Worth’s double lifts Mud Hens, 5-4

Hit in 10th inning helps Toledo get past Indianapolis

Mud Hens relief pitcher Jon Link allowed one hit in 2 1/3 innings Saturday night against Indianapolis at Fifth Third Field.

BLADE/JEFFREY SMITH

Mud Hens relief pitcher Jon Link allowed one hit in 2 1/3 innings Saturday night against Indianapolis at Fifth Third Field.

Danny Worth had two doubles for the Mud Hens against first-place Indianapolis on Saturday night at Fifth Third Field.

But it was the second extra-base hit that decided the outcome and led to a 5-4 win in 10 innings before an announced crowd of 11,500.

Worth’s double to right-center field off former Toledo pitcher Andy Oliver with two outs allowed Danny Dorn to score from first base to end the contest that lasted 3 hours, 32 minutes.

“A slider,” Worth said of Oliver’s pitch that he delivered to the warning track to end the third straight extra-inning game with the Indians, who won the first two in Indianapolis.

PHOTO GALLERY: Click here to see more photos from the game

Kevin Russo provided plenty of offense for the Mud Hens (53-70), going 3 for 4 at the plate with a double, two singles, and three RBIs.

“I think we swung the bats pretty well today,” Toledo manager Phil Nevin said. “After those two previous [extra-inning] games, it was good to see us come out and do what we did today.”

Mud Hens reliever Jose Ortega (4-0) earned the decision after pitching two scoreless innings, striking out three and walking two.

Toledo starter Jair Jurrjens struggled with his control in the second inning, and the Indians took advantage to take a 2-0 lead. The right-hander’s unsteadiness on the mound allowed the Indians to score two runs on two hits, two walks, and an error.

The second frame started quite well for Jurrjens, who struck out two of the first three batters he faced. But with two outs, Jurrjens walked the next two batters to load the bases for Indians leadoff hitter Darren Ford.

Ford responded with a two-out, two-run single just underneath the outstretched glove of Worth at third base. Jurrjens struck out the next batter he faced — his third in the frame.

Toledo didn’t stay down for long.

The Mud Hens came right back and rallied for two runs to even the score.

A walk by Dorn led off the inning against Indians right-hander Jameson Taillon. Two batters later, Bryan Holaday followed with a double to left.

Russo tied the score when he smacked a double off the left-field wall, which allowed both base runners to score and make it 2-2.

“It’s been pretty neat to see him come on late,” Nevin said of Russo, who entered the game batting .210. “He hasn’t held his head down.”

Toledo's Danny Worth slides safely into home plate ahead of the tag by Indianapolis catcher Lucas May in Saturday night’s game at Fifth Third Field. Worth had the game-winning hit.

Indianapolis went up 3-2 in the third afer Jurrjens gave up a run by walking Jared Goedert with the bases full. It was Jurrjens’ fifth walk. He did strike out six batters in four innings.

Toledo’s Ben Guez tied the score at 3 with a solo blast off of Taillon that nearly cleared the ballpark in left field. His 17th home run of the season came after replacing Nick Castellanos in the lineup.

Castellanos was hit by a pitch in the first inning. Nevin said the extent of the injury wasn’t known, and it will be examined further today.

Toledo took its first lead when Kevin Russo tagged a run-scoring single that allowed Worth to score and give the Mud Hens a 4-3 advantage. Worth led off the inning with a double off Taillon.

However, Robert Andino tied the score at 4 when he hit a run-scoring double in the sixth inning. Jurrjens was relieved by right-hander Jon Link after Andino’s extra-base hit.

The Mud Hens starter lasted 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits, striking out seven, and walking five. Taillon lasted seven innings, allowing four runs on six hits, fanning eight, and walking four.

Contact Donald Emmons at: demmons@theblade.com, 419-724-6302 or on Twitter @DemmonsBlade.