Mudhens -4 Bulls - 0

I sure do like the artwork of Mudhen baseball. If we're renaming the team, Mudhens gets my vote. Especially if Stuey refuses to spend and we have to endure another season of Minor League baseball at the the Major League level.

If the shoe fits.....

http://www.mudhens.com/view_news.asp?id=401

Chiavacci is Key as Hens Shutout Bulls, 4-0.

TOLEDO, Ohio (August 9, 2007) - The Toledo Mud Hens (69-51) shutout the Durham Bulls (64-55), 4-0, in front of a sell-out crowd on Friday, August 10 at Fifth Third Field. RHP Ron Chiavacci (10-6) pitched seven shutout innings, giving up just three hits and striking out eight, to become the third Mud Hen to reach double digits in the win column. CF Andres Torres hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning that helped secure the Hens' win. Indianapolis lost their game against Louisville, which shrunk the Hens' magic number down to 17 games.

The Hens were the first on the board after three scoreless innings. CF Andres Torres led off the bottom of the fourth with a standing double. Henry Mateo hit a sacrifice bunt and reached second on a throwing error by the Bulls' third baseman, Joel Guzman. The play allowed Torres to score from second. After four innings of play, the Hens had a 1-0 lead against the Bulls.

The Hens provided Chiavacci with some more run support in the bottom of the fifth. 1B Chris Shelton led off the inning by hitting a double. C Dane Sardinha hit a fly ball to the right fielder, but the play allowed Shelton to reach third. With two outs, the next two batters for the Hens, Torres and Mateo, walked to load the bases. LF Timo Perez was the next batter to face LHP Mike Prochaska. During Perez's at-bat, Prochaska went to throw to first base, but instead awkwardly threw the ball down on the ground. The throwing error allowed Shelton to score and the Hens took a 2-0 lead against the Bulls after five.

Torres added two extra runs for the Hens in the bottom of the seventh. SS Erick Almonte led off the seventh with a walk. Torres followed with a shot over the right field fence. The two-run blast marked Torres' third home run on the season for the Hens. After seven innings, the Hens had a four-run lead.

LHP Vic Darensbourg pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the Hens, giving up just one hit and striking out two. RHP Aquilino Lopez pitched a perfect ninth inning, striking out the side.

Prochaska (1-1) took the loss for the Bulls, despite only giving up one earned run. The Bulls defense did not help themselves out any, committing three errors in the game.

Notes: The game marked Fifth Third Field's 29th sell-out in the 2007 season and the 169th in the history of Fifth Third Field. The Hens will embark on a six-game road trip beginning on Saturday, August 11 through Thursday, August 16. The Hens will play three, two-game series at Indianapolis, Norfolk and Richmond, in that respective order. Probable starters for Saturday's game are RHP Dennis Tankersley (8-6, 4.93) for the Hens and RHP Bryan Bullington (10-5, 3.86) for the Indians. Join Jim Weber for all the live play-by-play on 1470 AM - The Ticket.

-Nori Wieder, Toledo Mud Hens