Article published June 04, 2008
Clevlen powers Mud Hens with pair of homers
By JOSH COOK
SPECIAL TO THE BLADE
LOUISVILLE - Brent Clevlen continued to crush the baseball last night, launching two long home runs and knocking in five in Toledo's 7-2 win over the Louisville Bats.
That came just one night after he went 3-for-6 with a home run and five RBIs in the Hens' 17-3 win over Indianapolis on Sunday.
"I'm just seeing it good and getting some good swings and finding the holes when I hit them," Clevlen said.
The victory moved Toledo two games ahead of the Bats in the International League West.
Clevlen's homers - a three-run shot in the first and a two-run shot in the third - helped make Lauren Gagnier's Triple-A debut successful. Gagnier didn't get the win, because he only went four innings, but he allowed just two runs on four hits, while walking five, striking out five and allowing the Bats to steal three bases.
"He did a nice job of keeping us in the game," Mud Hens manager Larry Parrish said. "It was a battle for him. There were a lot of baserunners and they were taking advantage of him having a slow delivery to the plate. But we just quit worrying about it and said, 'Let them run, just get their hitters out.'•"Four relievers combined to shutout the Bats the rest of the way. Fernando Rodney, down from Detroit on a rehab assignment, picked up his first win with two shutout innings.
Thanks to Clevlen the Hens got off to a big start against Louisville left-hander Matt Maloney (6-3). Michael Hollimon and Freddy Guzman singled, then after Mike Hessman struck out, Clevlen smashed high changeup for a three-run home run that was, literally, out of the park.
"I hit it pretty good," Clevlen said.
"I was just trying to get something in the air to the outfield, to get a sac fly, but I guess I hit it a little better than that and got a bonus."
The homer - Toledo's IL-best 100th of the season - went an estimated 450 feet. It also extended Clevlen's hitting streak to 14 games. He is 24-52 (.462) with six home runs and 26 RBIs in that span.
"He's been swinging the bat really good," Parrish said.
In the third Clevlen launched another one, this one a two-run shot off a fastball that traveled an estimated 428 feet. It bounced on the deck in front of Overlook Grill in right-center and nearly bounced into the concession stand there.
The homer scored Guzman, who went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and four stolen bases.Tigers call Fossum
The Detroit Tigers promoted left-handed pitcher Casey Fossum from Toledo yesterday.
Fossum, 30, was 3-0 with a 1.96 ERA for the Mud Hens this season. He had been scheduled to pitch for Toledo last night in Louisville. Since joining the Hens' starting rotation May 10, he had allowed three runs (two earned) in 261/3 innings.
Fossum had a clause in his contract with Detroit that allowed him to leave the organization if not promoted to the big leagues by the end of the month. He has pitched in parts of seven major league seasons.
To make room for Fossum on the roster, the Tigers designated relief pitcher Francisco Cruceta for assignment.
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