In his first game back with the Indianapolis Indians, after a long stint on the disabled list, A.J. Morris got roughed up as the Toledo Mud Hens were victorious by a score of 6-1 on Thursday night.

Also rejoining the team on Thursday were infielders Brent Morel and Michael Martinez. Both players had recently had stints with the Pittsburgh Pirates – Morel’s was just a few days and Martinez has been away from Indy since July 5.

The highlight of Morris’ night was when struck out the side in the fourth and followed that with a 1-2-3 fifth inning. He got out of the first inning after walking a batter with a double play, but then gave up three runs in both the second and third innings.

The offense of the Mud Hens was enough to keep the Indians’ out of reach, especially since the Mud Hens pitching staff – Derek Hankins, Pat McCoy and Justin Miller – combined to keep the Indians at only seven hits and one run.

The Tribe threatened a few times with six runners in scoring position, but unfortunately they all got left there. The spark that they had offensively in their two previous games – both of which they won 7-3 – was basically non-existent.

Jose Tabata started the bottom of the ninth, the last chance for the Indians, and reached base on an error. He scored the Tribe’s first (and only) run of the game following Morel’s second double of the game. But that would be all the offense the Indians saw.

The chase for the International League West Division is still on as the Columbus Clippers are in the first followed by the Indians and Mud Hens who are tied and then the  Louisville Bats.

Indians’ Player of the Game:

John Holdzkom

The pitcher came in with his team down 6-0 in the top of the ninth and kept Mud Hens’ batters off the bases. He struck out the final batter, while getting the first two batters he faced to hit fly balls to the center fielder Chase d’Arnaud. Even though, by the time he came into pitch it seemed like his team was too far out of it he kept them in the game by not allowing a base runner.

Final Box Score:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Mud Hens	0	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	0		6	9	1
Indians	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1		1	7	0

Winning Pitcher: Hankins (7-13, 5.40 ERA)
Losing Pitcher: Morris (1-4, 4.50 ERA)

Author’s Note:
This content was originally published on the Indiana Sports Report website.