DETROIT Two weeks into the Minor League season, Derek Hill has already compiled a highlight reel of catches for Triple-A Toledo. Most of them involve collisions with the outfield wall at another Triple-A park in Indianapolis.
While Hill has long since proved that he’s a Major League-caliber defender, he’s
Elvin Rodriguez spins five perfect innings to lead Erie over Akron
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Indianapolis Indians 5, Toledo Mud Hens 3 (box)
A three-run third inning doomed Drew Hutchison’s start for the Hens on Wednesday. The offense mounted a push in the middle innings but ultimately Indy pulled away with the victory.
Just like Matt Manning the night before, Hutchison racked up plenty of strikeouts, but he was undone by a pair of home runs in the third inning. The Hens fought back in the fifth with Zach Short picking up an RBI double, while Victor Reyes added a sacrifice fly to score Derek Hill and make it a one run game. Unfortunately, a Hutchison balk and an Isaac Paredes error at second put Indy in scoring position in the bottom of the frame, and Hutchison wild pitched in a run to open the deficit back to two runs.
Matt Manning bit by the long ball in Mud Hens’ loss
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Indianapolis Indians 4, Toledo Mud Hens 3 (box)
Matt Manning was a little homer prone and Indianapolis stayed in the game as a result, and ultimately pulled it out late. The Tigers top pitching prospect gave up solo shots on grooved fastballs to both Travis Swaggerty and Will Craig in the first inning. He struck out the other three hitters he faced in the frame. From there, Manning started to get the feel for his curveball and he racked up 11 straight outs until Andrew Susac ambushed a first pitch fastball for the third solo home run allowed by Manning on the day. He struck out seven, didn’t walk a hitter, and the three hits he gave up all left the park.
Riley Greene and Dillon Dingler led a home run parade down on the farm
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Toledo Mud Hens 9, Nashville Sounds 6 (box)
The Hens have come out mashing. After scoring eight runs in the opener, they went one better on Wednesday night to make it 2-0 on the year.
Veteran right-hander Drew Hutchison got the start, and he quickly took a little damage, giving up a two run double to the Sounds’ Zach Green. The Hens struck right back in the bottom of the second though. Derek Hill cracked a three-run shot with Christin Stewart and Dustin Garneau aboard, and then the Hens proceeded to score again in the third and fourth frames to take a 6-3 lead into the late innings.