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Toledo Mud Hens

Indy Spoils Hens' Opener with Five-Run 7th

April 6, 2017 - International League (IL1)
Toledo Mud Hens News Release


The Indianapolis Indians' offense spoiled Opening Day festivities for the Mud Hens, defeating them 7-3 on a chilly Thursday night in Indianapolis. Despite back-and-forth action through the better half of the night, the Indians exploded for five runs in the bottom of the seventh to put the Hens behind for good.

The Indianapolis Indians' offense spoiled Opening Day festivities for the Mud Hens, defeating them 7-3 on a chilly Thursday night in Indianapolis. Despite back-and-forth action through the better half of the night, the Indians exploded for five runs in the bottom of the seventh to put the Hens behind for good.

The game opened up looking like it would be the Hens' offense that would get hot, as they jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first. With two down, Juan Perez reached first on a dribbler to third. Steven Moya stepped up to the plate for his first at-bat of the season and promptly blasted a two-run shot to center.

Warwick Saupold had a solid night in his 2017 debut, going 4.2 innings while giving up four hits and two runs. The righty worked around leadoff base hits in both the first and second to maintain the lead. Max Moroff began the third with a walk before Gift Ngoepe hit a two-runner of his own to tie it up.

The Hens were poised to answer right back in the top of the fourth. With two outs, the bats came to life; Michael Alamanzar and John Hicks singles were followed by a walk by Brendan Ryan. With the bases loaded, Indianapolis starter Steven Brault struck out Alex Presley to escape the jam and keep the game knotted at 2-2.

Again, the Mud Hens battled back to retake the lead, using the fifth to launch their second two-out rally of the game. Moya singled to center to get it started and, with Matt Murton at the plate, swiped second. Moya's gamble paid off, as Murton singled to center to bring the right fielder home and tilt the momentum back to the side of the Hens.

Both offenses remained silent until the Indians' offense took off in the seventh. Angel Nesbitt's first batter faced - Jason Rogers - wrapped a homer around the right-field foul pole to tie the game once again. The newfound life in the Indianapolis dugout spread quickly. Chris Bostick tripled to left-center and scored on a wild pitch, then Moroff sent a ball into the right field bleachers for the go-ahead run. Nesbitt walked Ngoepe and was removed, but the damage was not done. Despite Daniel Stumpf coming in and recording the second out of the inning, the Indians went right back to work when Logan Kensing entered. Jose Osuna doubled to put runners on second and third before Elias Diaz doubled home both of them to make it 7-3.

The Hens put one more on the board in the eighth when Alamanzar's two-out double was followed by a John Hicks triple. This budding rally was ended, though, when Ryan was struck out. Indianapolis closer Edgar Santana was inserted into a save situation and struck out the side to start the Hens' season off with a loss.

The Hens will look for retribution Friday night in the second-of-four games in Indianapolis. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.

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