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Indians’ Embarassing Start
Toledo Mud Hens 16,�
Indianapolis Indians 5
The Indianapolis Indians got the season off to a rocky start tonight at Victory Field. �The Toledo Mud Hens, a perennial division rival, scored 15 runs on 19 hits, and scored in six of their nine at-bats, to hand the Tribe their first defeat of the season.
The Tribe started the game well enough. �Starter Jason Davis gave up a single in the first inning to Toledo DH Brent Clevlen, but even after Clevlen stole second base and went to third on a throwing error by C Erik Kratz, Davis was able to strand Clevlen on third base and get out of the inning without a run scoring. �
CF Andrew McCutchen and SS Brian Bixler led off the bottom of the 1st inning with back-to-back triples to almost the identical spot at the center field wall. �Bixler came in to score (photo) on a sacrifice fly by LF Jeff Salazar, and the Indians had an early 2-0 lead. �
In the top of the 2nd, Jason Davis (photo) gave up a one-out triple to Toledo LF Wilkin Ramirez. �It didn't look too bad, though, when a short pop behind first base gave him out number two. �But then Davis hit C Dusty Ryan with a pitch and walked SS Brent Dlugach to load the bases with two outs. �Back to the top of the Mud Hens' order, and 2B WIll Rhymes -- who drove another triple, the fourth triple of the game, down the right field line, within a few feet of the chalk, and into the corner to clear the bases and give Toledo a 3-2 lead. �A moment later, Rhymes scored on a wild pitch that bounced to the backstop. �
Still, the Tribe was only down by two runs. �They reclaimed one of the runs in the bottom of the inning, when DH Larry Broadway�walked, advanced to second when 2B Andy Phillips walked, and scored when Andrew McCutchen lashed an RBI single into center field. �The Indians just missed scoring more, when Brian Bixler lifted the first pitch he saw into short center field. �It looked like it might drop in, but Toledo 2B Rhymes made a twisting, over-the-shoulder catch to rob Bixler of an RBI hit. �The Indians had gotten a little closer, though, cutting the Mud Hens' lead down to 4-3. �
Things got ugly after that. �Because Jason Davis was on a strict 50-pitch limit, and he had already reached 44 pitches (26 for strikes), he was lifted after two innings, having given up 4 runs on 5 hits and a walk. �Corey Hamman (photo)�came on to begin the 3rd inning. �After a strikeout, two singles and a walk loaded the bases. �SS Dlugach grounded toward third base, and 3B Neil Walker charged in to field it. �He couldn't make a play at home, possibly because he had trouble pulling the ball from his glove. �Another run scored, and runners were left on second and third bases. �Rhymes slipped a double just out of reach of 2B Andy Phillips' dive, scoring two more runs. �Then CF Ryan Raburn homered over the left-center field fence, bringing in two more. �
Hamman gave up three runs in the 4th inning, with a walk, a hit batter, a double and a single. �He was relieved by new Indian Jeremy Powell (photo), who finished the 4th inning. �Then Powell gave up a run in the 5th on two walks and a double, and two runs in the 6th on another 4 hits.
Dave Davidson kept the Mud Hens from scoring in the 7th, but then gave up the 16th run in the 8th, with another RBI double. �Evan Meek was the most effective Tribe pitcher. �He pitched the 9th and limited the Mud Hens to only a walk. �The Indians' pitchers did not have a 3-up-and-3-down inning in the game. �
The Indians did manage to score two more runs, though it was way too little and too late.
Andy Phillips (photo) blasted a solo homer over the left field wall off Toledo reliever Fu-Te Ni in the 6th inning. �Bixler scored again in the 9th innning, when he led off with a double into right-center field and scored on Jeff Salazar's RBI single. �The Indians put runners on base in every inning but the 7th, but failed to get them around to score, leaving a total of 12 runners on base. �Phillips had three of the hits -- the homer and two singles. �Andrew McCutchen and Brian Bixler had two hits each.
Starter Jason Davis was charged with the loss. �Fu-Te Ni earned the win. �
Indians' Hitting Gem of the Game: �Andy Phillips' home run, along with his two singles.
Indians' Defensive Gem of the Game: �In the 6th inning, with the bases loaded, one out, and two runs already in, LF Wilkin Ramirez grounded to third base. �3B Neil Walker (photo) had to hurry to get the slow roller, but he scooped it up, fired to 2B Andy Phillips, and on to 1B Steve Pearce for the inning-ending double play that prevented any further runs from scoring. �
Two plays that were almost great, both on CF Ryan Raburn: �In the 2nd inning, Raburn blooped a ball into short center field. �CF Andrew McCutchen came racing in and it looked like he had just barely made the catch at the tops of the blades of grass. �But, when he somersaulted after the catch, the ball popped out of his glove, and was ruled a hit. �At least that one didn't bring in any more runs. � In the 6th inning, with runners on first and second bases with no outs, Raburn grounded along the third base line. �3B Neil Walker timed the bounces perfectly, so that he caught it just as he was stepping on third base, forcing out the runner coming from second. �Then he turned and fired to first base -- but Raburn was just fast enough to beat out the throw. �If it had been a double play, it might have kept a run from scoring. �I know, I know -- what's the difference between 15 and 16....
NOTES:
Relief pitcher�Romulo Sanchez has cleared waivers, and will be joining the Indians some time this weekend. �
2B Shelby Ford is not currently on the Indians' active roster, at least until his re-sprained wrist is better.
Pirates' President Frank Coonelly (photos below) was at the Indians' game. �He gave a brief speech prior to the game, and he threw out the first pitch, along with Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard. �He also left the game promptly afterwards, and didn't stay for the fireworks. �He says they take fireworks very seriously in Pittsburgh. �
The Indians have a new branch of their gift shop on the first-base side of the concourse. (The main gift shop is on the third base side.) �Instead of the old counter, this is an enclosed space, with a curved facade that opens onto the concourse. �Hats, jerseys, and other such things are available there, for both the Indians and MLB teams. �In the 9th inning, DH Jason Delaney christened the new shop when he hit a foul ball up into the stands on the first base side, over the stands, across the concourse, and right into the brand new facade.
Game time temperature at Victory Field was 59 degrees -- one degree short of the Indians' "Guarantee" 60 degrees. �So, everyone in attendance will get to turn in the ticket from tonight's game for a ticket to any other game this April. �This was the second year in a row that the game time temperature on Opening Day was 59 degrees.�
Go Tribe!
(photos by Nancy Zinni -- MVN)
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