INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Indians are proving early on that it will be difficult for any other team to compete for the International League (IL) West Division championship. Friday night’s 6-4 victory over the Toledo Mud Hens gave them their eighth victory of the season and the best record in the IL.

The Mud Hens got to starter Jake Brigham early, scoring a run in the first. It was only the second time that the Indians did not score before their opponent.

Neither team scored again until the fourth when the Indians took a 2-1 lead on a two-run triple by Blake Davis. The Tribe’s lead didn’t last for long because a half inning later they found themselves down by a score of 4-2. Brigham didn’t make it out of the inning and was relieved by Zack Thornton. Brigham struck out seven, but also gave up four runs on four hits in a 4.1 inning appearance.

This was just the fourth time that the Indians fell behind or was tied with the opposing team. One of those games was their 8-6 loss to the Mud Hens in the doubleheader on April 8, but the other three the Indians have rallied to win.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Indians locked up the game – scoring four runs. Carlos Paulino, Michael Martinez and Gregory Polanco all drove in runs by hitting a single. Thornton was awarded the win and Andy Oliver came out of the bullpen to pitch the eighth and ninth earning a two-inning save.

The Indians are set to finish this six-game stretch against the Mud Hens tomorrow starting at 7:05 p.m. Adam Wilk is set to start for the Tribe.

[symple_toggle title=”Writer’s Note”]This article was originally published on the Indy Sports Report website. The photo is courtesy of Indy Sports Report photographer Phil Taylor and accompanies the article on the website.[/symple_toggle]