Snell leads Indians over Mud Hens

6/29/2009

INDIANAPOLIS - The Mud Hens got a fine pitching performance from starter Brooks Brown Sunday, but it was trumped by a weak offensive effort in a 2-1 loss to Indianapolis in 10 innings.

Indians starter Ian Snell struck out 17 Toledo hitters in his first start since his demotion from Pittsburgh, limiting the Hens to two hits and one unearned run in seven innings. Will Rhymes walked to open the game, and Snell promptly struck out the next 13 Mud Hens in a row.

Brown was nearly Snell's equal, allowing just five hits and one run in seven innings to keep Toledo in the game.

The only run the Indians scored off Brown came in the fourth, when Jeff Salazar singled, moved to second on a walk to Garrett Jones, and raced home on a single by Brian Myrow.

Toledo got that run back in the fifth when Brent Dlugach snapped Snell's strikeout string by lining a one-out single to center, then moved to third when Jeff Frazier's single was mishandled by Salazar in centerfield.

Dlugach scored on a groundout by Mike Hessman.

Indianapolis used a two-out rally in the bottom of the 10th to pull out the victory. Sandusky native Brian Bixler started the rally with a single off Hens reliever Ron Chiavacci, then moved to second on a single by Salazar.

Jones followed with a game-winning single to center to score Bixler.

Indianapolis will seek a sweep of the Hens in this three-game series at 7 tonight at Victory Field.