Video: Mud Hens lose in extras as game ends with controversial call

COLUMBUS — The Toledo Mud Hens began a six-game series at the Columbus Clippers on Tuesday with a 7-6 loss in 10 innings at Huntington Park.

The Hens’ bullpen blew a late two-run lead, and the lineup went just 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

But the game will be remembered for the walk-off play in the bottom of the 10th inning. With two outs and runners on second and third, Columbus’ Bryan Lavastida hit a ground ball to Toledo third baseman Jace Jung. Jung’s throw brought first baseman Keston Hiura off the bag, but he appeared to tag Lavastida with the ball in his glove.

The umpire, who was positioned behind Hiura’s back, called Lavastida safe, allowing Johnathan Rodriguez to score the winning run. Several Mud Hens players and manager Tim Federowicz protested the call to no avail.

Toledo took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Jung’s sacrifice fly allowed Buddy Kennedy to score. Columbus tied the game in the second on Micah Pries’ RBI double, then took the lead in the third when Kyle Manzardo scored from second on an Andrew Navigato error at shortstop.

Toledo’s lone hit with a runner in scoring position came in the fourth, when Dillon Dingler doubled home Justice Bigbie. Hiura hit a two-run home run in the fifth to put the Hens back on top, 4-2.

A Dingler solo homer made it 5-3 Mud Hens in the sixth, and Malloy did the same to get the lead to 6-4 in the seventh.

In the bottom of the eighth, reliever Mason Englert gave up a one-out single followed by a game-tying Daniel Schneeman home run.

A scoreless ninth sent the game to extras, and Toledo went down in order in the top of the 10th, another three missed chances with a runner on second.

Columbus was even worse at the plate when it had a chance to score, going 1 for 13 with RISP. But the Clippers never needed a hit in the 10th as an intentional walk and a hit batter loaded the bases.

Pitcher Devin Sweet managed a strikeout and a forceout to nearly escape the inning, but Columbus came through with the walk-off run, which was scored as an error by Jung.

The Hens and Clippers will meet again at 6:35 p.m. on Wednesday.