For the third straight game, the Toledo Mud Hens’ opportunity to defeat the Indianapolis Indians came down to the wire. Indianapolis tied it at five in the ninth, forcing Saturday’s game to go to extra innings at Fifth Third Field.
Daz Cameron singled in the winning run in the 10th inning in a 6-5 win over Indianapolis.
What happened: In the tenth, Derek Hill advanced Jamie Westbrook, the extra inning runner, to third on a bunt down the third base line. Cameron lined a base hit to left field, which allowed Westbrook to score the winning run.
Jack Suwinski tied the game in the ninth on a solo homer from Mud Hens reliever Sam Howard.
The Mud Hens rallied for three runs in the eighth. Westbrook and Ali Sanchez singled in a pair of runs to then tie the game at four in the eighth. Cameron singled in Westbrook off Indianapolis reliever John O’Reilly for a then 5-4 lead.
Josh Lester began the sixth by crushing a solo home run to left field. Spencer Torkelson followed with a double to the right center field gap. Derek Hill singled in Torkelson for a two-run inning.
Indianapolis’ tagged Mud Hens reliever Wily Peralta for a pair of runs in the fifth. Rodolfo Castro’s ground out drove in Mike Jarvis and Suwinski doubled in Tucupita Marcano. In the fourth, Indianapolis scored on a throwing error by Mud Hens right-handed starter Chi Chi Gonzalez with Suwinski trotting home.
The Indians added a run on an RBI double from Taylor Davis in the eighth.
Gonzalez pitched four innings of one run ball with five strikeouts, five hits, and one walk. Indianapolis right-handed pitcher Mike Burrows pitched four scoreless innings and surrendered two hits, struck out two, and walked two. Drew Carlton (2-2) earned the win and Eric Hanhold (2-2) was issued the loss.
Game MVP: Cameron drove in the winning run in the 10th. He went 2-for-5 with two singles, reached on an error, and had two RBIs.
He said it: “They're taking good at bats early in the game, they just weren't getting results,” said Mud Hens bench coach Tony Cappuccilli, who’s filling in for manager Lloyd McClendon. “So they kept with it and kept having good approaches all day. And then a couple balls fell and all of a sudden the momentum swung our way.”
McClendon missed Friday and Saturday’s games due to a prior commitment and is set to return Sunday, Mud Hens broadcaster Matt Melzak said.
Make note of it: Gonzalez made his first start for the Mud Hens since signing a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers on July 19th. Gonzalez has played in the Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers organization this season.
He had a 2-2 record and 3.44 earned run average over 36 2/3 innings pitched for Triple-A St. Paul Saints. Gonzalez struck out 35 batters to 14 walks.
Comings and goings: Right-handed pitcher Bryan Garcia was optioned to Toledo and the Tigers selected right-handed pitcher Derek Law to the major league roster.
Mud Hens left-handed pitcher Joey Wentz began a rehab assignment with High-A West Michigan. Ryan Kreidler was reinstated from the seven day injured list.
A look ahead: The Mud Hens (49-47) and Indians (45-50) close out their six game series at 2:05 p.m. on Sunday at Fifth Third Field. Indianapolis will send right-handed pitcher Roansy Contreras (0-1) versus Beau Brieske (0-1), who’s on a rehab assignment for the Tigers.
First Published July 31, 2022, 2:42 a.m.
