Four-Run Eighth Caps Indians Comeback Win
May 14, 2021 - International League (IL)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
A four-run eighth sparked by a tie-breaking one-out single off the bat of first baseman Christian Bethancourt led the Indianapolis Indians to their first comeback win of the season over the Toledo Mud Hens, 6-2.
Down 2-1 entering the final three frames, Andrew Susac sent his second home run of 2021 into the left field lawn to tie up the game in the seventh. The Indians (5-4) then capitalized on two errors in the eighth inning and recorded two hits with runners in scoring position to extend their lead out of the Mud Hens reach.
The scoring began in the bottom of the second when Chris Sharpe swiped his first bag of the season to get into scoring position for Anthony Alford. Alford, who began his campaign with the Indians 0-for-12 through his first six games, singled home Sharpe for the 1-0 lead. He finished the night with his second consecutive multi-hit game.
With five shutout frames from starter James Marvel, Indianapolis held its narrow lead until the sixth inning. With no outs and runners at the corners, a hit batter and wild pitch scored the first Toledo run. A bases-loaded two-out walk issued by reliever Braeden Ogle scored the go-ahead Mud Hens run. Marvel exited the game through 5.1 innings and was charged with both runs.
Toledo (3-6) held the Indians to three hits through six innings before Susac opened the seventh with his home run. The Mud Hens pitching staff then surrendered three hits during the four-run eighth.
Shea Spitzbarth (W, 1-0) stranded a pair of runners at the corners with no outs to earn his first win in an Indians jersey this season. With a four-run lead, Jandel Gustave worked around three baserunners of his own to close out the game.
Robbie Ross Jr. (L, 0-2) took a blown save after surrendering the home run to Susac and the first Indianapolis run scored in the eighth. Nolan Blackwood allowed the final three runs.
Bethancourt and Susac followed Alford in the bottom half of the order with multi-hit games. Each of the five Indians RBI on the night came from the final four batters in the lineup.
The six-game series continues on Saturday night in another 7:05 PM ET first pitch at Victory Field. RHP Steven Wright (0-0, 0.00) makes his first start of the season vs. RHP Rony Garcia (0-0, 4.50).
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