Big innings doom Mud Hens in 9-4 loss to Indianapolis Indians

The Toledo Mud Hens got to within two runs in the bottom of the second inning, but they would get no closer in a 9-4 loss Saturday against the Indianapolis Indians at Fifth Third Field.

Indianapolis (68-66) had a pair of big innings in the top of the second (four runs) and later in the sixth (three runs), helping it pull away.

Holding a 1-0 lead after the first, all of the Indians’ four-spot in second came from Billy Cook’s grand slam.

Toledo (64-72), trailing 5-0, got its offense kick-started with two outs in the home half. Bligh Madris singled and Justice Bigbie followed with a walk, then Anthony Bemboom’s RBI double scored Madris.

The Hens added another on a Jake Woodford wild pitch that scored Bigbie and Riley Unroe’s RBI single to bring them within 5-3.

Indianapolis extended its lead at 6-3 in the fifth via Matt Gorski’s one-out RBI double.

Then the Indians pushed three more across in the sixth. With a pair of runners in scoring position, Nick Yorke singled home Dylan Shockley. Jake Lamb hit a sacrifice fly to score Cook, then Liover Peguero’s two-out RBI single put Indianapolis ahead 9-3.

The Mud Hens’ offense stayed silent until the ninth when Eddys Leonard belted a solo home run.

Toledo and Indianapolis close out the series at 2:05 p.m. Sunday at Fifth Third Field. Mike Burrows starts for Indianapolis, while Toledo has yet to name a starter.