Mud Hens blow late lead again

Toledo loses 4th straight after All-Star break

7/16/2012

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, it appeared that the Mud Hens' four-game losing streak would be snapped.

Rochester had other ideas and scored two runs in each of the final two innings to escape with a 8-7 victory, handing Toledo a four-game sweep to start the second half of the International League season and give the Hens a fifth straight defeat.

Tsuyoshi Nishioka scored the winning run for Rochester with one out in the ninth on a throwing error by Toledo catcher Rob Brantly after Nishioka's single to left field scored Sean Burroughs.

Burroughs led off the inning and reached first on a throwing error by reliever Chris Bootcheck to set up the rally.

Toledo built a 7-4 lead off home runs by Audy Ciriaco and Ryan Strieby while Justin Henry went 3 for 3 with two runs scored.

Toledo (37-57) led by as many as four in the contest thanks for a three-run inning in the top of the third -- including Strieby's 13th homer of the season.

Rochester (47-48) replied with three runs thanks in part to a two-run single by former Mud Hen outfielder Clete Thomas off starter Brooks Brown in the fourth with one out to chase him from the game.

Brown finished with four walks and two strikeouts while allowing two hits over 3⅓ innings.