Solid outing for Chiavacci; former Indian wins for Hens

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Solid outing for Chiavacci; former Indian wins for Hens

INDIANAPOLIS — In the first series of the year against the Louisville Bats, the Toledo Mud Hens failed to get a quality pitching start in any of the four games. Their record for the series was a predictable 1-3. Entering the Indianapolis series, the Mud Hens pitching staff trailed the International League with a team ERA of 6.

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From the Hens website:

http://www.mudhens.com/view_news.asp?id=375

Mud Hens Top Indians, 6-2
The Toledo Mud Hens took down the Indianapolis Indians, 6-2, at Victory Field in Indianapolis, IN. on Monday night to improve to 2-3 on their seven-game road trip. RHP Ron Chiavacci earned his first win of the season and Timo Perez went 2-for-4 with three RBI for the Hens.

The Mud Hens wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Kevin Hooper opened the game with a four-pitch lead-off walk and was quickly moved to third base on a double by Chris Shelton . Timo Perez connected on a deep shot that went all the way to the center field wall to drive in Hooper and Shelton and give the Mud Hens an early 2-0 lead.

The Hens added two more runs in the top of the third frame after Indians starter John Van Benschoten had some control problems. Van Benschoten hit Hooper and Shelton and then walked Perez and Mike Hessman to bring in Hooper and put the Hens up 3-0. Shelton was thrown out at home by the Indians’ first baseman Yurender DeCaster on a hit by David Espinosa to keep the bases loaded with one out. Van Benschoten’s struggles continued as Brent Clevlen walked in the next at bat to bring in Perez and increase Toledo’s lead to 4-0.

Indianapolis mounted a comeback attempt in the bottom half of the third after DeCaster hit a home run on a 2-2 count off Chiavacci to give the Indians their first run of the game and cut the Hens lead down to three, 4-1.

Toledo answered, however, in the top half of the fourth with a timely single by Shelton to drive in Sardinha from third to give the Mud Hens a 5-1 lead.

The Indians staged one last rally attempt in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ryan Doumit doubled off Toledo’s Preston Larrison and scored on a DeCaster ground out to cut the lead down to three, 5-2, but Larrison got the Hens out of the inning without any more damage.

Perez drove in this third run of the game in the top of the ninth for Toledo and RHP Aquilino Lopez closed out the game to give the Mud Hens the 6-2 victory.

Toledo takes on the Indians for game two of the three-game series on Tuesday, April 10 at 7 p.m. at Victory Field in Indianapolis. RHP Zach Miner will get the start for the Mud Hens and Jim Weber will open the pre-game show on 1470-AM at 6:45 p.m.

The game will also be available online (video streaming). Check out www.minorleaguebaseball.com for details on how to watch!