Franks knocks in six in victory over Copperheads

ATHENS --The Flag City Sluggers came out of the all-star break ready to swing the bats, as they scored five runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back, beating the Southern Ohio Copperheads in the seven-inning first game of a doubleheader, 18-7. The Sluggers offensive standout was leadoff hitter Chris Franks, who tripled, doubled and singled, scored three times and drove in six runs. Caleb Smith doubled and singled, scoring twice and recording three RBIs. Ryan Ruch singled and drove in two runs for the Sluggers. Braeden Brown recorded the win in relief, going two innings and allowing a run on two hits. Findlay High graduate Ben Best closed the game for Flag City, throwing a scoreless seventh and striking out two. Jack Ferguson singled and had three RBIs for the Copperheads in Game 1. John Gerfen took the loss, allowing 13 runs, 10 earned, on 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings. The second game wasn't completed in time for this edition. With the win in the first game, Flag City improved to 19-19. TRIPLE A BASEBALL INDIANAPOLIS – Jared Triolo lofted a solo homer in the second inning of Mud Hens starter Jordan Balazovic, Indianapolis added two runs in the third, and the Indians held on to beat Toledo Thursday, 3-2. It was Toledo's fourth straight loss, and it dropped the Mud Hens to 51-48 on the season. Indianapolis' Bubba Chandler threw 5 2/3 solid innings for the win, keeping the Mud Hens off the scoreboard until the sixth. Hao-Yu Lee drove in the Mud Hens first run when he tripled in Akil Baddoo with no one out. After Chandler fanned Justyn Henry-Malloy, Jace Jung scored Lee with a sacrifice fly to center, making it 3-2. Chandler walked the next batter, Eduardo Valencia, and was relieved by Michael Darrell-Hicks. Darrell-Hicks, a right-hander who pitched in seven games for the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this season, allowed a base hit to the Mud Hens' Ryan Kreidler, which pushed Valencia to second. But Darrell-Hicks struck out Trei Cruz to end the threat. Toledo lost despite outhitting the Indians 8-2.