Ninth-Inning Homers Not Enough in Indians Loss

INDIANAPOLIS – After falling behind by six runs, the Indianapolis Indians fell short in their comeback attempt against the Toledo Mud Hens on Saturday night, 6-4.

The Mud Hens (39-30) put up two runs in the third inning and strung together scoring plays in the next three frames to take a lead. They capitalized off errors and miscues from the Indians defense to go up, 6-0, with only four runs earned by starter Mitch Keller (L, 1-1).

Ethan Paul, who recorded the lone Indians hit through the first five innings, led off the bottom of the sixth with a double. With Anthony Alford also on base with a one-out walk, Christian Bethancourt doubled down the right-field line to put Indianapolis on the board, 6-2.

The Indians (34-35) continued their rally in the ninth inning with a pair of solo home runs by Alford and Bethancourt, but fell two runs short of tying the game. Bethancourt ended the night with two hits and three of the team’s four RBI.

Keller struck out nine in five innings, leading the Indians pitching staff to it’s total of 13. It was his most since logging nine strikeouts on Aug. 23, 2019 vs. Cincinnati.

Mark Leiter Jr. (W, 4-0) allowed just two baserunners (one hit) through five innings. Angel De Jesus tossed two perfect innings between Indy’s run-scoring frames.