Toledo Mud Hens 5, Iowa Cubs 1 (F/7)(box)
This was a pretty tight, well played game all around but the Hens pitching staff was up to the task and the offense broke through with a big inning late to take down the Cubs on Wednesday night.
Andrew Navigato opened the scoring in the top of the second with a solo shot, his 11th on the year. Unfortunately, Lockhart allowed a solo shot to Chase Strumpf to lead off the bottom half. The left-hander wasn’t at his best in this one but he still collected a lot of weak contact that kept the Cubs from ever
really threatening a rally against him.
The offense came right back to reclaim the lead as Hao-Yu Lee doubled to open the third inning. A ground out from Trei Cruz got Lee to third base, and Eduardo Valencia striped a double the opposite way to make it a 2-1 ball game. Jace Jung followed by drawing a walk, but the squander bit them as Max Anderson grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Lockhart kept the Cubs quiet from there through the fifth, and in the top of the sixth the Hens got loose at the plate again.
Jace Jung led off the inning with a 111.7 mph rocket to right for his 17th home run of the year. That made the lead 3-1 but they weren’t done. Anderson and Gage Workman followed him with singles, and Navigato ripped a two-run double to left to make it 5-1.
Brenan Hanifee took over from Lockhart with a scoreless sixth inning. Tyler Mattison handled the seventh, but with two outs and Dixon Machado on first after a walk, the skies opened up in Iowa. After a half hour delay and no sign of play being able to resume, they finally put this one in the books.
Navigato: 2-3, R, 3 RBI, 2B, HR
Jung: 1-2, R, RBI, HR, 2 BB
Cruz: 1-2, 2 BB, SB, CS
Lockhart (W, 5-7): 5.0 IP, ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K
Erie looks to get on track on Thursday
SeaWolves’ pitching and defense were uncharacteristically shaky in Tuesday’s Game 1 loss to the Altoona Curve in the Eastern League divisional round. With Game 2 and 3 at home if necessary, they’re in good position to even the series on Thursday with lefty Andrew Sears on the mound. He’ll take on a solid Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prosepect in RHP Antwone Kelly. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. ET
