Error costly for Hens in loss to Louisville

Toledo suffers 4-3 loss after taking 3-2 lead in 7th

7/9/2014
BLADE STAFF

LOUISVILLE — A seventh-inning error by the Mud Hens opened the door for two unearned Louisville runs and led to a 4-3 loss Tuesday night.

Toledo scored two runs in the top of the seventh to take a 3-2 lead, but in the bottom of the inning the Bats rallied, starting with a single by Hernan Iribarren.

He raced to third when Jason Bourgeois laid down a bunt single and took second on a throwing error by Mike Hessman at third base. One out later Felix Perez hit a grounder to shortstop, but Iribarren beat the throw to the plate by Hernan Perez to score. Neftali Soto then hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Bourgeois.

The Bats scored a run in the first when Bourgeois singled, stole second, then came home when Hens second baseman Danny Worth misplayed a Felix Perez grounder for an error.

Louisville made it 2-0 in the third when Felix Perez singled, moved to second on a wild pitch by Derek Hankins, took third on a single by Soto, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Donald Lutz.

Toledo scored against Bats starter Mikey O’Brien, making his first Triple-A start, in the sixth inning. Ezequiel Carrera led off with a triple, and one out later Tyler Collins singled him home.

The Hens took the lead with two runs in the seventh on a two-out, two-run homer by Wade Gaynor, his fifth home run of the season.

Hessman in HR derby

Mud Hens third baseman Mike Hessman has been chosen to represent the International League in the Triple-A All-Star Home Run Derby July 14 at Durham, N.C.

Hessman has hit 15 home runs this season, second-most in the IL. He has broken the IL record for career home runs with 259, and his 404 career minor league home runs ranks third.

Jesus Aguilar of Columbus and Dan Johnson from Buffalo will join Hessman as the IL representatives in the event. Allan Dykstra of Las Vegas, Reno’s Mike Jacobs and Francisco Pena of Omaha) will represent the Pacific Coast League.