PAWTUCKET, R.I. — The Toledo Mud Hens split a doubleheader Monday at Pawtucket, claiming a 3-0 victory in the first game before losing 6-4 in eight innings in Game 2.
In the opener, Toledo starter Blaine Hardy was outstanding, allowing just one hit and one walk in six scoreless innings to improve to 2-0 on the season. Louis Coleman retired the Red Sox in 1-2-3 order in the seventh to claim his seventh save as the Hens posted their third shutout this season.
Pawtucket leadoff batter, Rusney Castillo, doubled to start the bottom of the first against Hardy. But the left-hander stranded Castillo at second, then pitched around a one-out walk to Dan Butler in the second. Hardy got two outs after that, the first two of 14 consecutive Pawtucket hitters he retired after the free pass.
But the Hens struggled against Red Sox starter Chandler Shepherd, who did not allow a hit until the fifth. Toledo’s Edwin Espinal broke up the potential no-hit bid with a leadoff single, and one out later Espinal ran to third on a single by Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
Kody Eaves drew a nine-pitch walk to load the bases, and Shepherd walked Pete Kozma on four consecutive pitches to force home a run.
The Mud Hens added some breathing room with a pair of home runs against Stepherd in the sixth, as Dawel Lugo drilled his first of the season to start the inning and Jim Adduci added his second of the season with two outs.
The second game remained scoreless until the top of the third when Pawtucket, the visiting team in a game that was a make-up of a contest rained out April 15 in Toledo, got a home run from Chad De La Guerra against Toledo starter Josh Turley.
The Hens managed just three hits and a walk in four scoreless innings against Pawtucket starter Josh Smith, but got to Brandon Workman for a pair of runs in the fifth. Grayson Greiner got things rolling with his first home run of the season, then Adduci had a two-out double before scoring on a single by Lugo.
Turley finished with nine strikeouts but was not able to hold the lead nor escape the sixth. Castillo led off that inning with a single, then stole second with two outs before taking third on a passed ball.
Mike Ohlman then doubled home Castillo with the tying run.
The eighth inning, the start of extras, began with Pawtucket’s Castillo on second base, and Toledo reliever Paul Voelker walked Ramon Flores on four pitches before hitting Sam Travis with a pitch to load the bases.
Mike Olt cleared them by hitting a 1-2 pitch over the fence in left for a grand slam.
That four-run deficit proved too much to overcome, although the Hens gave it a shot. With Mikie Mahtook placed on second to start the inning, Adduci slammed a home run to center against Red Sox reliever Bobby Poyner, Adduci’s second of the day.
But Poyner got the final three outs.
The two teams will play a single game at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday
NOTES: Before the doubleheader, the Tigers called up outfielder Mike Gerber. He took the roster spot of pitcher Drew VerHagen, who was designated for assignment by Detroit. … The Mud Hens activated Eaves to take the roster spot vacated by Gerber.
First Published April 23, 2018, 10:34 p.m.
