The Toledo Mud Hens completed their first ever four-game sweep of the Louisville Bats Friday night with a 2-1 victory before 6,987 fans at Louisville Slugger Field.
In a complete 180-degree turn from the previous three games of the series in which a combined 52 runs were scored, including 32 by Toledo, the two teams engaged in a pitching dominated game featuring 2-for-19 combined hitting with runners in scoring position.
The game winning hit came in the third inning when Brad Eldred singled home Eric Patterson. It was Eldred’s 21st run batted in of the season and his 16th in eight games against the Bats. Eldred has also hit safely in all 15 games this season.
After Eldred scored on Matt Young’s triple to give Toledo a 1-0 lead in second, the Bats responded with a run of their own on a single by Felix Perez.
The Bats threatened with runners in scoring position in the third, seventh, and ninth innings but could not push across the tying run.
Louisville did receive terrific work out of their bullpen. Josh Judy and Ron Mahay combined to pitch 3.2 innings of scoreless baseball giving up just two hits while striking out three and walking just one.
Brett Tomko started for the Bats and went 5.1 innings giving up two runs on six hits, walking three and striking out five.
Louisville, who lost their fourth game in a row, fell to a season worst six games under .500 at 5-11. Toledo improved their record to 10-5, good for a one game lead over Columbus in the International League West Division.
The Bats play host to the Indianapolis Indians Saturday afternoon in the first of a five game split series. The Bats will send Jeff Francis (1-1, 3.18 ERA) to the hill against Indy’s Rudy Owens (0-0, 4.50 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 2:05.
Tickets are still available for tomorrow’s game. Fan with tickets to the game receive a wristband to come and go as they please throughout the day and come back to their seat for Thunder Over Louisville.
