Toledo Avoids Sweep in Win Over Tribe
Published on June 30, 2009 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Toledo Mud Hens scored at least one run in each of the first five innings led by second baseman Scott Sizemore, who went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs, as they went on to defeat the Indianapolis Indians 9-7 on Tuesday evening at Victory Field.
With the loss the Indians drop to 37-40 overall and 19-22 at home, while the win improves the Mud Hens to 34-44 on the season and 18-25 on the road. The victory for Toledo prevents the series sweep by Indianapolis and improves Toledo's record to 4-6 against the Tribe this season.
Sizemore wasted no time in giving the Mud Hens an early lead, when he blasted a solo home run to deep left field with one out in the top of the first. The long ball was just the second of the season for Sizemore and his first of a season-high four RBI.
Toledo then capitalized on multiple Tribe mistakes over the next four innings as they plated a run on a throwing error in the second, a run on a balk in the third, a run on a fielding error in the fourth and a another run on a second throwing error in the fifth. In between the error in the fourth and the fifth, Sizemore blew the game open with a two-run single following the error that plated LF Wilkin Ramirez and C Max St. Pierre.
However, Indianapolis would not just roll over as they mounted a comeback with two runs in the fourth and five in the fifth to draw the score even at seven runs apiece.
RF Larry Broadway started the scoring for the Tribe when roped a two-out base hit in the fourth that plated CF Luis Cruz and C Erik Kratz, who led off the frame with back-to-back base hits of their own.
Indianapolis then exploded for five runs in the fifth led by 2B Shelby Ford, who led off the frame with his second triple of the season and then trotted home when LF Pedro Lopez ripped a double to right. Later in the inning, Cruz and Kratz collected back-to-back singles for the second time with Kratz's base hit bringing home Lopez for the innings second run.
Following Kratz's base knock, 1B Brian Myrow lifted a single of his own that loaded the bases and set the stage for another two-run base hit by Broadway. Toledo also would commit a costly fielding error on Broadway's base knock that allowed Myrow to trot home and tie the score at 7-7.
After surrendering a five run lead, Toledo's offense would come through in the clutch with two runs in the eighth inning that propelled them to the victory and prevented Indianapolis from taking the series sweep. St. Pierre started the rally with a one out infield single and scored what turned out to be the game-winning run when DH Will Rhymes lined a double to center.
Later in the frame Toledo added an insurance run when Sizemore capped his season best performance with a single that scored Rhymes for his fourth RBI on the evening. Sizemore (3-for-4, 1 R, 4 RBI) along with St. Pierre (2-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI), SS Brent Dlugach (2-for-4, 1 R) and 3B Mike Hessman (2-for-4, 1 R) all turned in multi-hit performances for the Mud Hens, who pounded out double digit hits for the second consecutive contest.
Indianapolis also managed multiple hits in defeat as Broadway (2-for-4, 4 RBI), Kratz (2-for-5, 2 R, 1 RBI), Cruz (2-for-5, 2 R) and Myrow (2-for-4, 1 R) all collected multiple base knocks.
Neither starter figured in the decision as Indianapolis starter Brad Lincoln (3.2 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO) struggled in his first career start at Victory Field, allowing six runs (three earned) on six hits in just 3.2 innings and Toledo starter Chris Lambert (5.0 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO) allowed seven runs (six earned ) on 10 hits in five innings of work.
The game was instead decided in the bullpen, where Toledo reliever Jay Sborz (2.0 IP, 3 SO) picked up his first win in a Mud Hens uniform and RHP Casey Fien (1.0 IP, 2 BB, 1 SO) notched his first save, while Indians' reliever Mike Koplove (1.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) allowed his first runs as a member of the Indians and took the loss to drop to 1-4 on the year.
Following an off day the Indians will play a doubleheader on Thursday with both contests slated for seven innings with the first game beginning at 5:30 p.m. In game one of the doubleheader RHP Eric Hacker is scheduled to start for Indianapolis, while RHP Ramon Ramirez is expected to get the nod for the Bats.
Both contests will be carried by WXLW-950 AM and www.IndyIndians.com with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley. The pre-game show begins at 5:10 p.m.
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