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Gonzo’s Grand Slam, Eight-Run Sixth Lift Indians in Wednesday Win

Indians set season highs for single-inning runs and hits in sixth
Nick Gonzales launched his fourth career grand slam to spark a 13-1 victory for the Indians over the Mud Hens on Wednesday night. (Photo by Adam Pintar)
By Anna Kayser
May 31, 2023

INDIANAPOLIS – ­The Indianapolis Indians’ offense exploded courtesy of Nick Gonzales’ fourth career grand slam and back-to-back jacks by outfielders Cal Mitchell and Canaan Smith-Njigba in a 13-1 rout over the Toledo Mud Hens on Wednesday night at Victory Field.

INDIANAPOLIS – ­The Indianapolis Indians’ offense exploded courtesy of Nick Gonzales’ fourth career grand slam and back-to-back jacks by outfielders Cal Mitchell and Canaan Smith-Njigba in a 13-1 rout over the Toledo Mud Hens on Wednesday night at Victory Field.

With one run already in and two outs in the second inning, Gonzales sent a no-doubter over the right-field wall to clear the bases and effectively put the game out of reach as Toledo (23-29) only plated one. It was his first grand slam since Aug. 31, 2021, with High-A Greensboro vs. Hudson Valley.

Big innings were the name of the game for the Indians (25-27), who followed up their five-run second with an explosive eight-run sixth. The first eight batters of the frame reached base safely – six via base knock – and 13 total batters came to the plate. The Indians’ eight runs on eight hits set new single-inning season highs for each category, with 13 batters in the inning also marking a season high.

Jumpstarted by Endy Rodríguez’s third triple of the season, Indianapolis hit for the cycle as a team through the first five batters of the sixth inning. Following a Miguel Andújar RBI single, Smith-Njigba and Mitchell blasted their back-to-back shots on consecutive pitches. Jared Triolo completed the feat with a double, and the Indians went on to score four additional runs in the frame.

After starter Caleb Smith exited the game through 2.0 no-hit innings, Carmen Mlodzinski (W, 2-2) entered for the next two frames. Austin Bergner (L, 1-2) countered for Toledo and surrendered Indy’s first five runs. Eleven total pitchers were featured in the contest.

Andújar led the Indians with four hits, tying his career high for the first time since May 6, 2021, with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at Syracuse. Gonzales led the team with four RBI thanks to his grand slam, followed by Smith-Njigba who drove in three.

Indianapolis will look to take a 3-0 lead in the series against Toledo on Thursday at 6:35 PM ET. Neither team has named a starter.