Justin Verlander made his 2015 regular-season debut for the Toledo Mud Hens on his way back from a triceps injury, and the 2011 American League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young winner worked into the third inning and allowed three runs before exiting the game. The Indianapolis Indians held a 3-2 advantage at the time, but the Mud Hens would plate four runs in both the fifth and sixth innings on the way to an 11-6 victory.
All three runs charged to Verlander were earned and he threw 79 pitches. It was the first Triple-A appearance for the six-time AL All-Star, who went straight from Double-A to the Tigers in 2005. The win gave Toledo (21-29) a series split with the Tribe (30-21).
Toledo used a pair of four-run frames to take the lead and provide some distance between themselves and the Indians. Mike Hessman clubbed a three-run home run in the fifth as part of a three-hit day for the veteran.
The Tribe mounted a rally in the ninth by plating three runs, but it was not enough. Five different Indianapolis players recorded multi-hit games. Casey Sadler (4-3) took the loss for the Tribe while Rafael Dolis (2-1) earned the victory for Toledo.
SOURCE: Indianapolis Indians