Mud Hens shut down Worcester bats in 2-1 win

WORCESTER, Mass. — Toledo Mud Hens’ pitching scattered five Worcester hits as they held off the host Red Sox 2-1 on Friday at Polar Park.

The Mud Hens kept the Red Sox off the scoreboard over the last four innings, even stymying a golden opportunity for Worcester in the bottom of the eighth inning. Two walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with Red Sox with two outs, but Toledo reliever Andrew Vasquez induced a groundout from Kristian Campbell that ended the threat.

Vasquez set Worcester (65-64) down in order in the ninth, earning the save.

Bryan Sammons went the first four innings for the Hens, allowing a run on just two hits and striking out six. Jack Anderson followed Sammons and went 2⅔ innings, allowing no runs on three hits with three strikeouts as he picked up the win.

Toledo (61-68) got the scoring started in the top of the second.

The Mud Hens’ first four batters reached as Andrew Navigato walked, then Eddys Leonard, Stephen Scott, and Justice Bigbie all singled, with Bigbie’s knock scoring Leonard for a 1-0 lead.

A pair of doubles by Ryan Vilade and Akil Baddoo — with a Justyn-Henry Malloy walk in between — brought in another run as Toledo extended its lead at 2-0 in the top of the fifth.

However, the Red Sox trimmed the lead in half (2-1) in the bottom of the fifth thanks to Vaughn Grissom’s RBI single.

After winning the last two nights, the Hens have evened the series at two games apiece through four games.

Toledo takes on Worcester at 4:05 p.m. Saturday at Polar Park. The Mud Hens have yet to name a starter, while Justin Hagenman (4-5) will start for Worcester.