De Caster Walk-off Carries Indianapolis Over Ottawa 4-2
Published on April 21, 2006 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
INDIANAPOLIS -- Second baseman Yurendell de Caster launched a two-run, walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth to carry Indianapolis past Ottawa, 4-2, Friday night at Victory Field. De Caster finished the evening 2-for-4 with all four of the Tribe's RBI.
The Indians improve to 7-9 with the victory, while the Lynx fall to 8-8 on the season.
De Caster's third roundtripper of the season -- a 340-foot shot just inside the left-field foul pole -- came after 1B Brad Eldred drew a one-out base on balls.
The dramatic ending erased a stellar performance by Lynx LHP Kurt Birkins (6.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO), who carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before Tribe DH Raul Gonzalez blooped a single to right.
The Indians ended up plating two runs in the seventh to tie the contest. De Caster accounted for both scores, tagging a two-run single off RHP Winston Abreu (2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO) after RF Rich Thompson and Eldred sandwiched the Gonzalez single with a pair of walks. Abreu was pinned with the loss, falling to 1-1 on the season. The two runs represented the Tribe's first multi-run inning since April 15.
Ottawa scored its runs in the first and seventh frames. Lynx CF Esix Snead walked to lead off the game, stole second, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and crossed the dish on a groundout. In the seventh, 1B Andy Tracy singled to center, moved up on a bunt and came plateward on a double by RF Keith Reed.
Indianapolis RHP Britt Reames (6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) took a no-decision in his longest outing of the campaign.
The Indians bullpen shut down Ottawa after Reames departed for the night. RHP Giovanni Carrara (0.2 IP), RHP Ron Chiavacci (1.0 IP) and LHP C.J. Nitkowski (1.0 IP, 1 BB) combined for 2.2 scoreless innings of relief with Nitkowski picking up his first win of the year.
Indianapolis travels to Louisville Saturday afternoon at 2:15 p.m., for the first of six straight on the road. LHP Tom Gorzelanny is scheduled to open the two-game set for the Indians, while RHP Justin Germano is expected to get the nod for the Bats.
The game will be carried by ESPN-950 AM and IndyIndians.com as Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley have the call. Saturday's pre-game show begins at 1:55 p.m.
International League Stories from April 21, 2006
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