On a rainy evening in Toledo, balls were flying out of the park for the hometown Mud Hens as lefty starter Chuck Lofgren struggled through six innings. Here's my perceptions taking in the game in person tonight.

-First, let me start by saying that Columbus is quite depleted right now. Considering the Indians have dug deep into their Triple-A squad this year, that is to be expected. As a result, guys like Mickey Hall, Jesus Merchan, Niuman Romero, and Stephen Head were in the starting lineup tonight.

-Hall, who filled in for the injured Michael Brantley (ankle) in center tonight, went 3-for-4, reaching base in four of his five plate appearances, including two doubles. He was the player to be named in the Paul Byrd trade with the Red Sox last season. He has some speed, but he was picked off of first base after walking in the third inning.

-Toledo starter Ruddy Lugo didn't appear to want anything to do with Matt LaPorta tonight. LaPorta reached base his first three times to the plate via two walks and a hit by pitch.  LaPorta was 0-for-2 on the evening, including a fielder's choice to end the game with the bases loaded down four runs in the ninth.

-Third baseman Wes Hodges had a rough evening. In his first two at-bats, he struck out looking and grounded into a double play. He also committed a throwing error at third. Hodges did, however, sacrifice two runners over and setup Lou Marson's RBI single that scored two after a fielding error in left field. Wes finished 0-for-3.

-Speaking of Marson, the Clipper catcher matched the scouting report with obvious strong plate discipline. Working the count in each at-bat, Marson hit a deep fly ball to right field in his first chance. He then singled to right in the fourth and singled to left in the sixth that scored two runs.

-Rightfielder Stephen Head hit his sixth homer of the season and added a ninth inning double.

-I know I've said this before, as many others have, but WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO JOSH BARFIELD? The former Tribe second baseman was 0-for-5 tonight with 2 strikeouts, getting the start in left field. Barfield is hitting under .240 now, and it just has to be a lack of focus, because this guy hit 20 homers for San Diego just a few short years ago! My uncle expressed that he thought they were trying to change Barfield's plate approach, much like they did with Brandon Phillips. Once again, it hasn't worked. Another note, while walking out of the park tonight, my uncle and I passed Barfield. I didn't notice him, and my uncle had to tell me we just passed him. Sorry Josh, no hard feelings. I knew who you were when you played in Cleveland... and I think you did too.

-Chuck Lofgren didn't impress me all that much tonight. Lofgren didn't register higher than 89 mph on the radar that I saw, and he averaged between 85-88 on his fastball and 79-82 on his offspeed stuff. There's not much of a separation in speed there, which is almost as bad as his lack of velocity on his heater. Lofgren was efficient for the first five innings until he came unglued in the sixth. After Kelly singled, Hessman doubled (and missed a homer by feet), and Clevlen walked, rightfielder Jeff Frazier absolutely crushed a hanging 80-something pitch over the left-center field wall, some 400 feet away to give the Hens a 7-3 advantage. Lofgren did throw a decent amount of strikes the first five innings, but he did have trouble finding the zone in the sixth. His line was 6 innings, 7 runs, 6 hits, 1 walk, and 5 strikeouts, throwing 96 pitches.

-R.J. Swindle pitched the seventh inning, allowing a homer to Wilkin Ramirez. Swindle raised some eyebrows with two pitches registering at 53 and 55 mph on the radar gun. I'm not sure if it was a knuckleball, screwball, palmball, or Eephus pitch, but it was baffling to watch.

-Our old friend Zach Jackson worked a scoreless eighth inning.

I'll be at tomorrow's game as well where Hector Rondon is supposed to take the hill for the Clippers.

Kirk

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