Indians’ Comeback Bid Falls Short in 9-6 Loss to Toledo
September 16, 2022 – International League (IL) – Indianapolis Indians News Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Jared Oliva hit a two-run homer to spark a five-run fourth inning that brought Indianapolis within one of Toledo, but the streaking Mud Hens – winners of eight straight games – held off the Indians 9-6 on Friday night at Victory Field for their fourth win of the series.
The two teams tallied their 15 combined runs through the first half of the game, with Toledo (78-60) leading 5-0 through two innings and 7-1 after three. The visitors plated four runs in the second on four hits, an error, sacrifice fly and two stolen bases and tacked on in the third thanks to a Corey Joyce two-run home run.
Indianapolis (70-68) countered in the fourth and sent nine batters to the dish to chase Toledo starter Ricardo Sanchez, who was charged with all five runs in the frame. Oliva’s one-out blast inside the left field pole was his eighth of the season and second in as many games following his inside-the-park homer Thursday afternoon. Brendt Citta kept the inning alive with a two-out single that scored Ji-Hwan Bae from second base, and Blake Sabol brought home Tucupita Marcano and Citta with a double to the base of the center field wall that made it 7-6.
Playing in just the third Triple-A game of his career, Joyce drove in two more runs in the fifth with a double to give him a career-high five RBI.
Indy didn’t threaten again until the ninth, when one-out singles by Marcano and Travis Swaggerty brought the potential tying run to the plate. Miguel Diaz (S, 4) escaped by inducing a sharp grounder off the bat of Citta to second base to start a game-ending double play.
Jerad Eickhoff (L, 6-7) surrendered seven runs (six earned) on six hits with three strikeouts in 3.0 innings pitched. Nolan Blackwood (W, 2-1) struck out two in 1.1 innings of relief to begin a stretch of 13 consecutive batters retired by the Mud Hens’ bullpen.
Both teams registered 11-hit performances. Marcano, Swaggerty, Citta and Sabol had two hits apiece in the loss. Pirates closer David Bednar hurled a 1-2-3 fourth inning in his second rehab appearance.
The Indians and Mud Hens continue their series on Saturday at 6:35 PM ET. RHP Peter Solomon (0-0, 6.00) gets the nod for Indy against RHP Elvin Rodriguez (6-4, 4.31).
• Discuss this story on the International League message board…
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.
