Indy due to pound Mud Hens

8/3/2008

INDIANAPOLIS - Held scoreless for 20 consecutive innings by Toledo pitchers, the Indianapolis Indians erupted for 18 hits last night in an 11-3 triumph over the Mud Hens.

All 10 Indians who batted in the game contributed at least one hit. Matt Kata led the rout with three runs batted in on four hits, including a double and a home run.

Toledo had blanked the Indians in two consecutive games. Indianapolis hadn't scored since the eighth inning of Thursday's game at Fifth Third Field.

"We'd shut them out a couple of games in a row," said Toledo manager Larry Parrish. "They were due to score some runs. We didn't expect it to be 18 hits and 11 of them, though."

The Indians broke through for a run in the first inning off the Hens' Anastacio Martinez (2-4). Brian Bixler led off with a single to center and Andrew McCutchen followed with an infield single to short. Erick Almonte's throw to first was in the dirt for an error, allowing Bixler to take third. When Nyjer Morgan grounded to second, Bixler sped home to give the Indians a 1-0 lead.

Indianapolis made it 6-0 in the second. The first run came on back-to-back, one-out doubles by Jason Delaney and Kata. After Kata stole third, Michel Hernandez smashed a 1-0 pitch over the right-center field fence for his third homer of the season.

Bixler singled, but was caught stealing. After a walk to McCutchen and a hit to left by Morgan, Indianapolis had runners at the corners and Parrish went to his bullpen.

Jeremy Johnson came on to face Luis Ordaz, who ripped a single up the middle. McCutchen came in to score with Morgan taking third. Johnson drilled Ryan Mulhern on a 2-2 pitch to load the bases and, when the first pitch to Luis Cruz was in the dirt, all three runners advanced.

The onslaught continued in the third. Delaney led off with a walk, then Kata drilled a 91-mph fastball over the right field wall to give the Indians an 8-0 advantage.

While Martinez's night shut down after 12/3 innings, Indians starter Corey Hamman (2-2) breezed through the first three.

Toledo scored a pair of runs in the fourth. Brent Clevlen opened the inning with a walk and went to third on Jeff Larish's two-base hit. Clevlen scored on Almonte's infield out, and when Dusty Ryan followed with a triple off the wall in the right field corner, the score was 8-2.

The Indians added three more in the fifth. With two away, Bixler singled off Larish's glove at first. After Bixler stole second, McCutchen walked and Morgan tripled to left-center. Ordaz then grounded to third, but when Kody Kirkland threw wildly to first, Morgan strolled home to make it 11-2.

Kirkland got a run back for Toledo in the sixth. Michael Hollimon walked, took second on defensive indifference, and then came home on Kirkland's triple to close out the scoring.

Hamman, who struck out seven, walked three and gave up five hits in six innings, gave way in the seventh to Evan Meek for two innings and Marino Salas worked the ninth.

Casey Fien and Ian Ostlund finished up for Toledo, also combining for three scoreless innings.

Freddy Guzman stole second in the third inning - his 40th swipe of the year. Guzman entered the game tied with Wayne Lydon of Syracuse for the International League lead.

The series wraps up this afternoon. Chris Lambert (11-6) will start for Toledo against Russ Ohlendorf (1-2). Lambert's 3.38 earned run average is eighth in the IL.