Mud Hens offense sputters in home loss to Tides

5/25/2018
BY JOHN WAGNER
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
  • SPT-Hens20p-50

    Toledo's Kenny Wilson tries to make a catch against Gwinnett early this season. Wilson had three hits and made a fine diving catch in the Mud Hens' loss to Norfolk Friday.

    Blade/Kurt Steiss

  • The Toledo Mud Hens failed to take advantage of their offensive opportunities Friday in a 6-3 loss to Norfolk at Fifth Third Field. Toledo collected 12 hits, four walks, and two hit batsmen but left 14 runners on base.

    What happened: The Mud Hens jumped in front in the first inning, when Christin Stewart cranked a home run off the facing of The Roost in right field. But Norfolk took advantage of a passed ball and an error to score three in the third, two of them scoring on a single by Caleb Joseph.

    The Mud Hens scored one in the fourth on an infield single by Ronny Rodriguez, but the Tides responded with three in the fifth, with Joseph providing a run-scoring double. Jason Krizan’s run-scoring single gave the Hens a run in the seventh, but Toledo could not get any closer despite leaving eight runners on base in the final four innings.

    VIDEO: Tides 6, Mud Hens 3

    Toledo's Kenny Wilson tries to make a catch against Gwinnett early this season. Wilson had three hits and made a fine diving catch in the Mud Hens' loss to Norfolk Friday.
    Toledo's Kenny Wilson tries to make a catch against Gwinnett early this season. Wilson had three hits and made a fine diving catch in the Mud Hens' loss to Norfolk Friday.

    Game MVP: Let’s give some praise to Mud Hens outfielder Kenny Wilson, who had three hits in four at-bats. He also made a spectacular diving, tumbling catch in center on what appeared to be a sure extra-base hit by Ruben Tejada in the eighth.

    He said it: ”It seemed as if we came up one hit short all night, and those things happen. The game had a bad pace to it; it was a drag to get any momentum. We would get close, but we didn’t knock those runners in. ... You don’t want to go through it, but we scored nine runs [Thursday]. You tip your cap to them: they made pitches when they had to.” — Mud Hens manager Doug Mientkiewicz.

    Make a note of it: Toledo’s Jim Adduci saw his 11-game hit streak end with an 0 for 3 night. Adduci also had a 14-game hit streak earlier in the season. … The single by Rodriguez in the fourth gives him a 12-game home hit streak, the longest in the International League this season. … The crowd of 8,973 is the fifth sellout this season. That attendance does not include the 342 dogs that attended on “Hens and Hounds Night.”

    Comings and goings: The Detroit Tigers optioned outfielder Mikie Mahtook to the Mud Hens before the game after Jeimer Candelario was activated from the disabled list. Mahtook was not with Toledo. When he does join the Hens, the team will need to make a move to open a spot on the roster. ... Hens outfielder Chad Huffman was hit by a pitch in the eighth and had to leave the game. Toledo will assess his health before Saturday’s game.

    A look ahead: The two teams will play again at 7:05 p.m. Saturday. Left-hander Ryan Carpenter (1-4, 6.50 ERA) will start for the Hens against Norfolk right-hander Asher Wojciechowski (2-1, 3.94 ERA).

    Contact John Wagner at jwagner@theblade.com419-724-6481, or on Twitter @jwagnerblade.