The Tribe offense scored in each of the first five innings as eight of nine Indianapolis batters scored at least one run, seven collected at least one hit and six drove in at least one run to power the Indians to a 10-4 victory over the Toledo Mud Hens on Tuesday night at Victory Field.

After scoring just one run in each of their last two games, the Indians offense exploded for 10 runs on 13 hits, while scoring multiple runs in four separate innings. The Tribe spread the wealth offensively as the first eight hitters all scored at least one run and reached base at least once.

Major Leaguer Pedro Alvarez started the scoring for the Tribe when he ripped a single to right field to plate 2B Corey Wimberly and SS Jordy Mercer.  The duo of RF Miles Durham and DH Dusty Brown then extended the Indians advantage to 3-0 when they led off the bottom of the second with a triple and double back-to-back.

Alvarez then began the Tribe’s three-run third inning outburst with a walk before coming plateward along with 1B Matt Hague on a two run single by C Kris Watts.

Watts would also come around to score a run, as Brown completed the scoring in the third by lifting a sacrifice fly to extend the Indians lead to 6-0.

Toledo would cut into the deficit with single scores in the fourth and fifth on a solo home run by Major Leaguer Carlos Guillen and sacrifice fly by former Indians INF Argenis Diaz.

However, the Indians would tack on two more tallies in their half of the fourth and fifth to put the game well out of contention. LF John Bowker blasted two more scores on the board in the fourth, when he launched a two-run home run over the right field fence.

The Indians then pushed their way into double digits, as both Watts and Brown capped their nights with runs in the bottom of the fifth.  Watts led off the inning with a single and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly from CF Anthony Norman while Brown crossed the plate on a RBI single from 2B Corey Wimberly to extend the Indians advantage to 10-2.

Indianapolis starter Garrett Olson turned in another solid performance, as he allowed just two runs over six innings of work to earn the victory and improve to 3-0 on the season.  Following Olson, Tribe relievers Mike Crotta and Jose Ascanio each tossed hitless innings of relief, while reliever Tim Wood served up two Toledo ninth inning scores off a double by RF Ben Guez and sacrifice fly from DH Cale Iorg.

Mud Hens starter L. J. Gagnier was roughed up for 10 runs on 11 hits over just 4.2 innings, suffering the loss to fall to 1-3 on the season.

Indianapolis now wraps up the three-game home series with Toledo on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. LHP Rudy Owens is expected to take the mound for the Indians, while the Mud Hens are scheduled to counter with LHP Duane Below.

Share