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Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (11-17) at Toledo Mud Hens (18-10)

May 4, 2023 - International League (IL)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


LOCATION: Fifth Third Field

FIRST PITCH: 6:35 PM ET

GAME #29 / ROAD #15: Indianapolis Indians (11-17) at Toledo Mud Hens (18-10)

PROBABLES: RHP Quinn Priester (1-3, 7.78) vs. RHP Zach Logue (1-1, 3.00)

RADIO: FoxSportsIndy.com / Fox Sports 1260 / iHeart app

TV: Bally Live app / MiLB TV

ABOUT YESTERDAY - GAME ONE: A four-run third inning by the Toledo Mud Hens put them past the Indianapolis Indians in Game 1 of the doubleheader as the two clubs split the twin bill. While trailing 2-0, Toledo's four-run frame proved to be the difference to secure the win in Game 1. The Mud Hens took the lead on an Andre Lipcius two-RBI double off John O'Reilly with runners on the corners. Indianapolis got on the board first with an RBI triple by Josh Palacios in the top of the first frame. Indy tacked onto its lead with an RBI sacrifice fly by Ryan Vilade to build a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning before Toledo's four-run frame. Down two runs in the fourth, the Indians threatened a comeback when Aaron Shackelford ripped an RBI triple off the right-field wall to cut the deficit in half. Matt Wisler came in relief of starter Reese Olson and held the Indians scoreless in their final two at-bats to earn the save.

ABOUT YESTERDAY - GAME TWO: Caleb Smith dazzled in a 7.0-inning complete-game shutout as the Indians routed the Mud Hens in Game 2 of Wednesday's twin bill at Fifth Third Field. Smith cruised through the Mud Hens lineup, allowing just three total baserunners while striking out five. The Indians took an early one-run lead in the second inning off Garrett Hill and continued to back Smith. In the fifth inning, Canaan Smith-Njigba launched a homer for his first hit since being optioned by Pittsburgh last week. The offense later exploded for an additional seven runs in the top of the seventh with five hits and 11 batters coming to the plate. The frame was highlighted by a two-RBI single off the bat of Grant Koch to give Indy its 9-0 lead.

COMPLETE DOMINANCE: Caleb Smith had his best outing of the season this season on Wednesday afternoon, tossing a complete-game shutout in Game 2 of a doubleheader with Toledo. He became the first Indians pitcher to toss a complete-game shutout since right-hander James Marvel on July 5, 2019 vs. Toledo. It was also Smith's second career complete-game shutout, following a 7.0-inning one-hitter on June 18, 2017 with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at Buffalo.

PALACIOS KEEPS RAKING: As of late, Josh Palacios has been the backbone of the Indianapolis offense since joining the team from Double-A Altoona on April 21. He extended his hitting streak to eight games after hitting safely in both games in Wednesday's doubleheader, going 3-for-7 with a triple and two RBI. Last Saturday, he smacked a pair of homers - his first career multi-homer game - and a career-high tying five RBI after setting that mark earlier in the week vs. Columbus. With the two career performances, he became the first Indianapolis Indian since Brandon Moss (2010) to record two games of at least five RBI in a single season. In last week's series with Columbus, he went 10-for-18 with five runs scored, three doubles, four home runs, 13 RBI, six walks and only one strikeout en route to being named the IL Player of the Week for April 25-30. The 27-year-old was selected by Pittsburgh in the MiLB phase of the Rule 5 draft on Dec. 7, 2022. He was originally selected by Toronto in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Auburn University.

TRIP TRIP TRIPLES: Josh Palacios and Aaron Shackelford each tallied a triple in Game 1 of Wednesday's twin bill. The Indians now have 12 total triples on the season - ten different players have notched a three bagger this season - which leads the International League in triples and ranks third in professional baseball, trailing the Salt Lake Bees (13) and Reno Aces (16). Nick Gonzales and Travis Swaggerty lead the team in triples with two apiece and are also tied for the second-most triples in the IL. The Indians led the IL in triples in 2022 with 44, led by Swaggerty (8) and Ji Hwan Bae (6). The team clubbed 26 of its 44 triples last season at Victory Field.

TONIGHT: The Indians and Mud Hens will continue their six-game set tonight at 6:35 PM ET at Fifth Third Field. After Tuesday's night opener was postponed due to inclement weather, the two clubs split a doubleheader on Wednesday morning. Toledo won the season series against Indianapolis last season, taking 11 of 18 games against Indy. Tonight, right-hander Quinn Priester (1-3, 7.78) will take the mound against Toledo's right-hander Zach Logue (1-1, 3.00). Logue has never faced Indianapolis, he is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA (6er/18.0ip) and tossed 5.0 two-run innings in his last outing with six strikeouts vs. Syracuse on April 28.

PRIESTER DAY: Right-hander Quinn Priester will make his sixth start of the season tonight against Toledo at Fifth Third Field at 6:35 PM ET. The 22-year-old has a 7.78 ERA (17er/19.2ip), 25 strikeouts and 1.68 WHIP this season. Tonight will be his first career start against Toledo. As the former 18th overall selection by Pittsburgh in 2019, he is currently rated as the Pirates No. 5 prospect (Baseball America) and the second-best pitcher behind Luis Ortiz (No. 4). Priester finished last season with a 3.29 ERA (33er/90.1ip) overall between Double-A Altoona and a short stint with Indy en route to being honored as the Young Bucs Bob Friend Pitcher of the Year, given to the top-performing minor league pitcher in Pittsburgh's organization.

THIS DATE IN 2009: The Indians set a franchise record with nine stolen bases during a 7-5 loss vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at Victory Field. The running game was led by right fielder Jeff Salazar, who swiped two bases in the first inning and one in the third. DH Garrett Jones and first baseman Steve Pearce each tacked on a pair of their own, with Jones stealing home to take a 5-4 lead in the fifth inning. Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker each contributed one stolen base to the nine-swipe effort.

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