Skenes Shines with Eight Strikeouts but Indians Fall Short in Extras 

TOLEDO, Ohio – Paul Skenes struck out eight in 3.1 innings pitched, but the Toledo Mud Hens rallied late to hand the Indianapolis Indians a 4-3 defeat in 11 innings on Friday night at Fifth Third Field.

After the Mud Hens (6-6) tied the score at three in the bottom of the seventh on a two-run home run by Justyn-Henry Malloy, the game went to extras. The Indians (6-6) failed to score in their two trips to the plate, and Toledo’s Anthony Bemboom broke the deadlock with a line drive into center field with the bases loaded to plate former Indian Ryan Vilade.

All eyes were on Skenes, who continued his dominance in Triple-A. Making his third start with Indianapolis, Skenes pitched around a leadoff single in the first with two strikeouts, struck out three while issuing one walk in the second and recorded three more punchouts in the third – two on overturned challenge calls that were initially ruled balls – while scattering two singles. For the first time as an Indian, he pitched into the fourth inning and induced a groundout to the catcher before exiting at the 55-pitch mark.

Mud Hens right-hander Keider Montero, the Detroit Tigers’ eighth-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline, dueled Skenes with six strikeouts and three walks in 4.0 two-hit innings.

Indianapolis broke the seal in the fifth thanks to a bases-loaded sacrifice fly off the bat of Liover Peguero. One inning later, the Indians chipped in two more runs to make it 3-0. Grant Koch reached safely on a throwing error by shortstop Andrew Navigato that allowed Gilberto Celestino to score, and Sergio Alcántara greeted Bryce Tassin out of the bullpen with a run-scoring double.

The Mud Hens responded in the bottom half of the sixth on a long home run by former Indian Bligh Madris and used Malloy’s blast in the ensuing frame to pull even.

Brent Honeywell (L, 0-1) registered five outs in relief but was charged with the loss. Andrew Vasquez (W, 3-0) pitched a scoreless 11th to earn the victory.

Ji Hwan Bae and Alcántara each collected two hits, and the Indians’ pitching staff recorded a season-high 16 strikeouts on the night. Relievers Brady Feigl (1.2ip, 2h, 3k) and Connor Sadzeck (2.0ip, 3k) silenced the Mud Hens in their respective relief appearances.

The Indians and Mud Hens continue the series with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch for Game 1 is at 2:35 PM, and the second game will begin approximately 35 minutes after the conclusion of the first contest. RHP Quinn Priester (1-0, 2.79) is the probable starter for Indy in the opener against LHP Brant Hurter (0-1, 7.71). In Game 2, LHP Cam Alldred (0-1, 3.86) is expected to toe the rubber against LHP Bryan Sammons (0-1, 7.71).