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IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Mud Hens Hold Off Tribe 2-1

September 2, 2009 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS -- In his International League debut starting pitcher Ryan Ketchner allowed just one run on five hits over seven innings, while the Toledo Mud Hens' offense capitalized on two Tribe miscues to push past the Indianapolis Indians 2-1 Wednesday night at Victory Field.

With the loss the Indians fall to 69-69 overall and 36-33 at home, while the Mud Hens improve to 70-68 overall and 33-26 on the road with the win. The victory for Toledo gives the 2-1 series victory and moves the final season series record to 11-10 still in favor of Indianapolis.

Ketchner (7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO) was dominant in his first outing with the Mud Hens this season as he allowed just one run on five hits and struck out four to improve to 1-0 on the season. Toledo reliever Zach Simons (2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 SO) took over for Ketchner and worked out of a bases loaded jam in the eighth and tossed a perfect ninth to earn his first save of the season.

Indianapolis starter Eric Hacker (7.0 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO) scattered eight hits over seven strong innings of work, but did not figure in the decision as he was matched pitch-for-pitch by Ketchner. With his outing, Hacker has now allowed just four earned runs over his last 16.1 innings for a 2.20 ERA along with 13 strikeouts over his last three starts.

Indianapolis gave Hacker an early lead with a single tally in the second inning as LF Tagg Bozied led of the frame with a double, moved to third on a groundout by DH Hector Gimenez and came plateward on a clutch two-out single up the middle by SS Argenis Diaz. With his double and run scored, Bozied has now reached base in 27 of his last 29 games, during which time he has raised his average 85 points and scored 24 runs.

The base knock for Bozied also extended his hitting streak to a team best three games, during which time he is batting .400 (4-for-10) with three runs and a RBI, while with his base hit and RBI Diaz has now collected hits in 15 of his last 19 games, and posted five RBI over his last six games as well.

Toledo plated both their runs by the benefit of two Indianapolis' errors, first tying the score in the fifth inning when C Keith Hernandez reached on a miscue, moved to second on a groundout by 3B Will Rhymes and came around to score on clutch two-out base hit by 2B Scott Sizemore.

The Mud Hens then plated what turned out to be the game-winning run in the eighth when RF Brent Clevlen reached on an infield single and moved to third when LF Jeff Frazier ripped a single after having his at-bat extended on a missed foul ball catch by the Tribe. 1B Max Leon then brought home Clevlen for the game-winning tally when he thwarted an excellent play by the Indians' defense by hustling down the first base line to beat out a potential double play.

Clevlen (2-for-4, 1 R), Frazier (2-for-4), Rhymes (2-for-5) and Sizemore (2-for-5, 1 RBI) all turned in multi-hit efforts for the Mud Hens, while only RF Jose Tabata (2-for-4) posted a multi-hit performance for the Indians. Only one hitter on each squad failed to reach base as the division rivals combined for 18 hits and left a combined 16 runners on base.

Tribe reliever Juan Mateo (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO) was a tough luck loser as he was the victim of an unearned run and was pinned with the loss to drop to 7-6 on the season The Indians' reliever, who made his team high 46th appearance on Wednesday night, has now allowed just one earned run over his last six innings out of the Indianapolis bullpen.

Indianapolis begins their final home series of the year against division rival Louisville on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. RHP Ty Taubenheim is scheduled to start for the Indians, while LHP Travis Wood is expected to get the nod for the Bats.

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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Post-game quote -- OF Tagg Bozied

(on the Indians' eight hits)

"I think we did well getting hits in good situations, but we didn't execute well with runners in scoring position. I made two outs with runners on third and with less than two outs, so that needs to improve. We can hit, but it is a matter of making a few adjustments and relaxing a little bit more. I think we will be alright, it is just a matter of getting that big inning in terms of offense."

(on Indians' RHP Eric Hacker's performance)

"Eric and our whole pitching staff in general does a great job of keeping the ball down in the zone. Even when he was getting behind in the count, he was still throwing quality pitches low in the zone. I think the whole staff has been pretty consistent and tonight he shined. It's too bad, with as good as he pitched, that we couldn't back him up and come away with a win."

(on the keys to beating Louisville late in the season)

"We just played them a week or two ago and they swung the bats pretty well. If we pitch like we have been and get the big hits, we can finish the year out on a positive. I think tomorrow the lineup, me in particular, is going to have to focus on getting those big hits. Our pitchers have kept us in games consistently since I've played here and if they continue to do that, there is no reason why we shouldn't be successful."

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