FOLLOW THE GAME with Blade sports writer John Wagner at the Coop Scoop blog and on Twitter @jwagnerblade.
For the Mud Hens, Wednesday's exhibition game was simply a dress rehearsal.
The season begins Friday for real with the opening day contest against Indianapolis at Fifth Third Field.
As of late Thursday standing-room tickets were all that remained for the contest, which starts at 5 p.m.
The party starts well before that, though, as the gates to the ballpark will open at 3 p.m. as the club hosts its "Opening Day Bash" on the home-run picnic terrace.
As for the game itself, Toledo manager Phil Nevin said the lineup for his team against Indianapolis will differ from Wednesday's lineup only at the pitcher's spot as left-handed-pitcher Adam Wilk draws the opening day assignment.
The batting order will start with three left-handed hitters -- Quintin Berry in center field, Matt Young in right field and Eric Patterson at second base -- followed by Ryan Strieby at first base, Brad Eldred at designated hitter, and Jerad Head in left field.
The bottom three in the order are Argenis Diaz at shortstop, Audy Ciriaco at third base, and Omir Santos behind the plate.
"I'm not worried about having three left-handers at the top of the lineup," Nevin said Wednesday.
"All three can run and get on base, and I think they will give us a lot of scoring opportunities.
Berry had 40 steals for Double-A Carolina in the Southern League last season, while Young led the International League in steals in 2010 with 39 while with Gwinnett.
Patterson has stolen as many as 43 bases in a season and is a career .299 hitter in the minor leagues.
Strieby, Eldred, and Head provide a dangerous power-hitting trio.
Strieby led the Mud Hens with 19 home runs last season and has hit as many as 29 in a season, while Eldred led the IL with 35 homers with Charlotte in 2008.
Head finished third in the league with 24 home runs last year.
NOTES: The promotion of Duane Below to Detroit Wednesday created an opening in the Toledo rotation. Nevin said right-handed pitcher Thad Weber will get the start in place of Below against Louisville Monday. . . . left-handed hurler Drew Smyly will start Saturday for the Hens against the Indians, then will be promoted to Detroit to enter the Tigers' rotation. Nevin said left hander Fu-Te Ni will replace Smyly in the Hens' rotation after that start. . . . The rest of the Hens' rotation will see lefty Andy Oliver start Sunday and southpaw pitcher Casey Crosby Tuesday.
Contact John Wagner at: jwagner@theblade.com, 419-724-6481 or on Twitter @jwagnerblade.
First Published April 6, 2012, 5:13 a.m.
