INDIANAPOLIS -Phil Gosselin racked up five hits and the Indianapolis Indians' pitching staff allowed just seven total knocks in a pair of seven-inning wins over the Toledo Mud Hens on Friday night at Victory Field. The Tribe took the opener by a 6-1 final, before Brett McKinney, A.J. Schugel and
INDIANAPOLIS -Phil Gosselin racked up five hits and the Indianapolis Indians' pitching staff allowed just seven total knocks in a pair of seven-inning wins over the Toledo Mud Hens on Friday night at Victory Field. The Tribe took the opener by a 6-1 final, before Brett McKinney, A.J. Schugel and Dovydas Neverauskas combined on a two-hitter to win the nightcap, 7-1.
Indianapolis (22-18) secured sole possession of first place in the International League West Division with its victory in Game 1, riding the right arm of Clay Holmes. The 24-year-old hurled six innings of one-run ball and was backed out of the gates with a three-run first.
The Indians pounced on Mud Hens left-hander Anthony Vasquez, drilling five hits in the opening frame. A sacrifice fly by Max Moroff made it 1-0, and three consecutive two-out singles from Elias Díaz, Jason Rogers and Gosselin pushed the lead to three.
The Mud Hens (20-20) scored their only run against Holmes in the second, using singles by Omar Infante and Logan Watkins to set up a two-out RBI knock from Brendan Ryan.
Indy blew the game open in the fourth, scoring three more times against Vasquez. Following an RBI groundout by Austin Meadows, Moroff belted a two-run double high off the left-field wall to cap the scoring.
Holmes (2-1) earned the win and benefited from two double plays turned behind him defensively. Angel Sánchez worked a scoreless seventh and helped himself by starting a 1-4-3 twin killer to erase a leadoff walk. Vasquez (1-1) took the loss after being tagged for six runs on 10 hits over five frames.
In the second game, the Tribe fell behind 1-0 in the first on a solo shot by Efren Navarro. Indy pitcher Brett McKinney, making the first start of his professional career, breezed through four innings, retiring the final 10 batters he faced after Navarro's fourth long ball of the season.
The Indians' offense leveled the score in the second on a Jacob Stallings RBI single, and later grabbed the lead in the fourth on a two-bagger by Stallings to deep center. Eury Pérez then made it 3-1 with a single to right.
A four-run sixth buried Toledo, giving Indianapolis its second doubleheader sweep over the last four days. Indy swept just one of six twin bills played in 2016.
A.J. Schugel (2-1) tossed two shutout innings in relief to get the win. Daniel Stumpf (1-2) suffered the loss as Toledo fell back to .500 and two games back of the Tribe for first in the IL West.
Indy and Toledo continue their four-game weekend set on Saturday night at Victory Field. The Indians will send right-hander Tyler Eppler (3-2, 2.90) to the mound, while Toledo has not yet named a starter. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
