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IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Indianapolis sees its season come to an end

September 5, 2006 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


TOLEDO, Ohio -- Right-hander Colby Lewis fired seven scoreless innings, while third baseman Mike Hessman and right fielder Ryan Ludwick belted long balls in a three-run bottom of the third as Toledo rolled to a 4-0 blanking of Indianapolis Tuesday evening at Fifth Third Field.

The Mud Hens move on to a first-round International League Playoff series against South Division-champion Charlotte, while the Indians see their 2006 campaign come to an end.

The clubs were doing battle in a one-game playoff after finishing with identical 76-66 regular-season marks and being crowned co-champions of the IL's West Division.

Lewis (7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 SO) sailed through six of seven frames for the victory, while RHP Chris Spurling (1.0 IP, 2 SO) and RHP Lee Gardner (1.0, 1 SO IP) contributed to Toledo's 12th shutout of the season.

Toledo scored all the runs it would need in the third. Hessman, who clobbered 24 regular-season dingers, led off with a solo blast to left. Ludwick, who went deep 28 times during the regular season, then clobbered a two-run job to left after 2B Ryan Rayburn beat out an infield single.

The Mud Hens added an insurance run in the eighth when C Mike Rabelo crossed the dish on a bases-loaded walk.

The Tribe's best chance at scoring came in the top of the second after Toledo committed two errors. Indians CF Vic Buttler hammered a sinking line drive to the warning track with the bases loaded and two outs, but Ludwick saved three runs by making a sensational catch just before crashing into the right-field wall.

Lewis went on to retire 15 of the final 19 batters he faced. Spurling and Gardner then combined for two perfect innings of relief to preserve the win.

RHP Britt Reames (4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO) allowed both Toledo roundtrippers and was pinned with the loss. Reames, RHP Terry Adams (2.0 IP, 5 SO), LHP Juan Perez (0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) and RHP Scott Strickland (1.1 IP, 1 BB, 2 SO) combined for 13 punchouts in the loss.

RF Adam Boeve led the Tribe by going 2-for-4 on the night. Hessman registered the home team's only multi-hit game by going 2-for-2.

The Mud Hens, who claimed the IL Governors' Cup in 2005, open their best-of-five set against Charlotte with a Wednesday night affair at Fifth Third Field.

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