Pitching fails Hens in Indy loss

Toledo falls for 7th time in last 8 contests

6/28/2012

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Mud Hens lost for the seventh time in their last eight games as Indianapolis pounded out a 9-6 victory at Victory Field Wednesday.

The problem for the Hens wasn't the offense, as it has been recently, but instead was with the pitching as Toledo starter Thad Weber gave up five runs in the third inning while relievers Rob Waite and Collin Balester each gave up two runs.

It was Weber's shortest pitching stint of the season, lasting just 2⅔ innings. He allowed seven hits and all five runs were earned. He struck out four and walked two.

The Mud Hens scored an unearned run in the top of the third when Bryan Holaday singled, then scored all the way from first when Indy's Brian Friday made a throwing error on a grounder by Justin Henry.

The Indians responded by sending 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the third. Indianapolis had six hits in the inning, including an RBI double by Jordy Mercer, a two-run double by Yamaico Navarro and a two-run single by Brandon Boggs.

The Indians added two runs in the fourth off Waite thanks to a two-run homer by Jeff Clement, his 10th home run of the season. Indianapolis scored twice in the fifth off Balester on RBI singles by Brian Friday and Anderson Hernandez.

All nine Indians starters had at least one hit as Clement finished with three RBIs while Navarro and Boggs each had two.

Toledo managed to trim a 7-1 deficit with three runs in the fifth as Henry slammed a two-run double, and John Lindsey added a sacrifice fly.

The Mud Hens added a single run in the eighth as Lindsey doubled, moved to third on Ryan Strieby's groundout, and scored on a groundout by Jeff Baisley.

Toledo's final run came in the ninth when Ben Guez walked, moved to third on a double by Argenis Diaz and scored on Henry's groundout.

Jerad Head led the Mud Hens with three hits, including a pair of doubles, while Holaday went 2-for-4 and scored twice while Henry had three RBIs.