IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Alvarez, Crotta Lead Tribe To 8-1 Win Over Toledo

May 14, 2010 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


TOLEDO, Ohio -- Third baseman Pedro Alvarez went 2-for-4, including a two-run longball, while starter Mike Crotta allowed just one run over seven strong innings of work as the Indianapolis Indians collected the series opening victory over the Toledo Mud Hens 8-1 on Friday night at Fifth Third Field.

With the win the Indians improve to 20-15 on the season, while the loss drops the Mud Hens record to 18-18. The victory for the Tribe was just their second against Toledo this season and improves their record to 2-5 overall against the Mud Hens.

Crotta (7.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO) was brilliant yet again for the Tribe as the Triple-A rookie scattered seven hits (six singles) and allowed just one run, while walking none and striking out five to improve to 2-1 on the season. Relievers Anthony Claggett (1.0 IP) and Jeremy Powell (1.0 IP, 1 SO) finished off the victory for the Tribe with two hitless innings of relief.

After both starters breezed through the first three frames, Alvarez put the Indians on the board, when he blasted a two-run home run to right center field in the top of the fourth. The long ball for Alvarez was his team leading ninth on the season and plated 1B Neil Walker, who led of the frame with a walk.

Indianapolis then exploded for four runs over the fifth, sixth and seventh frames to jump out to a 7-0 lead. DH Brian Friday followed Alvarez's homer with one of his own, when he blasted a solo shot with one out in the fifth. The round tripper for Friday was his first on the season and his first career homer at the Triple-A level.

The Indians then continued to lay it on, with another tally in the sixth as Alvarez drew a one out walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and came around to score on a base hit by RF Brandon Jones. Indianapolis continued to benefit from Mud Hens mistakes in the seventh, when Friday trotted home on another Toledo wild pitch after he led off the frame with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by SS Doug Bernier.

2B Kevin Melillo kept the seventh inning rally going when he drew a base on balls and came plateward on a base hit by CF Jose Tabata. A passed ball then allowed Tabata to move into scoring position for Alvarez, who brought him home with a base hit for his third RBI of the contest.

Walker, who turned in an excellent defensive effort in just his sixth game at first base this season, put a nice bow on the offensive effort for the Tribe as he launched a solo long ball in the top of the ninth to push the Indians ahead 8-1. The Mud Hens plated their only run of the contest in seventh when Indianapolis killer Brent Dlugach lined a one out single and came around to score on a double by DH Deik Scram.

With his three RBI effort, Alvarez now leads the Indians and ranks among the International League Leaders with 36 on the season, while Walker (1-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB) remains red hot for the Tribe as he has now hit safely in nine straight games during which time he is batting .375 (15-for-40) with eight runs, two home runs and six RBI. Friday also turned in an excelled night at the plate for the Tribe, going 2-for-4 with two runs and his solo blast, while Jones (3-for-5, 1 RBI) led all batters with three hits on the evening.

Three Toledo batters posted multi-hit efforts in the contest as Dlugach (2-for-4, 1 R), CF Ryan Raburn (2-for-4) and former Indians' C Robinzon Diaz (2-for-3) each collected two base knocks in the losing effort.

Mud Hens starting pitcher Ryan Ketchner (5.1 IP, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs on five hits, including two home runs over 5.1 innings of work.

The two teams continue their four game series on Saturday May 15 at 7:00 p.m. RHP Daniel McCutchen is expected to get the call for Indianapolis, while LHP Phil Dumatrait is the probable starter for Toledo.

The contest will be carried by WXLW-950 AM and www.IndyIndians.com with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley. The pre-game show begins at 6:40 p.m.

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