Toledo Mudhens defeat the Norfolk Tide 5-2

With just a little over a month to go in the AAA International League season the Toledo Mudhens are trying to gain a little ground in the Western Division.  In a tightly bunched race with 3 other teams the Mudhens are looking to qualify for the playoffs. 

The 55-59 Mudhens entered the contest 4 1/2 games behind the Columbus Clippers in the tight division.  They would play the Norfolk Tides (Baltimore Orioles) affiliate in front of a sell-out crowd in downtown Toledo.  The Mudhens defeated the Tides by the score of 5-2 behind the fine pitching performance from Kyle Lobstein.   Lobstein pitched 7 innings with 4 strikeouts in raising his record to 8-10 on the season. 

Herman Perez would lead the Mudhens with 3 hits, driving in 2 runs and scoring twice himself.  Tyler Collins and Wade Gaynor both would bang out 2 hits on the evening.  Gaynor has been taking extra batting practice with Toledo's hitting coach Leon "Bull" Durham and it is starting to pay off.

The Mudhens have 25 games remaining on their schedule all with division rivals in the month of August.  This will make for an interesting race right up until Labor Day to see who advances to the IL playoffs.  It is a short drive to the ballpark in downtown Toledo to see some players who are just a step away from playing in the MLB.