2011 Toledo Mud Hens Schedule and Results

Toledo Mud Hens


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SCHEDULE
April 2011 (all times local unless noted)

7 @ Louisville, W 11-6 (WP: F. Ni) Recap Box
8 @ Louisville, L 3-5 (LP: C. Oxspring) Recap Box
9 @ Louisville, L 1-2 (LP: C. Furbush) Recap Box
10 @ Louisville, L 1-5 (WP: D. Willis; LP: D. Below) Recap Box
11 @ Indianapolis, L 1-5 (LP: A. Wilk) Recap Box
12 @ Indianapolis, W 4-2 (WP: A. Oliver; SV: Z. Simons) Recap Box
14 vs. Columbus, L 0-1 (LP: T. Weber) Recap Box
14 vs. Columbus, L 3-7 (LP: Z. Simons) Recap Box
15 vs. Columbus, W 5-4 (WP: F. Ni; SV: R. Weinhardt) Recap Box
16 @ Columbus, L 4-10 (LP: R. Garcia) Recap Box
17 @ Columbus, L 2-6 (LP: A. Wilk) Recap Box
18 @ Columbus, W 13-5 (WP: A. Oliver) Recap Box
19 vs. Indianapolis, Postponed: Rain
20 vs. Indianapolis, L 2-4 (LP: T. Weber) Recap Box
21 vs. Indianapolis, W 6-0 (WP: C. Furbush) Recap Box
21 vs. Indianapolis, L 1-3 (LP: M. Hoffman) Recap Box
22 vs. Indianapolis, W 7-1 (WP: D. Below) Recap Box
23 vs. Louisville, L 4-6 (LP: R. Weinhardt) Recap Box
24 vs. Louisville, L 0-9 (LP: A. Oliver) Recap Box
25 vs. Louisville, W 6-5 (WP: R. Weinhardt) Recap Box
26 @ Syracuse, Postponed: Rain
27 @ Syracuse, W 6-2 (WP: C. Furbush) Recap Box
27 @ Syracuse, W 3-1 (WP: F. Ni; SV: E. Gonzalez) Recap Box
28 @ Syracuse, W 7-2 (WP: D. Below) Recap Box
29 @ Syracuse, W 7-1 (WP: A. Wilk) Recap Box
30 @ Pawtucket, W 4-3 (WP: A. Oliver; SV: E. Gonzalez) Recap Box

May 2011 (all times local unless noted)

1 @ Pawtucket, W 4-3 (WP: T. Weber; SV: E. Gonzalez) Recap Box
2 @ Pawtucket, L 2-11 (LP: C. Furbush) Recap Box
3 @ Pawtucket, W 7-2 (WP: D. Below) Recap Box
5 vs. Charlotte, L 5-10 (LP: A. Wilk) Recap Box
6 vs. Charlotte, L 7-8 (LP: E. Gonzalez) Recap Box
7 vs. Charlotte, L 0-1 (LP: C. Furbush) Recap Box
8 vs. Charlotte, W 4-3 (WP: E. Gonzalez) Recap Box
9 vs. Lehigh Valley, L 0-1 (LP: A. Oliver) Recap Box
10 vs. Lehigh Valley, L 1-3 (LP: A. Wilk) Recap Box
11 vs. Lehigh Valley, L 1-8 (LP: T. Weber) Recap Box
12 vs. Lehigh Valley, W 4-2 (WP: C. Furbush; SV: E. Gonzalez) Recap Box
13 @ Gwinnett, W 2-1 (WP: D. Below; S: L. Oliveros) Recap | Box
14 @ Gwinnett, W 13-1 (WP: A. Oliver) Recap Box
15 @ Gwinnett, W 6-5 (WP: A. Wilk; SV: E. Gonzalez) Recap Box
16 @ Gwinnett, L 5-10 (LP: T. Weber) Recap Box
17 @ Charlotte, W 8-3 (WP: C. Furbush) Recap Box
18 @ Charlotte, L 7-10 (LP: R. Weinhardt) Recap Box
19 @ Charlotte, L 2-10 (LP: A. Oliver) Recap Box
20 @ Charlotte, W 2-1 (WP: A. Wilk; SV: E. Gonzalez) Recap Box
21 vs. Pawtucket, W 5-4 (WP: L. Oliveros) Recap Box
22 vs. Pawtucket, L 1-2 (LP: R. Garcia) Recap Box
23 vs. Pawtucket, L 2-12 (LP: D. Below) Recap Box
24 vs. Pawtucket, L 2-3 (LP: L. Oliveros) Recap Box
26 vs. Durham, L 3-12 (LP: T. Weber) Recap Box
27 vs. Durham, L 3-7 (LP: B. Wise) Recap Box
28 vs. Durham, Postponed: Rain
29 vs. Durham, L 4-7 (LP: D. Below) Recap Box
29 vs. Durham, W 2-1 (WP: R. Perry; SV: L. Oliveros) Recap Box
30 @ Rochester, W 7-3 (WP: A. Wilk; SV: L. Oliveros) Recap Box
31 @ Rochester, W 5-0 (WP: T. Weber) Recap Box

June 2011 (all times local unless noted)

1 @ Rochester, L 9-10 (LP: R. Weinhardt) Recap Box
2 @ Rochester, L 0-8 (LP: B. Villarreal) Recap Box
3 @ Scranton/WB, L 3-4 (LP: L. Oliveros) Recap Box
4 @ Scranton/WB, W 7-3 (WP: D. Below; SV: R. Perry) Recap Box
5 @ Scranton/WB, L 2-3 (LP: R. Garcia) Recap Box
6 @ Scranton/WB, W 4-1 (WP: T. Weber; SV: R. Perry) Recap Box
7 vs. Gwinnett, L 1-4 (LP: L. Gagnier) Recap Box
8 vs. Gwinnett, L 5-10 (LP: A. Oliver) Recap Box
9 vs. Gwinnett, L 0-2 (LP: B. Villarreal) Recap Box
10 vs. Gwinnett, L 3-4 (LP: J. Ortega) Recap Box
11 vs. Rochester, L 5-11 (LP: T. Weber) Recap | Box
12 vs. Rochester, W 6-3 (WP: L. Gagnier; SV: R. Perry) Recap Box
13 vs. Rochester, W 2-1 (WP: A. Oliver; SV: L. Oliveros) Recap Box
14 vs. Rochester, L 1-6 (LP: B. Villarreal) Recap Box
15 OFF
16 @ Louisville, W 3-1 (WP: D. Below; SV: R. Perry) Recap | Box
17 @ Louisville, L 1-2 (LP: M. Hoffman) Recap Box
18 @ Louisville, L 1-3 (LP: E. Gonzalez) Recap Box
19 @ Louisville, L 2-4 (LP: A. Oliver) Recap Box
20 @ Columbus, L 1-3 (LP: B. Villarreal) Recap Box
21 @ Columbus, L 3-4 (LP: D. Below) Recap Box
22 vs. Columbus, L 7-13 (LP: M. Hoffman) Recap Box
23 vs. Columbus, L 0-6 (LP: E. Gonzalez) Recap Box
24 vs. Louisville, L 4-5 (LP: B. Thomas) Recap Box
25 vs. Louisville, L 2-9 (LP: B. Villarreal) Recap Box
26 vs. Louisville, W 4-2 (WP: D. Below; SV: L. Oliveros) Recap Box
27 vs. Louisville, W 7-2 (WP: T. Weber) Recap Box
28 @ Columbus, L 4-5 (LP: A. Wilk) Recap Box
29 @ Columbus, L 4-12 (LP: A. Oliver) Recap Box
30 vs. Columbus, L 2-6 (LP: L. Gagnier) Recap Box

Toledo Mud Hens


WINS - 67, LOSES - 77



MUD HEN NEWS LINK

CLICK HERE FOR 2011 SCHEDULE AND SCORES


(CLICK SCORE FOR BOX SCORE)

SCHEDULE

July 2011 (all times local unless noted)

1 vs. Columbus, W 3-1 (WP: D. Below; SV: C. Ruffin) Recap Box
2 vs. Indianapolis, L 3-4 (LP: J. Ortega) Recap Box
3 vs. Indianapolis, W 7-1 (WP: M. Hoffman) Recap Box
4 @ Indianapolis, W 2-1 (WP: A. Oliver; SV: C. Ruffin) Recap Box
5 @ Indianapolis, L 4-10 (LP: L. Gagnier) Recap Box
6 @ Indianapolis, W 5-1 (WP: D. Below) Recap Box
7 @ Columbus, L 3-6 (LP: M. Hoffman) Recap Box
8 @ Columbus, W 8-6 (WP: B. Villarreal; SV: C. Ruffin) Recap Box
9 vs. Columbus, W 5-2 (WP: B. Wise; SV: E. Gonzalez) Recap Box
10 vs. Columbus, W 4-1 (WP: F. Ni; SV: C. Ruffin) Recap Box
11 OFF
12 OFF
13 OFF
14 vs. Scranton/WB, W 4-2 (WP: C. Furbush; SV: C. Ruffin) Recap Box
15 vs. Scranton/WB, L 3-7 (LP: J. Ortega) Recap Box
16 vs. Scranton/WB, W 7-4 (WP: E. Gonzalez; SV: C. Ruffin) Recap Box
17 vs. Scranton/WB, W 7-6 (WP: R. Perry) Recap Box
18 @ Norfolk, W 9-3 (WP: T. Weber) Recap Box
19 @ Norfolk, W 7-1 (WP: F. Ni) Recap Box
20 @ Norfolk, W 4-3 (WP: R. Perry; SV: C. Ruffin) Recap Box
21 @ Norfolk, W 11-3 (WP: B. Villarreal) Recap Box
22 @ Durham, L 3-4 (LP: A. Oliver) Recap Box
23 @ Durham, L 2-9 (LP: T. Weber) Recap Box
24 @ Durham, L 1-2 (LP: F. Ni) Recap Box
25 @ Durham, W 6-2 (WP: A. Wilk) Recap Box
26 vs. Norfolk, W 7-4 (WP: D. Schlereth; SV: R. Perry) Recap Box
27 vs. Norfolk, L 4-5 (LP: L. Oliveros) Recap Box
28 vs. Norfolk, W 8-7 (WP: E. Gonzalez) Recap Box
29 vs. Norfolk, W 5-2 (WP: B. Wise; SV: R. Perry) Recap Box
30 vs. Syracuse, W 4-3 (WP: L. Marte) Recap Box
31 vs. Syracuse, W 8-5 (WP: B. Wise) Recap Box

August 2011 (all times local unless noted)

1 vs. Syracuse, L 3-8 (LP: A. Oliver) Recap | Box
2 vs. Syracuse, L 2-17 (LP: T. Weber) Recap Box
3 OFF
4 @ Indianapolis, L 3-4 (LP: F. Ni) Recap Box
5 @ Indianapolis, W 8-4 (WP: A. Wilk; SV: B. Wise) Recap Box
6 @ Indianapolis, L 8-9 (LP: M. Hoffman) Recap Box
7 @ Indianapolis, W 11-5 (WP: A. Oliver; SV: R. Perry) Recap Box
8 vs. Indianapolis, L 1-2 (LP: T. Weber) Recap Box
9 vs. Indianapolis, W 4-2 (WP: B. Wise; SV: C. Ruffin) Recap Box
10 vs. Louisville, W 6-4 (WP: A. Wilk; SV: E. Gonzalez) Recap Box
11 vs. Louisville, W 6-5 (WP: E. Gonzalez) Recap Box
12 @ Lehigh Valley, L 2-6 (LP: A. Oliver) Recap Box
13 @ Lehigh Valley, Delayed: Rain
14 @ Lehigh Valley, L 1-2 (LP: E. Gonzalez)(Completion of game suspended on 8/13/11) Recap Box
14 @ Lehigh Valley, (Completion on 8/15/11 at 6:05 PM)
15 @ Lehigh Valley, W 3-2 (WP: M. Hoffman; SV: E. Gonzalez)(Completion of game suspended on 8/14/11) Recap Box
15 @ Lehigh Valley, W 6-5 (WP: A. Wilk; SV: C. Ruffin) Recap Box
16 @ Buffalo, L 2-3 (LP: B. Wise) Recap Box
17 @ Buffalo, L 2-4 (LP: A. Oliver) Recap Box
18 @ Buffalo, W 4-0 (WP: S. Teufel) Recap Box
19 @ Buffalo, L 2-4 (LP: E. Gonzalez) Recap Box
20 vs. Louisville, L 1-12 (LP: T. Feeney) Recap Box
21 vs. Louisville, W 9-2 (WP: J. Turner) Recap Box
22 @ Louisville, W 3-2 (WP: A. Oliver; SV: E. Gonzalez) Recap Box
23 @ Louisville, L 3-10 (LP: T. Weber) Recap | Box
24 vs. Buffalo, W 7-6 (WP: B. Wise; SV: E. Gonzalez) Recap Box
25 vs. Buffalo, W 6-1 (WP: R. Garcia) Recap Box
26 vs. Buffalo, W 1-0 (WP: B. Villarreal; SV: E. Gonzalez) Recap Box
27 vs. Buffalo, L 2-3 (LP: A. Oliver) Recap Box
28 vs. Indianapolis, L 3-8 (LP: R. Weinhardt) Recap Box
29 vs. Indianapolis, L 1-9 (LP: F. Ni) Recap Box
30 @ Indianapolis, L 4-5 (LP: E. Gonzalez) Recap Box
31 @ Indianapolis, L 2-6 (LP: A. Wilk) Recap Box

September 2011 (all times local unless noted)

2 @ Columbus, L 3-4 (LP: A. Oliver) Recap Box
3 @ Columbus, L 6-7 (LP: T. Weber) Recap Box
4 vs. Columbus, W 6-2 (WP: F. Ni) Recap Box
5 vs. Columbus, W 3-1 (WP: J. Ortega; SV: E. Gonzalez) Recap Box

RESERVED

Hens take season opener; top Bats 11-6!
By Tony Bibler
04/07/2011 10:33 PM ET

Recap

The Toledo Mud Hens opened the season with a bang as they defeated the Louisville Bats 11-6 Thursday night at Louisville Slugger Field in Louisville, Ky. Reliever Fu-Te Ni earned the win in relief after going 1.1 innings. Right fielder Andy Dirks paced the Toledo offense going 4-for-5 with two runs and two RBI. Left fielder Timo Perez had a three-hit effort with three RBI.

Both teams scuffled offensively until the top of the fifth inning when second baseman Scott Sizemore singled, then left fielder Timo Perez put the Mud Hens ahead with a two-run home run that handed Toledo a 2-0 lead.

After a two-out double by third baseman Danny Worth in the top of the sixth, reliever Jerry Gil came in to pitch for Louisville starter Scott Carroll. Gil promptly walked center fielder Clete Thomas. However, the Mud Hens threat was quickly snuffed out after shortstop Cale Iorg lined out to Bats' second baseman Chris Valaika to end the inning.

Louisville, who was held to one hit through five innings, would strike in the home half of the sixth. Hens' starter Andy Oliver sat down the first two batters in the sixth and then walked Bats' center fielder Dave Sappelt. Back-to-back singles by shortstop Zack Cozart and left fielder Yonder Alonso loaded the bases for third baseman Todd Fraizer who hit a line drive to left field that plated Sappelt and Cozart to tie the game at 2-2. Oliver bounced back to strike out the next batter, right fielder Jeremy Hermida to end the sixth.

A two-out double by Perez chased Gil from the game and was replaced with left-hander Daniel Ray Herrera. Right fielder Andy Dirks then deposited a 3-0 pitch over the right field wall to give the Mud Hens a 4-2 lead. First baseman Ryan Strieby then grounded out to end the inning.

Right hander Zach Simons was summoned by Toledo from the pen in the bottom of the seventh in relief of Oliver. Simons gave up the lead as Louisville tied it up at 4-4 after solo shots from catcher Devin Mesoraco and first baseman Daniel Dorn. The Bats threatened further after a two-out double by Sappelt and a walk from Cozart when Fu-Te Ni was called from the bullpen to relieve Simons and stopped the bleeding when he struck out left fielder Yonder Alonso, thus stranding the go-ahead runs on second and first.

Toledo fought back and took a 5-4 lead in the eighth when DH Scott Thorman walked and was then pushed across the plate on a double by third baseman Danny Worth. Carlos Fisher was brought in to pitch for Louisville after Worth advanced to third after Thomas' fielder's choice. Iorg came through against Fisher with a double to right field that scored Worth and pushed the Mud Hens' lead to 6-4. Iorg advanced to third on catcher John Murrian's groundout and scored when second baseman Scott Sizemore's liner was dropped in right field by Hermida. Sizemore advanced to second on the drop. Joesph Krebs came on to replace Fisher and immediately gave up a single to Perez that scored Sizemore. Clay Timpner was then inserted as a pinch runner for Perez. Dirks singled and Timpner advanced to second but both were brought home on a three-run homerun by Strieby to make the score 11-4. The Hens' offensive burst was put to an end when Thorman grounded out.

In the bottom of the eighth, Fraizer tripled off Ni and was brought home on a Hermida single to draw within six runs at 11-5. A Mesoraco fly out was followed by Valaika single that advanced Hermida to second. Michael Griffin was brought off the bench as a pinch runner for Valaika and advanced to second on a Dorn single that also scored Hermida to make the score 11-6, Hens. A Kris Negron fly out and Sappelt strike out ended the Bats' half of the 8th.

Toledo's Al Alburquerque pitched a pedestrian ninth inning getting two quick outs before hitting Frazier in the back with a pitch. Alburquerque quickly recovered and got Hermida to pop out to seal the 11-6 victory for the Mud Hens.

The Mud Hens play the second of this four game series against Louisville tomorrow at 6:35 p.m while Friday's game against the Bats is also at 6:35 p.m. The Hens take on Louisville Saturday at 6:05 p.m. and finish the series Sunday at 2:05 p.m.

GAME NOTES

• Mud Hens catcher John Murrian made his triple-a debut tonight as well going 0-5.
  
• Louisville starter Scott Carroll made his triple-A debut tonight.
  
• All three Toledo homeruns came with two outs.
  

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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Late runs sink Mud Hens on Friday, Lose to Louisville, 5-3
By Tony Bibler
04/08/2011 9:26 PM ET

Recap

The Toledo Mud Hens were not able to silence the offense of the Louisville Bats Friday night at Louisville Slugger Field as they dropped the second game of this three game series, 5-3. Second baseman Scott Sizemore was a triple shy of the cycle after going 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Reliever Chris Oxspring (0-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs to score in three innings of work.

The Mud Hens opened up the scoring in the top of first when DH Scott Thorman hit a line drive that plated Sizemore. Center fielder Clete Thomas doubled to start the second and was almost stranded there after shortstop Argenis Diaz struck out and catcher John Murrian lined out. However, Sizemore came through and doubled home Thomas to push the Hens lead up to 2-0.

Louisville scratched out a run in the third off a throwing error by Diaz. But the Mud Hens responded in the top of the fifth when Sizemore led off the inning with a home run to push the lead to 3-1. The Bats plated runs in the fifth and sixth to tie the game and eventually took a 4-3 lead in the sixth when a fly ball that right fielder Andy Dirks lost in the twilight sky dropped harmlessly in front of the wall.

Oxspring gave up a solo shot in the home half of the eighth that increased the Hens' deficit to 5-4. Toledo did threaten in the ninth when Diaz advanced to second on defensive indifference after singling with two outs however, shortstop Cale Iorg flied out to center field to end the game.

GAME NOTES

• Argenis Diaz was moved from shortstop to second base in the eighth to replace Scott Sizemore. Cale Iorg was brought in off the bench to play shortstop.
  
• Clete Thomas' steal of second in the top of the fourth marked the Hens first steal of the season.
  
• Sizemore's bat is sizzling to start the season. Scott is currently 6-for-9 with 2 RBI and four runs scored.
  

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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Mud Hens lose 2-1 pitchers' duel to Louisville on Saturday.
By Tony Bibler
04/09/2011 8:54 PM ET

Recap

The Toledo Mud Hens fell to the Louisville Bats Saturday night, 2-1, in a pitchers' duel at Louisville Slugger Field. Left fielder Clay Timpner was 1-for-4 and had the Hens' only RBI of the night. Lefty Charlie Furbush (0-1) was saddled with the loss after tossing 5.1 innings and allowing two earned runs.

Furbush, battled a bit of wildness in the first inning and allowed the Bats' only two runs of the game to score via a wild pitch and a RBI double respectively. Toledo would cut the Louisville lead to 2-1 as Timpner laced a two-out single that scored third baseman Danny Worth. The Hens threatened to tie the game with second baseman Argenis Diaz moving to third on Timpners single but shortstop Cale Iorg's strike out ended the inning.

A ninth inning double by right fielder Andy Dirks was followed by a strikeout by designated hitter Ryan Strieby. Dirks advanced to third on a fielder's choice by first baseman Scott Thorman. Worth worked a two-out walk but center fielder Clete Thomas popped out to end the game.

The Mud Hens and the Louisville Bats end their four game series tomorrow with an afternoon contest. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.

GAME NOTES

• Game time temperature was 75 degrees.
  
• Andy Dirks, who went 1-for-4, has a hit in all three games this season and is currently 6-for-13 on the year.
  
• The Mud Hens were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
  
• The Hens bullpen was solid as Matt Hoffman, Brendan Wise and Al Alburquerque worked 2.2 innings, struck out three and did not allow a run to score.
  

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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Mud Hens drop series finale to Louisville on Sunday, 5-1
By Tony Bibler
04/10/2011 4:48 PM ET

Recap

The Toledo Mud Hens dropped the finale of their four game series against the Louisville Bats, 5-1, Sunday at Louisville Slugger Field. Mud Hens starter Duane Below (0-1) took the loss in his Triple-A debut after allowing four runs and seven hits over four innings. Toledo could only muster four hits against three Louisville pitchers.

Former Mud Hen Dontrelle Willis (1-0) started for the Bats and was masterful, keeping his former club off the scoreboard by allowing just three hits and striking out five over his six innings of work.

Louisville's first four runs of the contest came on home runs. Todd Frazier and Devin Mesoraco launched solo shots in the bottom of the second and fourth respectively. Kris Negron also went deep with a two-run home run in the fourth as well. The Mud Hens responded in the top of the seventh when first baseman Ryan Strieby singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Strieby was then brought home when second baseman Argenis Diaz singled to make the score 5-1, Louisville. Toledo would not score again and went down in order in the eighth and ninth innings to end the game.

The Mud Hens will travel to Indianapolis to take on the Indians in a quick two game series. Monday and Tuesday's contests will start at 7:05 p.m. and 11:05 a.m. respectively. After an off day on Wednesday, the Hens will square off against Columbus on Thursday in the home opening double header at Fifth Third Field. Game one is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start time with game two starting 20-25 minutes after the conclusion of game one.

GAME NOTES

• Ramon Garcia and Zach Simons were solid out of the bullpen for the Mud Hens. Together they worked the game's final four innings, struck out four and allowed just one run to cross the plate.
  
• Second baseman Scott Sizemore went 0-for-2 with two walks after being given the day off yesterday.
  
• Toledo was just 1-for-2 with runners in scoring position.
  
• Andy Dirks went 1-for-4 today and currently leads the Hens with a .412 batting average.
  

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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Adam Wilk proves he is ready for AAA, but Hens lose 5-1
By Scott Hochenberg
04/11/2011 9:57 PM ET

Recap

The Mud Hens fall to 1-4 after losing the series opener against the Indianapolis Indians. Adam Wilk looked impressive in his AAA debut giving up 1 earned run in 5.1 innings.

Centerfielder Clete Thomas got the Mud Hens first on the scoreboard when he belted a moonshot solo Home Run that cleared Victory Field during the top of the second.

Wilk's five and a third innings pitched were masterful including a pickoff of speedy Indian Gorkys Hernandez. Adam Wilk was also aided by tremendous outfield catches by all of the outfielders. Third Baseman Danny Worth also joined the great defensive effort when he caught a foul ball along the Indianapolis dugout in the bottom of the third.

Brendon Wise came in for relief in the bottom of sixth and struggled to find the strike zone. Indianapolis had the most unusual of innings when they scored their first four runs without the ball ever leaving the infield. Through a series infield hits, errors, and walks, the Indians took a commanding 5-1 lead in the sixth inning.

The Mud Hen bullpen regained their composure after the sixth inning giving up no more runs but unfortunately the offense could not score any runs either to make a comeback. Veteran Timo Perez continued his great early April by going 2-4.

The Mud Hens play Indianapolis again on Tuesday at 11:05 am.

Game Notes

• Both teams featured starting pitchers making their AAA debuts (IND- Rudy Owens and TOL- Adam Wilk.)
  
• Adam Wilk threw 82 pitches, 57 of which were strikes.
  
• Monday's game was the fifth straight game that the Indians gave up the first run.
  

Hens fall to the Indians in Indianapolis Monday night. Adam Wilk solid in Mud Hens debut giving up 1 earned run.


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Mud Hens top Tribe in Tuesday matinee, 4-2!
04/12/2011 2:01 PM ET

Recap

The Toledo Mud Hens finished up their initial road trip of the 2011 season with a 4-2 win at Indianapolis. The Hens finished the road trip with a 2-4 record and will now gear up for the home opener on Thursday at Fifth Third Field.

LHP Andy Oliver took to the hill for his 2nd start of the young season and struck out eight batters in 6.0 innings, allowing just three hits and one run. Oliver earned the win and now has 14 strikeouts in his first two starts of the year.

Toledo got on the board first with a solo home run from Scott Thorman in the top of the 2nd inning. It was Thorman's first long ball as a Mud Hen.

The Hens doubled their lead in the top of the 5th inning on the strength of a Clete Thomas home run, his 2nd of the year.

After an Indianapolis run in the bottom of the 5th, the Hens would score two more runs in the top of the 6th frame to make the score 4-1. Ryan Strieby singled home Scott Sizemore and then Strieby would come around to score himself on an Indians fielding error.

The home town Indians would cut the lead in half as they scored a run in the bottom of the 8th frame on a throwing error by Cale Iorg.

That was as close as the Indians would get as Fu-Te Ni and Zach Simons put the finishing touches on the victory. Simons earned his 1st save of the year.

• Toledo will host Columbus for the first time this season on Thursday for Opening Day. The doubleheader will begin at 4:00 pm.
  
• Toledo will play Columbus six consecutive times from April 14-18.
  
• The first 19 games of the season are against IL West rivals (Columbus, Indianapolis, and Louisville)
  
• Danny Worth has four doubles on the year (he has five hits total)
  
• The last two seasons where the Hens started with a record of 1-4 were 2006 and 2002. Both years, they made the playoffs.
  

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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Hens swept in Opening Day doubleheader
By Scott Hochenberg
04/14/2011 6:15 PM ET

A sold out crowd of 12,825 was on hand as the Mud Hens drop both games of the Opening Day doubleheader on Thursday. Grady Sizemore, on rehab with the Columbus Clippers, stole the show in game one. The Hens lost game two, 7-3. The 12,825 was the second largest Opening Day crowd ever at Fifth Third Field.

Game One Recap - COL 1, TOL 0
Box

The first game of the doubleheader got off to a slow start in part because Mud Hen starting pitcher Thad Weber provided a strong start by tossing a scoreless first two innings. Grady Sizemore, on a rehab assignment from the Cleveland Indians, got the action started in the third when he blasted a 380 foot home run over the right center field wall.

After the Sizemore home run, Weber settled down giving up no more hits. Weber's pitches would bedazzle the Clippers batters. Thad averaged a strikeout per inning by amassing 6 Ks through 6 innings. Reliever Matt Hoffman shined in adversity during his relief appearance in the seventh. With the bases loaded, he managed to give up no more runs giving the Hens a chance at a last inning comeback.

The Mud Hens offense delivered an incredible eight hits in the game. However, Toledo could not find the decisive hit that would give them the lead that they wanted.

Sizemore's solo home run proved to be the only score of the game.

Game Two Recap - COL 7 TOL 3
Box

After losing the first game of the Opening Day doubleheader, Toledo bounced back strong when they scored the first run of the game in the first inning via an RBI groundout by Andy Dirks. However, the Clippers showed their tenacity by tying the game right back in the top of second inning.

Game Two would continue to see-saw in the bottom of the second when the Mud Hens regained the lead 3-1 on a series of base hits provided by the bottom of the lineup.

Australian Chris Oxspring made the rare start for the Mud Hens in the second game of the Opening Day doubleheader. Despite giving up an early run, Oxspring was commanding with four strikeouts in the first three innings. Oxspring was helped out in the bottom of the third when left fielder Clay Timpner jumped over the tarp along the left field wall and dove into stands. It was easily the play of the day and an early candidate for play of the year.

Unfortunately, in the fourth, Chris Oxspring had to leave the game due to injury. Right hander Zach Simons came in for relief. Almost as soon as he came in, Simmons surrendered the lead on a two run double by Clipper shortstop Luis Valbuena that tied the game 3-3.

In the fifth, the Mud Hens other Australian pitcher, Brendan Wise replaced Simons. In his first batter, Wise threw a wild pitch giving Columbus a 4-3 lead.

During the top of the seventh, Columbus extended their lead to 7-3 on a series of unfortunate fielding plays by the Mud Hens. On a controversial play at the plate involving the Clippers Jordan Brown, Manager Phil Nevin was ejected from the game. Nevin unsuccessfully tried to argue that Brown was out on a tag play.

Toledo could not muster enough offense in the bottom of the seventh to create a game winning rally.

The Mud Hens end their two-day homestand against Columbus on Friday at 7:05.

Game Notes

• Sylvania native, Miss Ohio Becky Minger sang the National Anthem.
  
• Both games today were scheduled for 7 innings based on International League rules mandating that each game of a doubleheader be 7 innings each.
  
• The Mud Hens are now 5-5 all-time on Home Openers at Fifth Third Field.
  
• 3 Time Major League All Star and Cleveland Indian Grady Sizemore was 1-3 with one home run, one walk and two strikeouts today in his rehab assignment.
  
• The Mud Hens' eight hits of Game One were all singles.
  
• Toledo played Columbus in 2008 Home Opener. The Clippers won 2-1.
  
• The most runs scored by the Mud Hens in a Home Opener at Fifth Third Field was 8 against the Durham Bulls in 2005.
  
• The Home Opener marked the 269th sellout in Fifth Third Field history.
  
• Today's attendance was 12,825. That marked the second largest opening day attendance in Fifth Third history as well as the third largest attendance in the stadium's history.
  
• In Game Two, the Mud Hens used two pitchers (Chris Oxspring & Brendan Wise) from Australia.
  
• During the fifth and sixth innings, the Mud Hens hit four consecutive groundouts to Clipper second baseman Jason Kipnis.
  

Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score | Game One Video Highlights | Game Two Video Highlights | Upcoming Games


This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Strieby's RBI single pushes Hens past Clippers, 5-4!
By Tony Bibler
04/15/2011 11:28 PM ET

Recap

The Toledo Mud Hens rallied late to defeat the Columbus Clippers, 5-4, Thursday night at Fifth Third Field. Fu-Te Ni (2-0) earned the win in relief after going 1.1 innings and allowing one unearned run. Ryan Strieby singled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning.

The Mud Hens struck first, in the bottom of the first as Andy Dirks smacked a leadoff double and then advanced to third on an errant throw. Dirks then crossed the plate on a RBI groundout by Scott Thorman to give Toledo the lead, 1-0. The first inning Hens threat was ended as Strieby struck out with Timo Perez in scoring position at second base. The Hens added a two-out run in the bottom of the second when Omir Santos hit a pop up that thanks in part to the wind, fell harmlessly behind first base. Argenis Diaz, who was running on contact, scored from second on the play to push Toledo's lead to 2-0.

Columbus battled back and cut Toledo's lead down to 2-1 after a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth. The Clippers appeared ready to tie the game in the top of the sixth, on what would have been a sacrifice fly, but Perez threw a strike from left field that nailed the runner at the plate and kept the game in the Hens' favor at 2-1. The Clippers would not be denied however and struck back in the seventh with three runs, only one of which was earned, against relievers Ryan Perry and Ni to take a 4-2 lead.

Toledo responded in the home half of the seventh when Scott Sizemore doubled down the left field line to score Diaz and Dirks to tie the game at 4-4. Strieby then gave the Mud Hens a 5-4 advantage with his RBI single. The rally would end there however, as Thorman was tagged out sliding into third base.

RHP Robbie Weinhardt worked the final 1.1 innings to earn his first save of the season.

With the win, Toledo pushes their record to 3-6 while Columbus falls to 6-3.

The Mud Hens will travel to Columbus to take on the Clippers in a three-game weekend series and will return to Fifth Third Field for a seven game home stand April 19-25 to take on Indianapolis and Louisville.

Game Notes

• The game was scheduled for a 7 p.m. start but was delayed by rain until 7:30.
  
• Game time temperature: 44 degrees.
  
• Perry gave up two runs (one earned) and three hits over 1.1 innings in his first rehab appearance in Triple-A Toledo.
  

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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Clippers win their home opener; top Mud Hens, 10-4
By Scott Hochenberg
04/16/2011 6:08 PM ET

Recap

The Columbus Clippers continued their strong performances in 2011 home openers by defeating the Mud Hens 10-4.

Despite the cold, rainy, and wet conditions in Columbus, Ohio, the Mud Hens got off to a hot start in the top of the first by scoring two runs via a Scott Thorman RBI sacrifice fly and a Ryan Strieby RBI single.

The Mud Hens continued to play great team baseball in the second when they turned a leadoff double by Danny Worth into a run by moving him along the bases with a sacrifice bunt then a sacrifice RBI fly hit by catcher Omir Santos.

LHP Duane Below also got off to a hot start. Below fired a scoreless first three innings. However, in the fourth, Below ran into trouble. The Clippers battled back and tied up the game 3-3.

At the start of the sixth inning, another lefty Ramon Garcia came in for relief. Garcia struggled in relief giving up two runs in his first inning of relief. After six innings, it was the Clippers 5 and the Mud Hens 3.

With the bases loaded in the seventh, Scott Thorman hit a key RBI sacrifice fly that brought Toledo to within one run of Columbus.

Garcia's struggles would continue in the seventh when Columbus added some insurance runs with RBI hits by Jerad Head and Jordan Brown. After seven innings, the score was Columbus 8 and Toledo 4.

The Mud Hens showed great heart in the eighth inning by loading the bases for Scott Sizemore. Unfortunately Sizemore struck out ending the chance at a comeback rally.

The Mud Hens' third lefty pitcher of the game, Matt Hoffman, gave up two more runs in the eighth after series of errors and timely hits.

Toledo fought back again in ninth by getting two base hits. However, Toledo could not create a big enough rally to mount a successful comeback.

The Mud Hens play the Clippers again Sunday at 1:05.

Game Notes

• Saturday's game was the home opener for the Columbus Clippers.
  
• Prior to the game, there was a moment of silence for Clippers legend, Harold Cooper, the man responsible for saving minor league baseball in Columbus, Ohio.
  
• During the pre-game ceremonies, Columbus celebrated its 2010 Governors' Cup Championship. Toledo won the 2005 and 2006 Governors' Cup Championship.
  
• In the first two innings, Andy Dirks had two walks and two stolen bases.
  
• Average wind speed during the game was 21 miles per hour.
  
• The Mud Hens used three lefty pitchers. (Below, Garcia, Hoffman)
  

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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Columbus clips Toledo, 6-2, on Sunday
By Scott Hochenberg
04/17/2011 3:49 PM ET

Recap

The Columbus Clippers continued their strong 2011 start by defeating the Mud Hens 6-2. Starting pitcher Adam Wilk was the Mud Hens star of game, giving up only two earned runs in 5.2 innings of work.

Sunday's game began with a very whacky top of the second inning. With two outs and no runners on, Toledo scored the first two runs of the game without ever recording a hit. Toledo pieced together two runs by earning three walks. The Hens used their speed to pick up three stolen bases. Then a comedy of mistakes made by the Columbus infield including two errors and defensive interference led Toledo to scoring their first two runs.

The craziness carried into the bottom half of the second. Shortstop Cale Iorg made an unfortunate throwing error that led to an unearned run.

Scott Thorman had the Hens first hit of the game in the fourth on a smartly executed hit and run.

After the wild and whacky the second, the game settled down with no more runs until the sixth inning when Clipper Jerad Head smacked a two run homer off of Adam Wilk that landed in the left field bleachers. The home run gave the Clippers a 3-2 lead.

LHP Adam Wilk continued to show off his great arm that he debuted in Indianapolis. Wilk gave up zero earned runs in his first 5.1 innings. For the game, Wilk went 5.2 innings surrendering three runs, only of which two were earned.

Clipper lefty Luke Carlin stretched the Clippers lead 4-2 in the seventh with a solo opposite field home run off of reliever Zach Simons that landed in the picnic area of Huntington Park. Carlin got the best of Simons again in eighth when he hit another homer. Carlin's second homer extended the Clippers lead 6-2.

Scott Sizemore continued to swing his hot bat in the eighth. Sizemore roped a single down the right field line but was thrown out trying to extend his hit to a double.

The Hens did not go quietly in the ninth. They had one walk and one hit. However, the rally proved to be not enough.

The Mud Hens play the Clippers again Monday at 11:35 in the morning.

Game Notes

• Wind speeds averaged over 20 MPH throughout game.
  
• First pitch temperature was 56 degrees.
  
• The Hens scored two runs on zero hits in the top of the second.
  
• The first three runs scored in the game were all unearned.
  

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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Hens clobber Clippers, 13-5; six RBI for Thomas!
04/18/2011 2:48 PM ET

Recap

The Toledo Mud Hens concluded their brief road trip with a convincing 13-5 win on Monday afternoon in Columbus. Toledo's record now stands at 4-8 on the young season. The Hens begin a seven-game homestand on Tuesday night at Fifth Third Field.

LHP Andy Oliver made his third start of the season and earned the win, allowing six hits and four earned runs in 6.0 innings of work while striking out eight. Oliver leads the team with 22 strikeouts and is now 2-0 on the year.

Toledo jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the 1st inning when OF Clete Thomas singled softly into left field scoring both Andy Dirks and Ryan Strieby. Both Dirks and Strieby reached base with a walk.

The Hens would increase their lead with some two-out magic in the 4th inning. A Clay Timpner walk was followed with an Andy Dirks double. C Omir Santos would then bring them both home with a two-run single to make the score 4-0.

The Clippers would get on the board in the bottom of the 4th inning when Wes Hodges doubled home two runs against Andy Oliver to cut the lead in half.

Toledo, however, would waste little time in building their lead back up. In the top of the 5th, Danny Worth collected his team-leading 6th double of the year and then 1B Ryan Strieby blasted his 2nd home run of the year to make the score 6-2.

Columbus would answer for the second straight inning with a two spot in the bottom of the 5th frame. This time it would be Chad Huffman smacking a two-run double against Andy Oliver and the lead was back down to two runs for the Hens.

The scoring continued for the Hens in the 7th as OF Andy Dirks hit his 2nd home run of the year. The solo shot made the score 7-4. Several batters later, it would be OF Clete Thomas launching a three-run home run into the seats to give the Hens a commanding 10-4 lead. For Thomas, it was his 3rd home run of the year.

Toledo would pile on some more insurance in the 8th. OF Andy Dirks struck again with another home run. His second of the game and third of the season was a two-run dinger and made the score 12-4. A Clete Thomas sacrifice fly upped the lead to 13-4. Columbus would add a run in the 9th to make the final score 13-5.

Game Notes:

• Toledo will begin a seven game homestand on Tuesday night versus the Indianapolis Indians.
  
• Toledo's first 18 games of the season are against the International League West division.
  
• RHP Ryan Perry threw 15 pitches and faced three batters in a perfect 7th inning as he continues his MLB rehab with the Hens.
  
• Five different Mud Hens had two hits and Andy Dirks paced the offense with three hits.
  
• The 13 runs, 16 hits, and four home runs were all season-highs for Toledo.
  
• Clete Thomas had a career-high 6 RBI in the game. The last time a Hen had six RBI was July 23, 2009 versus Syracuse (Jeff Frazier).
  

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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Tuesday's game has been postponed due to rain.
04/19/2011 7:17 PM ET

Tuesday's game between the Toledo Mud Hens and the Indianapolis Indians has been postponed due to inclement weather.

The two teams will play a doubleheader on Thursday, April, 21 with the first game starting at 5:30 p.m. Both games will be seven inning contests.

Tickets from Tuesday's game can be exchanged for any regular season game for the rest of the 2011 season, based on availability.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Too little, too late; Hens fall to Indians, 4-2
By Nathan Steinmetz
04/20/2011 1:16 PM ET

Recap

Indianapolis starter Justin Wilson had the Toledo bats on ice Wednesday morning as the Tribe established a commanding 4-0 lead on Toledo. A late surge by the Hens wasn't enough as Toledo fell to the Indians, 4-2.

Wilson struck out four and allowed just two hits in six shutout innings. He earned the win and evened his record at 1-1 on the young season.

Indianapolis DH Andy Marte got the scoring started in the second with a solo home run to left field - his second of the year.

The Indians added to their lead in the sixth. Back-to-back doubles by Chase d'Arnaud and Pedro Ciriaco pushed the score to 2-0. Ciriaco stole third base - his fifth stolen base of the season - and scored the third run of the game for Indianapolis on a sacrifice fly by Alex Presley.

Presley picked up his second RBI of the day in the top of the eighth inning, plating Corey Wimbley, and giving the Indians a hefty 4-0 lead.

The Hens finally broke through in the bottom half of the eighth. Andy Dirks legged out an infield single to lead off the inning and moved to third on a Scott Sizemore double to left field. Timo Perez hit into a fielder's choice to score Dirks and the Mud Hens had their first run of the game. Sizemore scored on a two-out single to right off the bat of Scott Thorman and the Hens now trailed by a 4-2 count.

Indians reliever Tim Wood entered the game to get the final out of the eighth and slammed the door for the Tribe in the ninth, retiring the Mud Hens in order.

Toledo starter Thad Weber was solid in seven innings. He allowed three earned runs on five hits, striking out four and walking just one. Weber falls to 0-2 on the season.

The Mud Hens (4-9) and Indians (4-9) will play a doubleheader on Thursday as a makeup for Tuesday's postponed contest. The first game on Thursday will start at 5:30 pm. The second game will begin approximately twenty minutes after the completion of game one. Both games will be seven innings in length.

Game Notes

• Andy Marte hit a home run in the second inning for Indianapolis. Marte hit a lot of home runs at Fifth Third Field in 2006 - when he won the Home Run Derby competition held in Toledo as part of the Triple-A All-Star Game.
  
• Toledo was 1-9 with runners in scoring position today.
  
• Danny Worth smashed his seventh double of the season in the seventh inning, tying him for the International League lead.
  
• This game started at 10:30 am as part of the Mud Hens 'School Celebration Day' series. The Hens have three other home morning games on the schedule: May 10, 24 and 26.
  

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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Mud Hens split Thursday's doubleheader
By Scott Hochenberg
04/21/2011 9:50 PM ET

The Mud Hens split Thursday's doubleheader against the Indianapolis Indians.

Game One: Mud Hens 6, Indians 0
Recap

Game one of Thursday's doubleheader could not have gone any better for the Mud Hens. Toledo asserted its dominance early, when they scored three runs in the first. The inning was highlighted with doubles by Andy Dirks and Ryan Strieby.

The Mud Hens added two insurance runs in the third and one in the fourth. Despite the fact that Toledo did not record an extra base hit in either inning, they were still able to score three runs with timely hits and well executed base running.

Starting pitcher Charlie Furbush was the star of game one. He gave up only one hit and allowed just two base runners during the entire game. Furbush's only hit allowed was a groundball single to left field in the third inning. Additionally, Charlie hurled nine strikeouts in the short seven inning game. Thursday's shutout performance lowered Furbush's season ERA to 1.62.

Ryan Strieby and Clete Thomas led the Mud Hens with 2 RBIs each in game one.

Game Two: Indians 3, Mud Hens 1
Recap

Game two got off to an unusual start. In the bottom of the first, after a leadoff triple by Andy Dirks, Scott Sizemore lined a single off Indianapolis Indian pitcher Jose Asciano. Unfourtnately for Asciano, the single was lined off his head knocking him out of the game. Asciano was on a rehab start from the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Mud Hens were able to take advantage of the Asciano injury and took an early 1-0 lead when veteran Timo Perez stroked a single to the right.

The Indians battled back in the top of the second and tied the game when Dusty Brown lined an RBI single to right.

Due to Tuesday's rainout, the Mud Hens were forced to use reliever Chris Oxspring as a starter. Oxspring tossed a solid three innings giving up only one run.

Reliever Matt Hoffman ran into trouble during the fifth. Indian Cory Wimberly hit what turned into the game winning RBI on a single to right. Pedro Ciriaco added another RBI extending the Indianapolis lead 3-1.

The Mud Hens conclude their four game series against the Indians Friday at 7:05 p.m.

Game Notes

• In game one, all Mud Hen batters had a hit.
  
• In game one, Mud Hen starting pitcher Furbush only allowed 2 base runners.
  
• Game one was catcher Max St. Pierre's first game of the 2011 season.
  
• In game two, Andy Dirks hit Toledo's first triple of the year.
  
• Scott Sizemore has nine hits in his last ten games.
  

Game One Box Score | Game One Video Highlights | Game Two Box Score | Game Two Video Highlights | Upcoming Games

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Solid pitching and hot offense lead Hens past Louisville on Friday, 7-1!
By Tony Bibler
04/22/2011 10:30 PM ET

Recap

The night was cold and damp but that didn't keep the Toledo Mud Hens' offense from catching fire and defeating the Indianapolis Indians, 7-1, on Friday night. Ryan Strieby was 2-for-3 with two RBI. LHP Duane Below and RHP Zach Simons combined to hold Indianapolis to just one run over six hits in the game.

The Mud Hens came ready to swing the bats against Indianapolis starter Rudy Owens. Strieby opened up the scoring early with his first inning RBI single that scored Andy Dirks. Clete Thomas extended the Hens' lead to 2-0 with a sacrifice fly that plated Timo Perez. Strieby struck again in the third, this time doubling home Perez to help Toledo take a 3-0 advantage. The Hens pushed their lead to 4-0 in the fourth when Danny Worth tripled and then scored on a wild pitch.

Indianapolis did break through against Below in the sixth with a solo homerun that cut Toledo's lead to 4-1.

The Mud Hens responded in the bottom of the sixth when Scott Sizemore singled in Worth and Argenis Diaz. Dirks then scored on an Indianapolis throwing error to help pad the Hens' lead to 7-1.

Simons came on and worked the final 2.2 innings in relief to seal the win for Toledo.

With Friday's win the Mud Hens push their record to 6-10 while the Indians fall to 5-11.

The Mud Hens welcome the Louisville Bats to town for a three-game series. First pitch for Saturday's contest is 6 p.m. while Sunday and Monday are slated 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. respectively.

Game Notes

• Tonight was starter Duane Below's first start at Fifth Third Field. Below is a local product from nearby Britton, Mich.
  
• The game was scheduled for a 7 p.m. start but was delayed by rain until 7:23.
  
• Andy Dirks' two hits lengthens his hitting streak to five games.
  

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Video Highlights

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Huge crowd watches Dirks put on a show
By Scott Hochenberg
04/23/2011 8:01 PM ET

Recap

Despite getting out to an early lead on Saturday night, the Hens fell to the Bats, 6-4. Andy Dirks continued to swing a hot bat, belting two homers.

LHP Adam Wilk got Saturday's huge crowd excited early on when he set the down the first ten batters he faced. Wilk also struck out three out of the first four batters he faced.

Dirks continued to swing his hot bat in the bottom of the third when he belted a solo homer that easily cleared the right center field wall.

The Bats broke through in the fourth when Zach Cozart roped a single to center. Louisville took the lead that inning on a two run double by Todd Frazier.

Unfortunately in the fourth, third basemanDanny Worth had to leave the game after hustling out an infield single. Worth was limping after the play and there appeared to be something wrong with his leg. Argenis Diaz came in to pinch run and remained in the game to play third.

Later in the fourth, Dirks brought the crowd to its feet once again, when he belted his second home run of the game. Dirks' homer was a mammoth shot that smacked into the wall of the Fricker's building in right field. Andy's home run gave the Hens a 4-2 lead. Dirks has a six game hitting streak and is eleven for his last twenty.

During the sixth, Wilk was masterful in adversity. With runners on the corners, Adam was able to pitch himself out a jam and was able to keep the Hen's in the lead at 4-2.

In the eighth, Louisville refused to quit. After an Diaz throwing error, Cozart hit an RBI double to close the lead to 4-3. With a runner on third and one out, Robbie Weinhardt came in for a critical relief appearance. Todd Frazier slammed a three run home run that gave the Bats a 6-4 lead. Frazier's home run proved to be the game's winning hit.

Just like the Bats in the eighth, the Hens showed that they had the potential for a comeback. In the bottom of the ninth Scott Sizemore got the rally started after busting out an infield single. Next, veteran Timo Perez earned a hard fought walk. After that, defensive replacement Clay Timpner hit a ground ball to the right side of the infield to bring the tying run to second. However, Diaz was not able to deliver the game winning hit.

The Mud Hens play Easter Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Pitching ace Andy Oliver is scheduled to go against Cincinnati Red, Homer Bailey, who is with Louisville on rehab.

Game Notes

• Today's first pitch temperature was 73 degrees.
  
• Andy Dirks extended his hit streak to six games.
  
• Andy Dirks hit the Mud Hens first Fifth Third Field home run of the year.
  
• Saturday's attendance was 7,491.
  
• Saturday's promotion honored the upcoming wedding of Prince William. 1,000 crowns and tiaras were disturbed to fans.
  
• Saturday's game had three lead changes.
  

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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Homers and Bailey push Bats past Mud Hens, 9-0
By Tony Bibler
04/24/2011 5:06 PM ET

Recap

The Toledo Mud Hens lost, 9-0, in what looked like a marquee pitching match-up on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Field. The Mud Hens' sent LHP Andy Oliver to the mound to take on rehabbing Cincinnati Reds right-hander, Homer Bailey. Bailey (1-0) dazzled on Sunday and picked up the win after blanking the Mud Hens and scattering just three hits over 5.1 innings of work. In contrast, Oliver (2-1) was given the loss after giving up five runs over seven hits in just 4.1 innings.

Louisville (12-5) tallied single runs against Oliver in the second and third to take an early 2-0 lead. The gap between the Bats and the Hens (6-12) widened in the fourth when Kristopher Negron connected for a two-run home run to give Louisville the 4-0 lead. Oliver issued a two out bases loaded walk in the fifth to increase the deficit to 5-0. Fu-Te Ni came on in relief of Oliver and struck out the next batter to keep Louisville's lead from growing any larger. The Bats' roughed up Ni in the seventh on a solo shot and a three-run blast to push their lead over the Mud Hens to 9-0.

The Hens threatened to break into the scoring column in the ninth with Ryan Strieby on third but Clete Thomas flew out to center field to end the game.

Before departing on an eight game road trip, the Mud Hens will take on the Louisville Bats, Monday at Fifth Third Field at 6:30 p.m. The Hens will return to Fifth Third Field on May 5-12 for an eight-game homestand against the Charlotte Knights and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

Game Notes

• Bailey, in addition to pitching well today, holds the Fifth Third Field record for the most strikeouts with 15. He accomplished the feat on April 26, 2009.
  
• Andy Dirks went 0-4 today and had his hitting streak snapped at six games. It was the longest such streak by a Mud Hens player this season.
  
• Sunday's 9-0 setback is the largest margin of defeat this season for the Mud Hens.
  
• The loss also drops Toledo to just 3-8 in day games.
  

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Video Highlights

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Scott Sizemore hits walk off double to give the Hens a thrilling comeback victory!
By Scott Hochenberg
04/25/2011 8:50 PM ET

Recap

Down by two and with the bases loaded, two outs, and two strikes, Scott Sizemore hit a bases clearing walk off double to give the Hens a thrilling 6-5 comeback victory.

At the start of game, Louisville kept swinging their hot bats that they showed on Sunday, when first baseman Danny Dorn powered a two run home run over the right field wall to give the Bats an early 2-0 lead.

Despite surrendering an early lead, RHP Thad Weber would settle down striking out the side in the third.

The Hens rallied back to tie the game in bottom of the third. Andy Dirks continued his wonderful start of the season with a RBI single. Scott Thorman tied the game with another RBI single. The rally was cut short when Sizemore was thrown out at third base on Thorman's RBI base hit.

Toledo caught a break in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead. With runners on first and second, there was a failed attempt at a 3-6-1 double play. After a successful putout at second base, Louisville starter Dontrelle Willis made an erroneous throw to third base to try to get out Ryan Strieby. The throw was wide of third and Strieby scored the Hens third run of the game.

Left fielder Clay Timpner was the defensive star of the fifth inning. First, he made a diving catch on a weakly hit fly ball. After the diving catch, Timpner chased down a well hit line drive that was hit toward the corner of the left field wall. However, Timpner's defensive heroics were not enough to prevent the Bats from regaining the lead. Louisville hit back to back RBI doubles to take a 4-3 lead.

In the sixth Kristopher Negron extended the Bats lead 5-3 with another Louisville RBI single.

The Hens had a chance at a comeback in the eighth. With the tying run on first, Clete Thomas grounded out ending a possible eighth inning rally.

Down by two runs going into the bottom of the ninth, the Toledo Mud Hens refused to quit. Cale Iorg got the rally started with a one out single. Then with two outs, veteran Timo Perez earned a walk. The critical play of the game came when Andy Dirks hit a ground ball to first base. The Louisville first baseman bobbled the ball and made an error that forced the bases loaded. Had Dorn fielded the ball quickly, the game would have ended. Next, Sizemore came up to bat with the bases loaded and two outs. Down to his last strike, Sizemore roped a double down the left field line and Dirks beat out a throw to home to give the Hens a thrilling 6-5 walk off victory.

The Mud Hens begin an eight game road trip tomorrow that includes stops in Syracuse to take on the Chiefs and Pawtucket to play the Red Sox. The Hens return to Fifth Third Field May 5-12 for an eight game home stand.

Game Notes

• Dontrelle Willis played for the Mud Hens parent club, the Detroit Tigers from 2007-2009. He also pitched for the Mud Hens in 2008 and 2009.
  
• Dontrelle Willis' career record at Fifth Third Field is still 0-2.
  
• Scott Sizemore extended his hitting streak to seven games.
  
• Hens starter Thad Weber threw exactly 100 pitches.
  
• Bryan Pounds had a hit in his Mud Hens debut.
  

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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Poor weather in upstate New York forces Hens to play two on Wednesday
04/26/2011 5:37 PM ET

Tuesday's game at the Syracuse Chiefs was washed out due to poor weather in upstate New York.

The Hens will play a doubleheader Wednesday to make up for Tuesday's postponement. The doubleheader is scheduled to start at 5:00.

Upcoming Games

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Hens sweep doubleheader against Syracuse on Wednesday!
By Tony Bibler
04/27/2011 10:48 PM ET

The Toledo Mud Hens take both games of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Syracuse Chiefs by the scores of 6-2 and 3-1. The Hens received fantastic pitching from LHP Charlie Furbush (2-1) in game one. Timo Perez drove in all three Toledo runs in the rain-shortened game two win.

Game One: Mud Hens 6, Chiefs 2

Recap

The Mud Hens took game one of the twin bill on Wednesday thanks to a complete game gem from Furbush. Charlie earned the win after working all seven innings, striking out 11 and allowing two runs.

The Hens tallied the game's first run in the second inning on a Bryan Pounds sacrifice fly that scored Ryan Strieby. Syracuse retaliated in the home half of the second to knot the game at 1-1. Toledo broke the game open in the fourth as Scott Sizemore, Strieby and Pounds all hit solo homers to give the Mud Hens a 4-1 lead. The Hens added insurance runs in the fifth on a Sizemore sac fly and a Perez RBI-single that plated Andy Dirks to extend their lead to 6-1.

The Chiefs added a run in the bottom of the seventh on a solo homer by former Mud Hen Jeff Fraizer but Furbush remained calm and shut down Syracuse to seal the 6-2 win for Toledo.

Game Two: Mud Hens 3, Chiefs 1

Recap

Toledo started off quickly in game two of the doubleheader, taking a 2-0 lead on a two-run RBI single off the bat of Perez. Timo came through for the Hens yet again when he hit a solo bomb in the third inning to push the Mud Hens' lead to 3-0.

Syracuse scored a run in the bottom of the third to cut the Hens' advantage to 3-1. The Chiefs loaded the bases with two outs against spot starter Chris Oxspring in the fourth but Fu-Te Ni came on in relief and struck out the batter to preserve Toledo's 3-1 lead.

Mother Nature intervened with two outs in the top of the sixth; a downpour halted the game until it was ultimately called at 10:31 p.m. Since the game went five innings, the game is considered complete and with the two wins today the Mud Hens record improves to 9-12 while the Syracuse Chiefs fall to 7-13. Ni (3-0) earned the win in relief.

Game Notes

• Furbush's complete game was his second straight complete game. Also, his 11 strike outs are a season high.
  
• This is the Mud Hens third doubleheader of the season and are 3-3 in those games.
  
• Andy Dirks' stolen base in the fifth inning of game two was his seventh stolen base of the year. Dirks is 7-for-7 in stolen base attempts.
  

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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Big fourth inning helps Hens beat Syracuse, 7-2!
By Tony Bibler
04/28/2011 8:52 PM ET

Recap

The Toledo Mud Hens offense was hitting on all cylinders in Thursday night's 7-2 victory over the Syracuse Chiefs at Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse, NY. The victory was highlighted by a five run 4th inning in which ten Mud Hens came to the plate. LHP Duane Below (2-1) earned his second win of the season after working 7.0 innings, striking out five and allowing just one run to score.

The Hens (10-12) tallied the game's first run in the top of the 2nd on a sacrifice fly by Cesar Nicolas. The Mud Hens added another run in the top of the 3rd off of a RBI-double by Andy Dirks to make the score 2-0. John Murrian dealt the big blow in the 5th when he singled in Bryan Pounds and Scott Thorman. Cale Iorg scored and Murrian advanced to second on a throwing error by the Chiefs' (7-14) right fielder, Corey Brown. Dirks then doubled home Murrian and Timo Perez then singled in Dirks to push the Mud Hens lead to 7-0.

The Chiefs did score a run in the bottom of the 6th to make the score 7-1. Zach Simons came out of the bullpen and worked the final 2.0 innings for the Hens. Syracuse did scratch out a run against Simons in the ninth, but that was all they could muster as the Hens were able to seal the 7-2 victory.

The Mud Hens will take on the Syracuse Chiefs one more time Friday night at 7 p.m. Toledo will then travel to Pawtucket to take on the Red Sox in a four-game series from April 30-May 3. The Hens will return to Fifth Third Field for an eight game homestand against the Charlotte Knights and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on May 5-12.

Game Notes

• Tonight was Cesar Nicolas' first game with the Mud Hens. Nicolas was spending time in extended spring training before getting called up to the Hens.
  
• Tonight's win is the Hens' fourth in a row.
  
• Bryan Pounds went 4-for-4 in tonight's contest. Pounds has at least one hit in each of the four games he has played in since being called up from Double-A Erie.
  

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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Hens sweep Syracuse; win 7-1 on Friday!
By Tony Bibler
04/29/2011 9:48 PM ET

Recap

The Toledo Mud Hens took the series finale against the Syracuse Chiefs on Friday night, 7-1. The win gave the Mud Hens their first sweep of the season and improved their record to within one game of .500 at 11-12. LHP Adam Wilk (1-2) pitched masterfully through 7.0 innings allowing just one run, en route to his first win of the season. Timo Perez paced the offense, going 2-for-5 with four RBI.

Lead-off man Andy Dirks got the Hens on the board early with a solo home run to start the game. In the top of the third, Toledo added three runs on Perez's three-run blast to push the lead to 4-0. The three-run shot was preceded by a Max St. Pierre single and a Scott Sizemore walk. The third ended in a peculiar way when Scott Thorman grounded out to first to end the inning. Thorman was then tossed out of the game after arguing with the first base umpire on whether the ball was fair or foul. Clete Thomas was brought off the bench to bat and play right field in Thorman's place.

The Chiefs' (7-15) Chris Marrero hit a solo homer over the left field wall in the bottom of the fourth to come within three of the Mud Hens at 4-1. However, Marrero's smash would be the only run scored by the Chiefs in the contest.

The Hens took a 5-1 lead in the top of the seventh when Cale Iorg singled, advanced to third on a single by Dirks and was eventually brought home on a RBI-single by Sizmore.

With runners on first and third in the top of the ninth, Perez roped a double down the left field line to score Dirks and push Sizemore to third. Ryan Strieby then plated Sizemore with a sacrifice fly to push the Mud Hens lead over Syracuse to 7-1.

Lefthander Matt Hoffman worked a perfect eighth inning in relief of Wilk. Brendan Wise worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning to hand the Hens the 7-1 win and four-game sweep of the Chiefs.

The Mud Hens travel to take on the Pawtucket Red Sox in a four-game series from April 30-May 3. Saturday's game against the Paw Sox is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. The Hens will return to Fifth Third Field for an eight game homestand against the Charlotte Knights and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on May 5-12.

Game Notes

• The Hens four-game sweep of the Chiefs is their first series sweep of the season. It is their first four-game sweep since sweeping Buffalo in four straight on July 23-26, 2010.
  
• Andy Dirks' steal of third in the top of the ninth made him 8-for-8 in stolen base attempts this season.
  
• The win is Toledo's fifth in a row.
  

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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Strong showing by Oliver help Mud Hens squeeze by Pawtucket on Saturday, 4-3!
By Tony Bibler
04/30/2011 9:14 PM ET

Recap

The Toledo Mud Hens win, 4-3, against the Pawtucket Red Sox Saturday night at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, RI. LHP Andy Oliver (3-1) took the win on Saturday after working 7.0 innings, striking out six and allowing just three hits.

The Mud Hens (12-12) got things started in the top of the fourth with a Scott Sizemore single. Sizemore advanced to second on a balk and was pushed to third on a sacrifice bunt by Timo Perez. Ryan Strieby brought Sizemore home in a RBI single up the middle to make the score 1-0. The Hens struck again in the fifth when Argenis Diaz singled with one out. Diaz then advanced to third on a single by Andy Dirks. A Sizemore single brought in Diaz to give Toledo a 2-0 advantage. Sizemore doubled to center field to start the eighth. Perez dropped down a sac bunt but was able to reach first on a fielding error by the Paw Sox (13-10) third baseman. Sizemore reached third on the error and was brought home when Scott Thorman hit a fielder's choice. Thorman then stole second and was then brought home on a RBI single by Cale Iorg to give the Hens a 4-0 lead. Toledo threatened to score again when Iorg stole second but Clete Thomas grounded out to end the inning.

RHP Robbie Weinhardt came in to pitch in the eighth and faced three hitters, all of which reached base. LHP Matt Hoffman replaced Weinhardt and promptly allowed a double that plated two to shrink the Hens' lead to 4-3. With one out and men on first and third, Enrique Gonzalez came out of the pen in relief of Hoffman and recorded a strikeout and a groundout to silence the Red Sox rally. Gonzalez stayed on and worked a perfect ninth inning to give the Mud Hens the 4-3 win.

The Mud Hens take on the Paw Sox again on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. The Hens will return to Fifth Third Field for an eight game homestand against the Charlotte Knights and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on May 5-12.

Game Notes

• The win is the Mud Hens sixth in a row.
  
• Scott Sizemore's 3-for-4 performance tonight pushed his batting average to .417
  
• Cale Iorg's error in the eighth was his ninth error of the year.
  

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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Mud Hens win streak continues with another victory in Pawtucket
By Scott Hochenberg
05/01/2011 3:49 PM ET

Recap

Toledo continued its winning ways on Sunday. The Hens beat the Red Sox 4-3 to win their seventh straight game.

Sunday's action got started right away in the top of the first. With two runners on and two outs, Bryan Pounds lined a single to left. The runner on second,Andy Dirks, tried to give the Toledo an early lead. However, Dirks was thrown out at home after the Red Sox leftfielder fired a bullet to the catcher.

Another opportunity came to Toledo's way in the top of the second. With the bases loaded and two outs, the International League leader in batting average, Scott Sizemore came up to bat. Sizemore struck out squandering another Toledo scoring chance.

Hens starter, RHP Thad Weber, had a commanding start to the game. Weber struck five of the first six batters he faced.

Pawtucket scored the first two runs of the game in the top of the third when they hit back to back home runs down the left field line.

The next inning, the Hens quickly struck back. John Murrian hit an RBI sac fly to right field to get Toledo's first run of the game. Dirks added an RBI single to tie the game. Sizemore's hot April carried into May when he hit a 2 run triple to give the Hens a 4-2 lead.

The Red Sox continued to show their power in bottom of the fourth, when Michael McKenry belted Pawtucket's third homer of the game closing the lead to 4-3.

After an exciting start, the game settled down. The Mud Hens and the Red Sox did not score a run for the rest game. The Red Sox did have the tying run on second in the ninth. However, the Hens were able to prevent the game winning rally by happening.

The Mud Hens play Pawtucket again Monday at 6:15.

Game Notes

• First pitch temperature was 58 degrees.
  
• Red Sox starting pitcher Andrew Miller played for the Mud Hens in 2007.
  
• Miller threw 84 pitches in 3 innings of work.
  
• Hens starter Thad Weber hurled nine strikeouts.
  
• Dirks had two steals in the game. He is now 10 for 10 on steal attempts in the 2011 season.
  

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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.