Even though Huntington Park sold out for the 15th time, the 10,000+ fans that packed bleachers had little to cheer about coming into tonight's game. The Clippers had lost the last seven games in a row, which hadn't happened since August of '08. A few nights before, the Durham Bulls had completed a sweep of the Clippers. To make it worse, the night before, the Toledo Mud Hens had routed the Clippers in the start of their 5-game series, 12-4, which let them jump the Clippers for 3rd place in the International League. Statistically, it was a bad time to be a Clippers fan.
But, leading up to tonight's game, fans learned some news that pumped them up. Andy Marte, the powerful third baseman, had been awarded Player of the Week status by the IL. Then, Marte, along with first baseman Jordan Brown, and catcher Wyatt Toregas were all named to the IL All Star team. As if that were not enough, right before the game, local soldiers-to-be were sworn into the US Army, and two current soldiers threw out the opening pitches. Finally, there was some good news, and some inspiration, for Clippers fans.
Toledo's Brent Dlugach watches a third strike come in as RHP Brian Grening strikes out his 3rd batter in the 1st inning. Credit: Robert M. Barga
Brian Grening, who Columbus had just acquired from Mahoning Valley, made sure to keep the fans happy. In the first inning, three Mud Hens walked up to the plate, and three were sent down swinging. In the second, even though he walked two people, Grening struck out two more. Midway through the third, when the Mud Hens were starting to get his number, the Clippers switched him out. Grening walked out to a standing ovation; after all, in two innings of work he allowed only one hit, struck out five batters, and walked two.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
Saw the box score. Toledo third baseman Mike Hessman, who's in a terrible funk this year, pitched the scoreless ninth inning, which amuses me. Maybe that's how he'll finally get called up.
2 - Robert M. Barga
I love that stat matt, sweet
3 - Robert M. Barga
also, that was in the 8th
4 - Robert M. Barga
oh, and, fyi, that was the first grand slam in Huntington park history