Here is pre-game and in-game information from the Mud Hens' game vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at Fifth Third Field on Tuesday, May 14. Scroll to the bottom for lineups and pre-game notes. Make sure to press “refresh” for updates throughout the contest.
GAME INFORMATION
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (20-16)
at Toledo Mud Hens (11-28)
First pitch: 6:30 p.m.
Television: BCSN.
Radio: 1230 AM, WCWA. Click here to listen on the Internet.
Gameday: Click here to follow the contest pitch-by-pitch.NINTH INNING
Mud Hens reliever Jess Todd pitches a 1-2-3 ninth to close out the 10-2 victory. Toledo now has won two in a row heading into Wednesday's 10:30 a.m. start. Thanks for following along!
EIGHTH INNING
Former Mud Hen Clay Rapada came on and struggled, giving up a leadoff single to Quintin Berry and a walk to Brandon Douglas followed by a one-out single by Ramon Cabrera to load the bases. Then the wheels came off for Rapada, who walked Jordan Lennerton and Nick Castellanos to force home two runs, followed by a LONG sacrifice fly by Danny Dorn. The three runs give the Hens a 10-2 lead as we move to the ninth.
Mud Hens reliever Evan Reed had to dodge some bullets to pitch a scoreless inning. He gave up a leadoff single to Ronnier Mustelier, but Melky Mesa hit a hot shot that Argenis Diaz was able to grab and turn into a double play. Then Zoilo Almonte singled, stole second and went to third on a wild throw. But he was stranded at third on a groundout to end the inning.
SEVENTH INNING
Toledo scored one run, but RailRiders reliever blocked a potential hit to save himself a run. With one out Nick Castellanos singled, then Danny Dorn hit a hard liner to center that Melky Mesa misplayed into a run-scoring triple. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pulled the infield in for Ben Guez, who scalded a line drive off Betances -- straight to shortstop Addison Maruszak for the out. Mud Hens do get one run, thought, and lead 7-2 as we move to the eighth.
The Mud Hens call on Evan Reed to pitch the seventh, and he relied on a LOT of fastballs to retire the RailRiders in the inning. Of the 21 pitches Reed threw, 18 were fastballs -- all sitting in the 93-96 mph range with a high of 97. Reed struck out two and gave up a bloop single in his inning of work.
SIXTH INNING
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre calls on Dellin Betances in relief, and Betances -- once one of the top prospects in the Yankees system -- retires the Mud Hens in 1-2-3 order. No good swings against a guy who threw in the mid-90s and showed pretty good command of a breaking ball -- at least with the 12 pitches he threw in the sixth. We move to the seventh, and Toledo still leads 6-2.
The RailRiders spoil the shutout bid by Jose Alvarez with a two-out, two-run rally. With two outs and no one on, Melky Mesa blooped a single to left and Zoilo Almonte doubled into the right-field corner to score the run. Then Luke Murton blooped a single up the middle to score Almonte. Alvarez has thrown 94 pitches, so his day may be over. The Mud Hens come to bat in the sixth with their lead trimmed to 6-2.
FIFTH INNING
The Mud Hens tack on two more runs in the fifth as Ramon Cabrera was hit by a pitch and Nick Castellanos singled in front of Danny Dorn, who lined a double to the wall in right-center to score both runners. Toledo leads 6-0 as we move to the sixth.
A 1-2-3 inning that took Toledo's Jose Alvarez just 10 pitches to accomplish. At this point Alvarez has thrown just 66 pitches, 45 of which have been strikes.
FOURTH INNING
Dr. Longball makes a pair of house calls as the Mud Hens score three times. Danny Dorn led off with a walk, and Ben Guez slammed his second home run in as many days, a high opposite-field fly that is his fifth of the season. Then with two outs Brandon Douglas slamed a 1-1 pitch off the base of the scoreboard in left for his first home run of the season. As we move to the fifth, the Mud Hens lead 6-0.
Two quick outs by Jose Alvarez in the fourth, then two bloop singles put runners on first and second. Alvarez got a weak flyout by Addison Maruszak to end the inning. Alvarez has thrown 56 pitches, 39 for strikes, through four.
THIRD INNING
The Mud Hens get the leadoff man on base, but Argenis Diaz is stranded on third. The final out came on a DEEP fly to center off the bat of Nick Castellanos, but it was caught at the base of the fence in straight-away center. Toledo still leads 1-0 as we move to the fourth.
Two strikeouts for Jose Alvarez, then a single and a flyout get the Mud Hens through the third inning. Alvarez already has four strikeouts through three innings and has thrown just 41 pitches, 28 of which were strikes.
SECOND INNING
The Mud Hens broke on top with a run off Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's Caleb Cotham, who gave up a leadoff double to Ben Guez, a groundout by Kevin Russo that moved Guez to third, and a sacrifice fly by Quintin Berry. Toledo leads 1-0 as we move to the third.
Hens starter Jose Alvarez gave up two singles but no runs in the second. The Mud Hens had a chance for a double play -- a tough double play, because it was started by the first baseman -- but no damage.
FIRST INNING
The Mud Hens collected a pair of hits off Joba Chamberlain but did not score. Chamberlain threw 12 pitches, nine of which were strikes. He gave up back-to-back two-out singles to Jordan Lennerton and Nick Castellanos and also gave up a pair of hard-hit fly balls. Of the 12 pitches Chamberlain threw, five were curveballs that sat at 74-75 mph (one at 74, two at 75, one at 77, one at 78) while the four fastballs sat between 90-93 mph (one at each speed). I believe he threw one slider (86 mph) and two change-ups (one at 83, one at 84). No score as we head to the second.
Mud Hens starter Jose Alvarez starts out strong, retiring the RailRiders 1-2-3 with a pair of strikeouts. Alvarez needed just 12 pitches -- eight of which were strikes -- to finish the inning.
STARTING LINEUPS
SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE: Leading off and playing 2B is Corban Joseph, followed by David Adams at 3B, Thomas Neal in RF, Ronnier Mustelier at DH, Melky Mesa in CF, Zoilo Almonte in LF, Luke Murton at 1B, Addison Marusczak at SS, Jeff Farnham at C and RHP Joba Chamberlain as the starting pitcher.
MUD HENS: Leading off and playing SS is Argenis Diaz, followed by Ramon Cabrera at C, Jordan Lennerton at 1B, Nick Castellanos in LF, Danny Dorn at DH, Ben Guez in RF, Kevin Russo at 3B, Quintin Berry in CF, Brandon Douglas at 2B and LHP Jose Alvarez as the starting pitcher.
PRE-GAME NOTES
- Let’s start with an update on the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre roster, which has some familiar faces – and is missing a familiar face, too. First, the player who is gone: OF Curtis Granderson, who played for the Mud Hens in 2005, ended his rehab assignment with the RailRiders and was recalled to New York.
- OK, here are the guys who are here: RHP Joba Chamberlain will start today’s game against the Mud Hens. According to the New York media, Chamberlain will throw just one inning in this contest. Also, the Yankees optioned OF Brennan Boesch to the RailRiders. At this point Boesch is not in the starting lineup for tonight – in fact, he is not on the lineup card as we speak.
- And now, a little bad news regarding Toledo LHP Casey Crosby. According to Mud Hens manager Phil Nevin, Crosby felt some soreness after his May 12 start at Indianapolis. Crosby will miss his scheduled Friday, May 17 start against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as the extent of his injury is determined.
- UPDATE: When I posted the note above, I said Luke Putkonen would take the start in Crosby's place. I have been told that this is no longer the case: Friday's starter has yet to be determined.
- Still no word on the three injured Mud Hens: IF Danny Worth, RHP Luis Marte and LHP Pat Misch. Worth is basically "waiting out the pain," according to Nevin. Since he has not played in roughly a month, it wouldn't be unusual if Worth had a short rehab assignment before returning to the Mud Hens. Marte is not with the Hens (presumably he is in extended spring training in Lakeland), while Misch still is not ready as well. "Until they are game-ready, there's not much more I can tell you about them," Nevin said.
- The Mud Hens began the day with a 24-man roster after Avisail Garcia was promoted to Detroit. RHP Robbie Weinhardt has been called up from Double-A Erie to fill the Hens roster. Weinhardt wasn't gone long -- the official move sending him to the SeaWolves was dated May 13.
- Here's a link to a look at the Mud Hens' week in review -- and a preview of the coming homestand.
