The weather delayed another game for the Indianapolis Indians on Monday night, forcing the Indians into their second double-header of the season. They split the outing with the Toledo Mud Hens – winning game one 6-4 and losing game two 6-8.
The Indians came out swinging in game one and scored three runs in the first inning. Gregory Polanco singled and stole a base before being driven in on a triple by Andrew Lambo. The next batter, Brent Morel sent a two-run bomb over the left-field fence to put the Indians up 3-0.
Neither team would score again until the fifth inning. The Tribe scored two more runs on a homer by Blake Davis with Carlos Paulino on base. In the bottom half of the frame, the Mud Hens got to starter Phil Irwin who gave up four runs on back-to-back home runs by J.D. Martinez (with two runners on base) and Mike Hessman (solo). The Indians would answer with another run in the sixth by Chris McGuiness.
Zack Thornton and Jared Hughes appeared in relief as the Tribe won their fifth-straight game to start the season.
The Tribe carried the momentum from their earlier win into game two of the double header, beginning the game in a similar fashion. They scored three runs in the first frame, with Chase d’Arnaud, Morel and Lambo coming around to score.
The Mud Hens were not easily defeated though and scored runs in every frame, but the sixth. Jay Jacksonwas making a spot-start, in order to maintain the general pitching rotation. Duke Welker and Daniel Schlerethboth saw action out of the pen.
Nevin Ashley and Lambo earned an RBI a piece in the top of the third, while Ashley picked up a second RBI in the top of the fifth. The Tribe was unable to threaten in the sixth and seventh innings as they recorded the first loss of the 2014 campaign.
The Indians will face-off against the Mud Hens again on Wednesday night with the first pitch expected to be at 6:30 p.m. Casey Sadler (0-0) is the Tribe’s probable starter.
On Thursday night, the Mud Hens will travel to Indianapolis for the Indians home-opener starting at 7:05 p.m. with Brandon Cumpton (1-0) expected to be on the mound.