Welcome to Coop Scoop coverage of the 2012 season! The Hens will play the second game of their series against Louisville at Fifth Third Field tonight, with first pitch at 6 p.m. I do have a few notes and quotes, so let’s get rolling!
5:00 p.m. – Before I get rolling, a few things worth noting. It has been interesting to note that Frank Tanana and Denny McLain are at the game – there are two names from memory lane, right? So let’s get rolling with lineups first, OK?
5:05 p.m. –The Mud Hens lineup for manager Phil Nevin. ... Leading off and playing CF is Justin Henry, followed by Argenis Diaz at SS, Andy Dirks in RF, John Lindsey at DH, Danny Dorn at 1B, Danny Worth at 3B, Matt Young in LF, Bryan Holaday at C, Cale Iorg at 2B and LHP Casey Crosby as the starting pitcher. Louisville lineup is next ...
5:10 p.m. -- The Louisville lineup of manager David Bell ... Leading off and playing CF is Denis Phipps, followed by DiDi Gregorius at SS, Henry Rodriguez at 3B, Neftali Soto at 1B, Dioner Navarro at C, Cody Puckett in LF, Felix Perez in RF, Chris Valaika at DH, Willie Harris at 2B and RHP Chad Reineke as the starting pitcher.
5:19 p.m. -- OK, a few notes ... First, the news of the day from Detroit: LHP Drew Smyly was optioned to Toledo by the Tigers after Detroit's game in Toronto. The Mud Hens did not have any official comment on Smyly coming here, but you can expect that he would enter the Toledo rotation. I hope to find out more about Smyly's role with the Mud Hens after the game.
5:29 p.m. -- Here are a few links from Saturday's game. First, click here to read Saturday's game story. Click here to read the notebook in Sunday's paper, which talked about Andy Oliver and his move to the bullpen. And click here to view the photo gallery from Saturday's game, with photos courtesy of The Blade's Andy Morrison.
5:36 p.m. -- Here are a few more links for you to enjoy ... click here to read the in-game blog from Saturday's contest. And click here to read the post-game Hens' Eggs analysis of the contest.
5:44 p.m. -- I've got to see if I can find out some details about Drew Smyly, so I've got to do a little work. I promise to be back after 6 p.m. when the game starts.
6:08 p.m. -- Mud Hens starter Casey Crosby retired the Bats without incident in the first, pitching around a single by getting a caught stealing. Crosby threw 14 pitches in the first inning, 10 for strikes. His fastball sat at 93 mph (one at 91, one at 92, five at 93), while throwing what looked like a cutter that sat at 89 mph (three at 89). Crosby was throwing a curve that sat at 77-78 mph (one at 77, one at 78, and a VERY slow one that sat at 69 mph, according to the scoreboard). I believe he also threw one change-up, which sat at 82 mph. No score as the Hens come to bat in the bottom of the first.
6:19 p.m. -- The Mud Hens could have their hands full with Louisville starter Chad Reineke, who retired the Mud Hens in order in the first inning. Reineke is a strike-thrower who threw strikes with eight of his 10 pitches in the first inning. The native of nearby Defiance who graduated from Ayersville High School won't walk many batters, and he will get ahead of batters and strike them out with good breaking stuff. No score, end of the first.
6:34 p.m. -- Never was able to get an answer about where Drew Smyly fits into the Mud Hens plans. Chris Iott from MLive.com said Smyly will start Toledo's game Tuesday against Louisville. If that is the case, RHP Thad Weber would have his start move back to Thursday (Toledo has the day off Wednesday). We'll see what move the Mud Hens make to get Smyly on the roster ... I would GUESS that LHP Ramon Garcia would be sent to Erie to make room for him. Just a guess, though.
6:50 p.m. -- The Mud Hens fall behind 1-0 when DiDi Gregorius slammed a no-doubt home run to right field. He took a 92 mph fastball well over the fence in right for his fifth home run of the season. Meanwhile Toledo comes to bat in the fourth still looking for their first baserunner.
6:59 p.m. -- Well, the no-hitter alert has been averted ... Justin Henry led off the fifth with a bunt single down the third-base line. But Andy Dirks hit into a double play to end the inning. Dirks grounded out to third base in his first at-bat and is 0-for-2 so far in this game.
7:18 p.m. -- Not a good sign when the Mud Hens don't have a runner left on base until the fifth inning. Danny Worth lined a triple to the wall in right-center, but the hit came with two outs and Matt Young was called out on strikes (on a pitch that was outside) to end the inning. Toledo has had just two baserunners so far against Louisville starter Chad Reineke, who has thrown strikes with 43 of his 68 pitches. It's still Bats 1, Mud Hens 0 as Louisville bats in the sixth.
7:48 p.m. -- Toledo starter Casey Crosby has pitched magnificently tonight, allowing just three hits and two walks through eight innings. Crosby has thrown 109 pitches, 72 for strikes. He retired nine in a row before giving up a walk with two outs in the eighth. Crosby has struck out five and really hasn't been in trouble except for one hitter: DiDi Gregorius pounded a home run to right. The bad news ...
7:56 p.m. -- Is that Louisville starter Chad Reineke has been just a little better as we head to the bottom of the eighth. Reineke has allowed just three baserunners as he departs with Danny Dorn on second base and one out in the eighth. One came on a bunt single in the fourth, and that runner was erased on a double play; one came on a two-out triple, with the runner stranded on third. The third comes here in the eighth, when Dorn worked a leadoff walk. Will Ohman on in relief for the Bats.
8:08 p.m -- But the Mud Hens are unable to take advantage of the scoring opportunity. Danny Dorn advanced to third on a single by Matt Young, with Young moving to second on a bad thrown. Bryan Holaday hit a slow roller to shortstop and Dorn broke to the plate ... but Dorn was thrown out at the plate as Louisville's Dioner Navarra blocked Dorn off the plate and applied the tag. Then Cale Iorg struck out to stand a pair of runners in scoring position. We go to the ninth, Louisville still leads 1-0.
8:20 p.m. -- Louisville tacks on a pair of killer runs in the top of the ninth inning and now leads 3-0 as the Mud Hens come to bat in the ninth. Collin Balester gave up a two-out double to Dioner Navarro, and Cody Puckett -- who hit the grand slam that won Saturday's game for Louisville -- cranked a two-run homer off the scoreboard in left field.
8:30 p.m. -- Mud Hens score a run in the bottom of the ninth to avoid the shutout, but they can't avoid a 3-1 loss that gives them the worst record in the International League. Heading to the clubhouse. Thanks for following along!
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