road trip strong with shutout

Hardy’s arm, Suarez’s bat lead Toledo’s win

5/26/2014

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Solid pitching and timely hitting keyed the Toledo Mud Hens to a 4-0 win over Lehigh Valley on Sunday.

Hens starter Blaine Hardy was effective while Eugenio Suarez provided the fireworks.

Suarez's three-run home run in the seventh inning lifted Toledo to the win over the Iron Pigs at Coca-Cola Park.

It was Toledo's fourth win in five games and to finish the road trip with a 4-4 record.

Tyler Collins led off the seventh with a line-drive single to center field and moved to second on a hit by Mike Hessman to center.

After a sacrfice bunt by Wade Gaynor to advance the runners, Suarez stepped to the plate and connected with a drive to left field.

For Suarez, it was his first home run since being promoted to Toledo from Erie on Wednesday. The 22-year-old shortstop is hitting .375 after going 2-for-4 on Sunday.

Ezequiel Carrera hit his third homer of the year with a drive to right field to lead off the eighth.

His home run came off IronPigs‘ reliever Greg Smith.

The Hens tallied just seven hits, but it was enough as Hardy was exquisite earning his second win, tossing six shutout innings while allowing just two hits.

He struck out six and walked three.

The Toledo bullpen combined to go three innings allowing just one hit as Mike Belfiore and Justin Miller had five strikeouts between each other.

Toledo (23-27) returns home for an eight-game homestand starting today when it hosts Durham at 6 p.m. to begin a four-game series.

The Hens follow with a four-game series against Charlotte.