Mud Hens move into first place in IL West with win

Toledo's Dixon Machado homered for the only run of the game as the Mud Hens beat Columbus Saturday, 1-0.

Blade/Kurt Steiss

Toledo's Dixon Machado homered for the only run of the game in the Mud Hens' 1-0 victory at Columbus on Saturday.

Dixon Machado’s first home run of the year led off the top of the seventh, and it helped the Toledo Mud Hens earn a 1-0 victory Saturday against the Columbus Clippers at Huntington Park. The victory moved the Mud Hens into first place in the International League’s West Division with two games left in the season.

What happened: Machado hit the first pitch Columbus starter Adam Wilk threw to him over the fence in left field for the only run of the contest.

Toledo received a standout pitching performance from starter Spencer Turnbull and two relievers. Turnbull allowed a second-inning single to Connor Marabell but that was it, as his second consecutive strong start was a one-hit, seven-inning outing. 

Relievers Zac Reininger and Zac Houston closed things out, with Houston earning his 10th save by working a 1-2-3 ninth. 

The Mud Hens nearly added to their lead in the ninth when Chad Huffman, Jason Krizan, and Willi Castro had consecutive singles, but Jacob Robson — pinch-running for Huffman — was thrown out at the plate.

Game MVP: Turnbull struck out eight and walked one in seven innings of work to improve to 1-1 in two starts since being called up from Double-A Erie.

Make a note of it: The start of the game was delayed almost an hour by rain. ... Toledo has now won 10 of 13. ... Kade Scivicque now has hits in six of his last seven games. ... Mud Hens outfielder Christin Stewart extended his hitting streak to 10 games. ... Stewart entered the game tied for the International League lead with 23 home runs with Lehigh Valley’s Joey Meneses. Stewart’s 76 RBIs were tied for third in the IL. ... Krizan entered 8 for 13 in the past three games. ... Castro’s single was the first Triple-A hit for the 21-year-old shortstop. He was playing in his second game with Toledo.

Comings and goings: Pitcher Daniel Norris was reinstated to the Detroit Tigers’ roster from the disabled list. He made a rehab start with Toledo on Aug. 26.

A look ahead: Toledo takes on Columbus in the third game of a four-game set at 4:05 p.m. Sunday. Left-hander Matt Hall (3-0, 2.45 ERA) takes the mound for the Mud Hens, and the Clippers have not yet named a starter.