STAFF REPORTS
T.J. Zeuch allowed just two hits and two walks through the first seven innings, but Toledo was finally able to crack the code of the 2016 first round pick in the eighth that helped them to a 5-1 win over the Herd, Wednesday night at Fifth Third Field.
Zeuch made quick work of the Mud Hens’ offense in his first seven innings inducing nine groundouts, five fly-outs, a doubleplay and a pick-off in addition to his four strikeouts.
But as the game moved to the eighth, the Bisons had just a 1-0 lead. Toledo opened the bottom of the eighth with three straight singles to load the bases and Jacob Robson hit the fourth in a row that scored Mikie Mahtook to tie the game at one. Zeuch was able to get Josh Harrison to fly-out to Anthony Alford in right before his night ended.
Taylor Saucedo came in to replace Zeuch and on just his second pitch of the night, Ronny Rodriguez sent it over the wall for a grand slam to give the MudHens the 5-1 lead.
For the Bisons, Rowdy Tellez scored the lone run after hitting a one-out double to left in the sixth inning. Patrick Kivlehan then traded places with the slugging first baseman after connecting on a double of his own.
Following the sixth, the Herd managed just two base runners the rest of the contest when Alford and Tellez both singled in the eighth inning with one out. Kivlehan unfortunately connected on a ball that was hit right to Willi Castro at third base for the inning-ending double play.
Tellez has now reached base via base hit or walk in 16 straight games that has dated back to July 23rd after his three-hit night on Wednesday. During the streak, Tellez is batting .446 (25-56) with 18 runs, eight doubles, six home runs, 17 runs batted in and 13 walks, good for a .551 on-base pct. The first baseman has also hit two doubles in each of his last three ball games.
For Zeuch, the 7.1 innings wasn’t only a new season-high, but it was the second-longest start in his four-year career. Zeuch has finished the eighth inning just once in 62 professional games when he achieved this on June 14th, 2018 in Akron while pitching for Double-A New Hampshire.
While Buffalo dropped two of the three games against the MudHens in Toledo, they won’t have to wait long to rebound. The two teams will square off at Sahlen Field when Buffalo returns home from the remainder of their road trip and after an off-day on Monday. Polish Festival Night will open the series August 13th at 7:05 p.m. followed by ‘Buffalo Wings’ Wednesdays also at 7:05 p.m. and the season series will wrap up with a 1:05 p.m. game on Thursday.
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