Toledo Mud Hens earn first no-hitter since 1996

Four Mud Hens pitchers combined to throw Toledo's first no-hitter in two decades on Saturday night against the visiting Charlotte Knights following the scratch of scheduled starting pitcher Matt Boyd. The last no-hitter notched by the Tigers' Triple-A farm club came in 1996.

Toledo righthander Warwick Saupold (1-1, 1.50 ERA) stepped in to shoulder the spot start for the Mud Hens, striking out three through five scoreless innings of work to set the tone early. In relief, righthander Preston Guilmet struck out two more while holding Charlotte off the board for two more innings.

Following his demotion from the Tigers earlier in the week, righty Logan Kensing raised a bit of blood pressure in his Mud Hens debut by issuing the only walk of the day. However, he was able to set the stage for righthander Bobby Parnell to work a 1-2-3 ninth.

At the plate for Toledo, Dixon Machado and Chad Huffman led the charge; each posting a double and Machado contributing a pair of RBI to the Mud Hens' five-run afternoon. Corey Jones added his first hit of the year with a triple.

Aside from the walk issued from Kensing, Charlotte designated hitter Jason Coats was the only member of the Knights to reach, after being hit twice, once courtesy of Saupold and again by Kensing.

The reason for Boyd's scratch is a presumed call-up by the Tigers, but no announcement has been made.

The same clubs return to Fifth Third Field Sunday afternoon for the second game of the three-game series at 2:20 pm.