Sports stats



IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Mud Hens Take Back and Forth Battle Led By 3B Will Rhymes

August 28, 2009 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


TOLEDO, Ohio -- Third baseman Will Rhymes went 2-for-2 with two runs, two walks, and two stolen bases and drove in what turned out to be the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning as the Toledo Mud Hens rallied past the Indianapolis Indians 7-6 on Friday night at Fifth Third Field.

With the loss the Indians fall to 66-67 overall and 31-36 on the road, while the Mud Hens improve to 68-65 overall and 37-30 at home with the win. The win for Toledo evens the current series at one game apiece and evens the season series between the two clubs at eight victories each.

In a back and forth battle that saw Indianapolis jump out to leads of 1-0, 2-1, 4-3 and 6-3, Rhymes provided Toledo with an offensive spark that helped tally four runs over the sixth and seventh innings to take home the game two victory.

After Indianapolis jumped out to the early lead, when CF Jeff Salazar led off the game with a single and eventually came around to score on a two-out single by the red hot Tribe DH Brian Myrow, Rhymes helped the Mud Hens answer right back in their half of the first. The Toledo infielder led off the Mud Hens' night with a single of his own, moved to second on a single by 2B Scott Sizemore, jogged to third on a base-on-balls by CF Don Kelly and finally came plateward on a single by 1B Mike Hessman.

The Indians would, however, quickly retake the lead when SS Argenis Diaz led off the third with a base hit, stole his first career Triple-A base with a swipe of second and then came around to score on a another single by Salazar. Diaz and Salazar would lead the Indianapolis' offense all game long as the duo combined to go 6-for-9 with three runs and four RBI.

The 3-for-4 effort for Diaz also included his first career Triple-A extra-base hit, a double that scored C Robinzon Diaz in the fifth, while for Salazar, his 3-for-5 outing gives him five games with at least three hits over his last eight contests. However, even with breakthrough effort by Argenis Diaz and the continued solid play of Salazar and Myrow (2-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI) the Indians would not be able to hold onto the lead as Toledo chipped away with two runs in the fourth, three in the sixth and the game-winner in the seventh.

LF Wilkin Ramirez led the Mud Hens offensive attack in the fourth, when he led off the frame with a single, stole his team leading 33rd base of the season and came around to score on a Tribe throwing error. In-between Ramirez's single and the Indians' miscue, C Dusty Ryan drew a walk and later came around to score on a wild pitch that gave Toledo the 3-2 lead.

Then after Indianapolis re-took the lead at 6-3 with two runs in the fifth and sixth on a double and single by Argenis Diaz, a base knock by Salazar and a Mud Hens' throwing error, Rhymes yet again sparked a Toledo rally with a lead off walk in what turned out to be a three-run sixth. Following his base-on-balls, Rhymes stole his second base of the evening, allowing him to easily trot home when Sizemore followed with a base hit to center.

Kelly followed Sizemore's base knock with his third walk of the contest to put runners at first and second with no one out. Hessman then came to the plate and look to be retired when he popped a ball up in foul territory. However, a costly missed catch error by the Indians extended Hessman's at-bat and allowed him to later rip a run-scoring double to left field.

SS Brent Dlugach immediately followed Hessman with a sacrifice fly to plate Kelly and knot the score at 6-6, setting the stage for Rhymes to be the hero in the following frame. Ryan led off the seventh with a clutch triple to deep center field and then sped home when Rhymes capped a perfect evening at the plate with his game-winning sacrifice fly to right field.

Rhymes (2-for-2, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 SB) along with Sizemore (2-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI) and Hessman (3-for-4) turned in multi-hit efforts for the Toledo offense, which also drew 10 walks in the victory.

Neither starting pitcher figured in the decision as Indians' RHP Eric Hacker (3.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 6 SO) struggled with his control and lasted only 3.1 innings and Toledo RHP Eddie Bonine (5.2 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO) gave up six runs (five earned) on 10 hits but was bailed out by his club's late offensive rally.

Mud Hens' reliever Zach Simons (1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB) improved to a perfect 3-0 with over an inning of scoreless relief, while RHP Jeremy Bonderman (1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 SO) on a Major League rehab assignment, earned his second hold of the year and RHP Casey Fien (1.0 IP, 1 SO) earned his 14th save of the season with a perfect ninth. Indianapolis reliever Jean Machi (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO) suffered his first career Triple-A loss to drop to 1-1 on the season after allowing a run in two innings of work out of the Indianapolis' bullpen.

Indianapolis continues their four-game series at division rival Toledo on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. RHP Brad Lincoln is scheduled to start for the Indians, while RHP Ruddy Lugo is expected to get the nod for the Mud Hens.

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.

Check out the Indianapolis Indians Statistics



International League Stories from August 28, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Indianapolis Indians Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central