TOLEDO - GAME RECAP

Columbus was visiting Toledo in a 10:30 start that attracted thousands of schoolchildren - a sellout of 10,300. Even better, Jose Contreras, the highly-touted Cuban pitcher who had signed with the Yankees for $32 million but had not lived up to expectations, was making his first minor-league start for Columbus. Andy Van Hekken, a future Tiger, started for the Mudhens. 

Van Hekken was wild early, requiring 26 pitches in the first inning before getting Bobby Smith to ground out with the bases loaded. Contreras, on the other hand, was excellent, using 9 pitches to retire the side in order.

Swinging in futility

In the second, Miguel Hernandez hit a solo homer to give Columbus a 1-0 lead, which held up through 5 innings. Toledo couldn't get anything going as Contreras pitched very well, going 5 shutout innings, striking out 8 and walking none. In the Columbus 6th, Fernando Seguinol doubled to lead off and Smith singled him home to extend the lead to 2-0.

Drew Henson should reconsider his career choice?

Contreras, who had only thrown 69 pitches, was replaced by Adrian Hernandez who gave up a solo homer to Hiram Bocachica in the 7th, but was otherwise perfect in his 3 innings, striking out 6. The game moved along quickly until the top of the 9th, when Mudhen reliever Terry Pearson gave up 5 runs (only 4 were earned) to make it 7-1 Columbus. Willie Banks came in to get the final 3 outs and the game ended with Columbus winning by 6. 

This was a great game, and much closer than the score indicates - Contreras will soon be back in the majors if he keeps it up, and Adrian Hernandez looked overpowering as well. Toledo fought valiantly and kept it close, but my dreaded Yankee luck comes through as Columbus is now 3 for 3 in games I have seen on this trip.