Explosion! Hens Tee Off on Chiefs, Win 18-1

Toledo scored twice in the first inning and never looked back; a 10-run third sparked an 18-1 win that saw the Hens set several records. Brent Clevlen hit three HR, one as part of back-to-back-to-back shots in the third.

The Hens sent 16 hitters to the plate in the 10-run frame. 3B Will Rhymes hit a 3-run bomb off the foul pole in right that had made it 8-0, then Clevlen followed with a homer past the picnic tables in right-center, and C Max St-Pierre got into the act to make it 10-0. It was the first time the Hens have hit three consecutive home runs since Chris Shelton, Mike Hessman and Ryan Raburn did it on April 25, 2007.

The offensive explosion was so epic that Syracuse had position players pitching as early as the third inning. The Hens extended the lead to 18-0 in the seventh before Syracuse finally scored once in the eighth for the 18-1 final score.

Lost in the mammoth amount of offense was the eight innings of dominant pitching from Chris Lambert. He took a shutout into the eighth inning before Syracuse finally put their one run on the board. Lambert has been on a magnificent streak. Nine of his last ten starts have been "quality" (6+ IP/3 ER or less), and he has posted a 1.22 ERA.

Game Notes:

Record Books: Here is a list of the Fifth Third Field records that were set by the Mud Hens tonight:
  -Most Runs/Inning: 10 (3rd inning)
  -Most Extra-Base Hits/Game: 11 (5 doubles, 6 HR)
  -Most HR/Game (tie): 6 (Rhymes, Clevlen-3, St-Pierre, Frazier
  -Most Hits/Game (Both Clubs, tie): 32
  -Most HR/Game (Individual): 3 (Brent Clevlen -- 3rd, 4th, 7th innings)

History Lesson: Mike Hessman, Jack Hannahan and Dane Sardinha are the others to hit three homers in a game at Fifth Third Field.

Season Highs: The Mud Hens set season highs with 18 runs, 24 hits, 11 extra-base hits, 5 doubles, and 6 HR. The margin of victory (17) was also their largest of the season.

Offensive Highlights: Every Hens starter had at least one hit and scored at least one run. 1B Jeff Larish and Rhymes were the only starters to not have multiple hits. CF Don Kelly and LF Jeff Frazier each had four base-knocks; Frazier also set a Mud Hens season-high with six RBI.

Rehabbing Guillen: Tigers LF Carlos Guillen played his second game with Toledo as part of a rehab stint. The Tigers' slugger has been on the DL since early May with shoulder problems. Guillen went 3-4 with an RBI and two runs as the designated hitter in Larry Parrish’s lineup.

Streak Still Going: SS Brent Dlugach went 3-6 to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. He is batting .438 (21-48) during the streak. Also on fire, Frazier is batting .632 with hits in each of his past five games, and 2B Scott Sizemore is now the owner of a six-game hitting streak (.320).

Next Game: The Hens host the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in a double-header on Friday, continuing a 10-game homestand. Guillen is expected to continue his rehab with Toledo -- Click Here for Tickets.

--Craig Vanderkam, Toledo Mud Hens