IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Mud Hens hold off Indians, 3-2

Published on August 31, 2009 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS -- First baseman Mike Hessman went 2-for-4 with a run and two of the Mud Hens' three RBI, while starting pitcher Scot Drucker allowed just two runs on three hits to earn the victory as the Toledo Mud Hens took down the Indianapolis Indians 3-2 on Monday night at Victory Field.

With the loss the Indians fall to 68-68 overall and 35-32 at home, while the Mud Hens improve to 69-67 overall and 32-25 on the road with the victory. The win for Toledo gives them a 1-0 lead in the current three-game series and draws them to with-in one game at 10-9 in the season series between the two clubs.

Toledo jumped out to an early lead in the third inning as SS Will Rhymes led off the frame with a base hit, moved to second on a single by 2B Scott Sizemore and eventually trotted home on a two-out base knock by Hessman. The run for Rhymes gives him 12 against the Tribe this season, tieing him with OF Wilkin Ramirez for the most by any Mud Hens' batter against the Indians this season.

Indianapolis, however quickly knotted the score at one with a run in the third sparked by C Erik Kratz, who drew a one out walk, moved to second on a base hit up the middle by SS Argenis Diaz and trotted to third when 2B Pedro Lopez drew a walk of his own. Then after falling behind 0-2, Tribe CF Jeff Salazar took four straight balls to force in Kratz and even the score at one run apiece.

After crossing the plate with the Indians' first run of the contest in the third, Kratz then came through with a clutch two-out double to give the Tribe the lead in the fourth. LF Tagg Bozied would lead off the frame with a double of his own, before eventually trotting home on Kratz's two-bagger as the duo collected two of the Tribe's three total base knocks in the inning.

The Mud Hens would, however, battle back to re-take the lead with two runs in the top of the eighth led by former Indianapolis Indian Don Kelly, who led off the frame with a double, stole third and came plateward, when Hessman ripped a double of his own. Hessman would later cross the plate with what would be the game-winning tally, when DH Jeff Frazier belted the third double of the frame to left field.

Despite walking four batters, Drucker (7.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 SO) was able to hold the Tribe hitless over the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to improve to 8-3 on the season. Reliever Freddy Dolsi (2.0 IP, 1 BB) took over for Drucker and allowed just one walk in two innings of relief to earn his eighth save of the season for the Mud Hens.

Every Toledo batter reached base at least once as the Mud Hens collected 13 total base knocks including five multi-hit efforts from Rhymes (2-for-5, 1 R), Sizemore (2-for-5), Kelly (2-for-5, 1 R), Frazier (2-for-5, 1 RBI) and Hessman (2-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI).

Tribe starter Jeremy Powell (5.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO) was brilliant in his first start since July 9 as he scattered seven hits and walked none over five innings. With his dominant starting effort, the right hander has now allowed just three runs over his last 25 innings for a 1.08 ERA to go along with 18 strikeouts and just four walks over that span.

In his first appearance since being signed as a Minor League free agent, Indians' reliever Jorge Julio (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 SO) struck out two and allowed just two hits in two excellent innings out of the bullpen. INF/OF Chris Barnwell (1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 SO) also pitched well in relief for the Tribe as he worked out of a bases loaded jam in the ninth to complete an inning of scoreless relief.

Tribe reliever Corey Hamman (1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO) suffered the blown save and loss after he allowed two runs on three hits and two walks over an inning of relief to drop to 1-1 on the season.

Indianapolis continues there three-game series against Toledo on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. RHP Brooks Brown is expected to get the nod for the Mud Hens, while the Indians have yet to announce a starter.

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International League Stories from August 31, 2009


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