Toledo Mud Hens 13

**Stardust** · 04-19-2012, 01:07 PM

The Louisville Bats have proved they can come back against the Toledo Mud Hens. Beating them is an entirely different matter.

For the second straight evening, the Bats had a big rally but still lost. This time they fell 13-9 on Wednesday at Louisville Slugger Field to drop to 1-5 against the Mud Hens. They pulled out of a 6-1 deficit to go ahead 7-6 entering the sixth inning but gave the lead right back.

Brad Eldred launched a go-ahead three-run homer off Jordan Smith during the six-run inning as Toledo went up 12-7. Eldred added a solo shot in the seventh to make it 13-8 and give him five RBIs. He leads the International League with seven home runs.

âNot the best game to be a part of,â Bats manager David Bell said. âOur pitchers have done a good job up to this point. There are always going to be games like this over the course of a year. Theyâre never fun. Itâs important to bounce back.â

Smith (0-1), who was charged with four runs in one-third of an inning, had just been activated off the disabled list (sore right elbow) by the parent Cincinnati Reds and optioned to Louisville. To make room, right-hander Kanekoa Texeira was placed on the Batsâ DL with a left oblique strain.

âI really just wanted to get him into a ballgame,â Bell said of Smith. âIâve seen Jordan pitch quite a bit. What a great competitor. Heâs getting himself back into shape to pitch. Heâs going to be fine. It was beneficial even though the results werenât good just to get him out there.â

Toledo pounded out a season-high 21 hits, with University of Kentucky product Ryan Strieby contributing a single, double and triple.

It was another unusual game following on the heels of Tuesdayâs four-hour affair in which the Bats rallied for three runs in the ninth to force extra innings, only to lose 9-7 in the 10th. Louisville (5-9) is still searching for its first come-from-behind victory.

For a while it looked like recently acquired Mike Costanzo would be the hero for the Bats. Promoted from Double-A Pensacola on Tuesday to fill the roster spot vacated when Todd Frazier was called up to the Reds, Costanzo made his Triple-A season debut.http://www.courier-journal.com/article/2...ext|Sports