Adam Wilk wasted no time finding his rhythm on opening day.
When the Toledo Mud Hens' starting pitcher was lifted after five shutout innings, it wasn't because he was hurt or because he asked to be taken out of the game.
In Friday's 5-1 win over Indianapolis at Fifth Third Field, Wilk's abbreviated start came in the name of long-term maintenance.
Wilk threw 74 pitches -- 48 for strikes -- in five innings against the Indians.
He walked one batter and allowed only one hit, Jordy Mercer's double in the top of the first inning.
"On my first start, [Toledo manager Phil] Nevin told me it was 75 to 80," Wilk said of his opening-day pitch-count target. "I hit the pitch count. There's no need to send me out for one more hitter and maybe spoil a really good outing. I can prepare myself for the next start in five days."
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Wilk discussed the philosophy behind targeting a low pitch count.
"A minor-league season is five months and a big-league season's basically a full six months," Wilk said. "When you're throwing every day and throwing 100 pitches every five days, maybe more than 100 pitches, you do get tired. And you don't want to start the season throwing 100 pitches. You want to build up."
In five innings on Friday, Wilk's fastball remained consistent in the 86 to 88-mile-per-hour range, while his changeup was between 80 and 83 mph, and his breaking ball between 74 and 79 mph.
Only one pitch topped 90 mph -- a fastball in the second inning to Indianapolis designated hitter Jeremy Farrell.
"When I try to throw hard, the ball flattens," Wilk said. "I lose depth on pitches so, regardless of the velocity, I'm learning to throw the ball down into the zone and put some movement on it. That's the pitcher I am."
Wilk's only blemish came in the top of the fifth when he walked Indians right fielder Brandon Boggs with two outs.
"I worked ahead in the count and got hitters behind, and I was able to get them to have some weak contact," Wilk said. "But there's always room for improvement."
However, Wilk's first outing reiterated the Hens' confidence in the 24-year-old left-hander.
"We feel pretty good about him on the mound," Nevin said. "They didn't take a lot of swings off him. That's how he's been. I've seen that for two years now. He throws a lot of strikes, keeps hitters off-balance, and uses his defense. It was a good night for him."
CHANGE IN THE ROTATION: Casey Crosby was originally scheduled to start Tuesday against Louisville, but instead will start Monday, a day after Andy Oliver (who will start Sunday). Thad Weber will start Tuesday, and Wilk is scheduled to start Wednesday.
Fu-Te Ni is expected to start Thursday and will replace Drew Smyly, who will be called up to the Tigers' rotation after his start Saturday against Indianapolis.
PACK THE HOUSE: Friday's crowd of 13,227 was the largest in Fifth Third Field history, eclipsing the previous record of 13,200, set on May 14, 2010, when Crystal Bowersox, an American Idol runner-up from Elliston, Ohio, threw out the first pitch and sang the National Anthem.
However, Friday's record is solely an International League record at Fifth Third Field.
On July 14, 1966, 13,695 attended a Mud Hens game at the Lucas County Recreation Center, later renamed Skelton Stadium. The attraction? The Mud Hens were giving a pony away.
Skeldon Stadium's capacity was 10,197 (with obvious standing room), while Swayne Field's capacity was 10,000 during the 1920s, and 12,500 in the late 1930s.
Friday's game was also the 298th sellout in Fifth Third Field history.
FOURSOME: Indianapolis reliever Bryan Morris struck out four batters in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Morris struck out leadoff hitter Quintin Barry before Matt Young reached base on a third-strike wild pitch. Morris struck out Eric Patterson and Ryan Strieby to end the inning.
-- John Wagner contributed to this report
Contact Rachel Lenzi at: rlenzi@theblade.com, 419-724-6510, or on Twitter @RLenziBlade.
First Published April 7, 2012, 6:10 a.m.
