Gonzales launched his third home run in five games in the shutout win
By Anna Kayser
INDIANAPOLIS – Jared Jones silenced the Mud Hens offense with a career-high tying 7.0 shutout innings and Osvaldo Bido earned his first career save to lead the Indianapolis Indians to their fourth shutout of Toledo this season on Friday night at Victory Field, 2-0.
Jones (W, 4-4) eclipsed 7.0 frames for the first time since June 26, 2022, with High-A Greensboro vs. Asheville to mark his first scoreless outing of at least 5.0 innings this season and his best Triple-A start with Indianapolis (62-72, 29-31) to date. After surrendering a leadoff double to Ryan Kriedler in the second inning, Jones sat down 11 of his next 12 batters faced without allowing a hit. Chase De Jong and Bido (S, 1) entered in relief for the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, to complete Indianapolis’ seventh shutout of the season.
While Jones was settling in, Nick Gonzales continued a torrid stretch against the Mud Hens (64-71, 31-30) this week with his third home run in his past five games. Since Sunday’s series finale at Buffalo, he is hitting .444 (8-for-18) with eight runs, four extra-base hits, a .545 on-base percentage and 1.601 OPS.
The defense also backed Jones, with center fielder Matt Gorski making a diving catch on a sharp line drive in the fourth inning and a one-handed snag with his arm outstretched on the warning track in the fifth to take away a pair of extra-base hits.
Toledo’s defense didn’t have the same luck, with a high fly ball off the bat of Ryan Vilade narrowly missing the outstretched glove of center fielder Eddys Leonard in the sixth inning, falling in for a triple to score Cal Mitchell. It was the second run scored against starter Keider Montero (L, 3-2), who struck out eight over 6.0 innings of work.
The two teams tied with five hits – two for extra-bases – and seven runners left on base in the contest. After a leadoff double to begin the top of the ninth inning, Bido stranded the game-tying run at home plate with a pair of strikeouts and pop up in foul territory. It was the right-hander’s first career save opportunity.
The Indians now lead the season set against Toledo, 12-3, with seven wins at home and will look to clinch a series victory tomorrow night at 6:35 PM ET. Taking the mound for Indianapolis will be RHP Max Kranick (0-1, 5.79) – who threw 20 pitches to open Tuesday’s series lid lifter – against RHP Spencer Turnbull (0-1, 7.71).
Originally posted on milb.com