Gwinnett rally falls short, Mud Hens win 10-3

TOLEDO, Ohio -- The Toledo Mud Hens avoided a sweep by the Gwinnett Braves in the second series of the season between the two teams.

Toledo routed the G-Braves 10-3 on Thursday at Fifth-Third Field in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens improved to 55-57, while Gwinnett fell to 63-49.

Toledo starter Nate Bump tossed eight scoreless innings, holding the G-Braves to four hits and striking out seven. Jonny Venters picked up his second straight loss, surrendering eight runs, all earned, on nine hits in 3 1/3 innings. He also struck out six Mud Hens.

Reid Gorecki, who was 2-for-4 to lead the Gwinnett offense, scored the first run for the G-Braves in the ninth inning on a wild pitch by Jeremy Bonderman. With Brooks Conrad on second, Brandon Jones cut the deficit to 10-3 with a two-run shot to right-center

Brent Clevlen hit a three-run homer, Don Kelly hit a bases-loaded triple and Wilkin Ramirez also totaled three RBI for the Mud Hens.

Toledo hosts Gwinnett for the second game in the four-game series Friday at 7 p.m. at PNC Field. The G-Braves will send left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes (2-1, 3.25 ERA) to face righty Ruddy Lugo (9-8, 4.56 ERA). The game can be heard live on WDUN AM-550 and on www.wdun.com.