Mud Hens get just 6 hits in road loss to Indianapolis

4/9/2013
BLADE STAFF

INDIANAPOLIS — The Mud Hens managed just six hits in a 3-1 loss Monday night at Indianapolis.

Indianapolis needed just two batters to take a 2-0 lead in the contest as Darren Ford tripled off Toledo starter Jose Alvarez to start the game and Brett Carroll followed with his first home run of the season.

After a walk, Alvarez got Brandon Inge — the former Mud Hen and Tiger who is on a rehab assignment with the Indians — to hit into a double play. Inge hit into another double play and also struck out and walked.

The Indians scored in the fourth inning when Jared Goedert and Tony Sanchez hit back-to-back, two-out doubles, but Toledo got that run back in the fifth when Quintin Berry doubled, moved to third on a groundout by Kevin Russo, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Nick Castellanos.

But that was the only run the Hens could scratch out against Phil Irwin, who allowed four hits and one walk while fanning five in six innings. Mike Zagurski allowed two hits but no runs in the seventh, while Bryan Morris earned his second save by retiring all six batters he faced.

Alvarez took the loss, but relievers Luke Putkonen and Jose Ortega pitched well. Putkonen gave up just one hit and one walk while striking out two in three scoreless innings, while Ortega whiffed three while walking one in the eighth.