COLUMBUS – The Toledo Mud Hens jumped on Adam Plutko, scoring six runs before chasing the Clippers starting pitcher in the fifth inning on the way to a 12-5 win in the opening game of a three-gamer series at Huntington Park Monday night.
The loss, only the second in eight games for Columbus, dropped the Clippers into a tie with Indianapolis for first place in the International League West Division.
The Mud Hens got 15 hits off Plutko (1-3) and relievers Matt Whitehouse and Nick Goody.
Dustin Peterson knocked in five runs, most of them with a grand slam off Whitehouse in the fifth inning, when Toledo had only a one-run lead. The margin was 9-4 after that.
John Schreiber (2-2) pitched two no-hit innings to get the win for the Mud Hens.
The two teams play the second game of the series Tuesday night.