Red Wings blown out by Mud Hens

By: Victor Menendez / Sports Director

J.T Arruda fielding a ground ball (Joseph Territo/Rochester Red Wings)

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Rochester Red Wings fell to the Toledo Mud Hens in the final game of their six-game series by a score of 13-4 on Sunday. Rochester lost five of the six games in the series, allowing an average of 11.8 runs per game.

"It's just been a tough series against these guys," Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy said. "They're hot as a firecracker and we're not pitching the way we need to pitch to keep them from scoring."

After a scoreless first inning, a 62-minute rain delay knocked Mud Hens starter Sawyer Gipson-Long out of the game, being replaced by Jose Urquidy. Red Wings starter Riley Cornelio stayed in the game.

"We have a rule here, once we have a delay, you only have an hour even if you're throwing in the bullpen or keeping your arm loose," LeCroy said. "Luckily we hit it right at the right time so Riley was able to give us what he could give us. I thought he did a nice job."

Justyn-Henry Malloy got Toledo on the board first in the top of the third. After Cornelio put runners on first and second with two walks, Malloy drove Gage Workman in with a two-out single.

Cornelio surrendered just that one run in his three innings of work, allowing two hits and two walks, fanning two.

The Red Wings tied the game at one in the bottom half of the inning. J.T. Arruda led off the inning with a bloop single, stole second and advanced to third on a sac fly. Nasim Nunez then drove Arruda in on a single up the middle past the drawn in infield.

The Mud Hens took the lead right back in the top of the fourth. Three straight singles to open the inning loaded the bases for Toledo. Red Wings reliever Andry Lara then issued a walk to plate a run followed by a balk to score another. Hao-Yu Lee scored two more Toledo runners on a single to give the Mud Hens four on the inning and a 5-1 lead.

After Rochester and Toledo traded blows in the middle innings, the Mud Hens found themselves up 7-4 going into the top of the eighth inning. Toledo then put the game well out of reach, scoring six runs on five hits and two walks, highlighted by a 411 ft three-run shot from Malloy.

The Red Wings tied a season high, walking 11 batters on the game.

"We have one of the best pitching coaches in the world here in [Rafael Chaves]," LeCroy said. "I know he takes it personal but I know it's not because of a lack of work and a lack of preparation. We use all the technology we have. A lot of times it's just your brain spiraling and sometimes the game goes a little bit too fast and you start spraying the ball, trying to be too perfect."

Arruda came on as a position player pitching to get the final four outs for Rochester, marking his fourth scoreless appearance on the mound for Rochester and third in the last four days.

"He's been one of our better guys, which is sad, but it's just where we're at," LeCroy said.

With the loss, the Red Wings fall to 21-30 in the second half and 48-75 overall, last place in the IL East. Toledo stays in first place in the IL West in the second half with the win at 32-19.

The Red Wings will have Monday off before heading to Jacksonville. First pitch on Tuesday is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.