Hens victorious: Hessman closes door on Indianapolis

The Hens' Jack Hannahan is greeted by teammates after homering last night in Toledo's win over the Indians at Fifth Third.

If yesterday's game between Toledo and Indianapolis was any indication, this four-game series between the top two teams in the International League's West Division will be a doozy.

Last night the Mud Hens overcame a plenty of obstacles to claim a 6-5 victory in 11 innings.

"They scored, we scored, they came back, we came back," Mud Hens interim manager Mike Rojas said.

The Indians scored a run in the top of the 11th on an RBI double by Luis Ordaz, but the Hens responded with singles by Timo Perez and Ryan Raburn off Franquelis Osoria to start the bottom of the 11th.

Chris Shelton laid down a sacrifice bunt and Perez beat Osoria's throw to third to load the bases. Mike Hessman then hammered a hard grounder down the third-base line for a game-winning two-run single.

The Indians drew first blood with a run in the opening inning off Toledo starter Jon Connolly, who was promoted from Double-A Erie for the start. Connolly gave up a double, walk and RBI single to Yurendell de Caster before getting Humberto Cota to ground into a double play and striking out Jose Hernandez.

The Mud Hens got the run back just three pitches into the bottom of the first as Ramon Santiago slammed a John Wasdin pitch off the facing of the Roost for his third home run of the season.

That was the first of three homers on the night for Toledo. The other two came off the bat of Jack Hannahan, who slugged a two-run homer to left-center in the fourth and added a solo blast in the seventh.

Contact John Wagner at:jwagner@theblade.com

or 419-724-6481.