Hamilton Southeastern graduate Matt Gorski went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles in the win
By Anna Kayser
INDIANAPOLIS – Quinn Priester racked up 10 punchouts for his second double-digit strikeout performance of the season and Chris Owings went yard for the second consecutive game as the Indianapolis Indians defeated the Toledo Mud Hens on Thursday night at Victory Field, 4-1.
Priester (W, 9-4), appearing out of the bullpen for just the second time this season and the third time in his career, struck out the side in his second inning of work and continued rolling through Toledo’s order for 5.2 innings. It was his first game racking up double-digit strikeouts since fanning 11 on June 24 vs. Columbus and set a Victory Field era record for the most strikeouts in an outing by a relief pitcher.
The Indians (61-72, 28-31) got on the board first with a trio of runs in the third inning against Jack O’Loughlin (L, 3-6) and never looked back as Priester worked his magic. Owings opened the contest with a solo shot out to right field, his 13th home run of the season and second in as many nights after going back-to-back with Nick Gonzales on Wednesday. With two runners on and one out, Cal Mitchell then sent a sharp line drive into right field to drive in the pair of eventual game-winning runs.
The Mud Hens (64-70, 31-29) plated their first run in the top of the seventh on a Colt Keith single after Priester exited the game with the bases loaded and two outs. Canaan Smith-Njigba then countered in the bottom half with his second double of the contest to drive in Gonzales.
After Travis MacGregor pitched a scoreless eighth frame, Kyle Nicolas (S, 1) entered for the ninth and stranded the bases loaded with back-to-back strikeouts. It was the first save of his professional career.
Indiana native Matt Gorski made his return to the Indians lineup after making his Triple-A debut last fall and went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles.
Indianapolis will send Pirates No. 3 prospect Jared Jones (3-4, 5.74) to the mound on Friday night at 7:05 PM ET to kick off Prospects Weekend vs. Toledo. Countering for the Mud Hens will be RHP Keider Montero (3-1, 6.48).
Originally posted on milb.com