Indianapolis struck out a season-high tying 17 times in the loss
By Anna Kayser
INDIANAPOLIS – Chris Owings and Nick Gonzales went back-to-back for the Indianapolis Indians’ second set of consecutive homers in as many nights, but Nick Maton countered with a cycle-clinching two-run homer to lead the Toledo Mud Hens to a series-knotting victory on Wednesday night at Victory Field, 7-2.
Owings and Gonzales erased an early 2-0 deficit in the third inning with the Indians’ (60-72, 27-31) eighth pair of back-to-back homers this season and second of the series after Mason Martin and Grant Koch went yard consecutively on Tuesday night.
The Maton-led Mud Hens (64-69, 31-28) then took the lead in the top of the fifth on an RBI triple off John O’Reilly (L, 3-7) for the third baseman, putting him a home run shy of the cycle. Two innings later he completed the feat, driving in his second and third runs with a long home run into the right-field corner. Toledo then tacked on two additional insurance runs in the eighth and ninth.
Seven of the nine batters in Indy’s lineup recorded a hit, with Owings’ two-hit performance leading the pack.
The Indians also struck out a season-high tying 17 times for the first time since May 7 at Toledo. Mud Hens starter Zach Logue fanned 10 through 4.2 frames to jumpstart the pitching staff’s dominance. Blair Calvo (W, 3-3) struck out a pair in relief to earn the win.
The Indians look to retake the series lead tomorrow at 6:35 PM ET at Victory Field. RHP Quinn Priester (8-4, 4.13) will take the mound in the team’s Circle City threads against LHP Jack O’Loughlin (3-5, 4.64).
Originally posted on milb.com