Indy pitcher too fast for Mud Hens

8/4/2008
BY PETE CAVA
SPECIAL TO THE BLADE

INDIANAPOLIS - Relying on a fastball in the mid-90s yesterday afternoon, Indianapolis right-hander Ross Ohlendorf fanned nine Toledo Mud Hens over 72/3 innings en route to an 8-4 Indians home victory.

Ohlendorf (2-2), who joined the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in a late July trade with the New York Yankees, scattered six hits and walked a batter. Sixty-one of his 95 pitches were strikes.

The Princeton alum vastly improved on his last outing, a 5-3 loss last Tuesday at Fifth Third Field.

"He looked like he was throwing very well today," said Hens manager Larry Parrish. "His fastball was up around 97 today for about the first four innings. He got his breaking pitch over better today than he did at our place."

Right-hander Chris Lambert, who had won four of his last five decisions, started for Toledo and surrendered a pair of runs in the third. Andrew McCutchen started the rally with a one-out double, followed by a base hit by Nyjer Morgan that gave the Indians their first score. After Morgan stole second, Neil Walker blooped a single to right that made it 2-0.

Indianapolis added two more in the fifth. McCutchen drew a one-out base on balls and scored on a double by Morgan, who took third on a wild pitch. Morgan scored on Walker's sacrifice fly to give the Indians a 4-0 edge.

Lambert (11-7) lasted five innings, notching five strikeouts and giving up seven hits, four earned runs and a walk. Brian Rogers replaced him in the sixth.

Toledo got on the board when Jeff Larish led off the seventh with his 18th home run.

The Indians stormed back with three more in the bottom of the frame. McCutchen and Morgan got aboard with infield hits and, as Walker struck out, Morgan stole second. Both runners came around on Jason Delaney's single to center. Matt Kata followed with a triple down the right field line that made it 7-1.

Clay Rapada, back with Toledo after three days with the parent Detroit Tigers, relieved Rogers and struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

The Hens got two back in the eighth when Freddy Guzman cracked a one-out double and Clete Thomas launched his ninth homer of the year to make the score 7-3.

Ohlendorf struck out the next batter and then made way for left-hander Juan Perez. Perez's day ended just two batters later. Timo Perez greeted the left-hander with a double and went to third on a wild pitch. Larish's single to center plated Perez for a 7-4 score.

Jesse Chavez came in from the bullpen and struck out Dusty Ryan to end the inning.

Indianapolis went up 8-4 in the eighth. Carlos Maldonado reached first on a bad-hop infield hit and took second on a wild pickoff attempt. Bixler reached base on a bunt single that put runners at the corners, but was caught stealing. After McCutchen fanned, Morgan poked a single to left that scored Maldonado

Morgan was 4-for-5 with three runs batted in to lead the Indianapolis offense. Chavez picked up his 10th save.

Toledo finished the season with 12 wins in 21 games with Indianapolis.

The Hens open a four-game series at Louisville today. Yorman Bazardo (4-7) starts for Toledo against Ben Jukich (1-1). The Bats are in first place in the International League West.

"We're glad to get out of town and go down to Louisville and see what we can do down there," said Parrish.