Second-Inning Damage Spoils Series Finale, Indians Drop Fourth in a Row, 16-6

TOLEDO, Ohio – An eight-run second inning and five-run sixth from the Toledo Mud Hens was too much for the Indians to overcome on Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Field, as Indianapolis dropped the series finale, 16-6.

The Mud Hens (9-6) ambushed Indians left-hander Michael Plassmeyer (L, 1-2) for five consecutive hits to open the bottom of the second inning, plating four runs before an out was recorded. Toledo pushed across eight runs in the frame, highlighted by a two-run triple from Akil Baddoo, RBI doubles from Jace Jung and former Indian Ryan Vilade, and a two-run home run from Keston Hiura.

Toledo added a three-spot in the bottom of the third and tacked on five more runs in the sixth, thanks in large part to a pair of home runs from Jung and Baddoo. With 16 Mud Hens runs on Sunday on the heels of a 13-4 Indians loss in game two of a Saturday doubleheader, Indianapolis allowed 10 or more runs in back-to-back games for the first time since July 1-2, 2022, in Nashville.

The Indians (6-9) started a comeback bid with a three-run third thanks to an RBI double from Liover Peguero and runs driven in from Malcom Nuñez and Canaan-Smith Njigba. Gilberto Celestino later added an RBI double, and solo homers from Nuñez and pinch hitter Eli Wilson accounted for the rest of the Indians’ run production. For Wilson, it was his first Triple-A home run.

Mud Hens left-hander Adam Wolf (W, 1-0) threw two scoreless innings out of the bullpen, making him one of just three pitchers to log a scoreless outing in the game. Eleven total pitchers were used between Indianapolis and Toledo.

The Indians return home for an off day on Monday before starting a six-game series with the Minnesota Twins-affiliated St. Paul Saints on Tuesday at 6:05 PM at Victory Field. Neither team has announced a starting pitcher for the series opener.