TOLEDO, Ohio — A week after learning that he would not be the fifth starter on the Cincinnati Reds 2010 rotation, Travis Wood took the bump for his first start for the Class AAA Louisiville Bats on Thursday night.
And, though he dazzled early, his defense led him down later. Five unearned runs led to a 7-4 win for the Toledo Mudhens over Wood and the Bats.[more]
Over the first two innings, Wood struck out six on the seven batters he faced. He would finish with nine strikeouts and one walk through four innings.
Louisville took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third but Toledo got it back in the bottom of the inning. A soft liner to left by Robinzon Diaz was the first hit Wood surrendered. After a bunt hit, Wood struck out the next two. Another singled loaded the bases and when it was misplayed in the outfield, the run scored.
The next batter bounced out to second.
The Bats picked up two runs in the top of the fourth but the Mudhens countered with four unearned to take the lead for good. Wood retired the first batter in the fourth but an error followed. A pair of singles loaded the bases before the lefty fanned his ninth batter for the second out. A two-run single and a two-run triple made it 5-3 before Wood could get the final out.
