INDIANAPOLIS - Jason Krizan recorded four extra-base hits, including a pair of three-run homers, as the Toledo Mud Hens captured the West Division lead with a convincing 13-3 win over the Indianapolis Indians on Monday at Victory Field.
INDIANAPOLIS - Jason Krizan recorded four extra-base hits, including a pair of three-run homers, as the Toledo Mud Hens captured the West Division lead with a convincing 13-3 win over the Indianapolis Indians on Monday at Victory Field.
Krizan had a career night at the plate for the Mud Hens (3-1), going 4-for-5 with two home runs, a pair of doubles, three runs scored, and six RBI. The eighth-year pro became the first Toledo hitter with six or more RBI in a single game since Chad Huffman drove in six on Sept. 1, 2016 at Columbus.
Edwin Espinal also got the better of Indianapolis (2-2) pitching, finishing 3-for-4 with three singles, a walk, three runs scored, and three RBI. Cementing his place at the top of the order, Ronny Rodríguez put together a 2-for-6 performance, tripling and scoring in the first inning. Toledo accumulated 15 hits in the series opener, with every batsman logging at least one hit by the seventh stanza.
A.J. Ladwig picked up the win in his season debut, tossing five innings and allowing one earned run on four hits and a walk while striking out five. Mark Montgomery and Johnny Barbato each pitched one scoreless inning in relief to wrap up the contest.
Toledo was in complete control to begin the game, tallying six runs on eight hits in the opening frame. Rodriguez led off the contest with a triple into the gap in left-center, and scored when Mike Gerber lined a base hit to right. After Dawel Lugo grounded a single into right to put runners on first and second, Huffman whacked a one-out double off the top of the left-field wall to plate Gerber and give the Mud Hens an early 2-0 lead.
The hit parade continued, as Espinal ripped a base hit into center to drive in Lugo and put the Mud Hens ahead by a 3-0 count. Krizan gave Toledo a commanding 6-0 lead when he sent a three-run blast to deep right for his first home run of the campaign. In total, the Mud Hens brought 11 batters to the plate in the top of the first.
The Mud Hens added to their lead with runs in the third and fourth. With runners on second and third with nobody out, Grayson Greiner made it a 7-0 game when he grounded out to short to knock in Espinal. Toledo's eighth run arrived when Lugo scored on Espinal's base hit into center.
After Indianapolis responded with a pair of runs, the Mud Hens tacked on another run in the seventh, as Pete Kozma sent a broken-bat fielder's choice to short to plate Lugo. The Indians scored once in the bottom of the frame to cut their deficit to 9-3 heading into the eighth.
Toledo continued to pour it on in the closing stages, putting up a four-spot in the eighth to open up a 13-3 advantage. Espinal's two-out single to left knocked in Christin Stewart and put runners on the corners before Krizan launched his second three-run shot of the night to give the Mud Hens a 10-run cushion.
The Mud Hens return to Victory Field tomorrow for game two of their three-game set against Indianapolis. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
