NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



 Indianapolis Indians

Tribe holds off Ironpegs for 6-5 win

May 28, 2008 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- First baseman Adam Boeve crushed a three-run homer and right-hander John Van Benschoten won his sixth straight decision as Indianapolis posted a 6-5 win over Lehigh Valley Wednesday evening at Coca-Cola Park.

The Indians improve to 26-28 on the season and 14-16 on the road, while the first-year IronPigs fall to 17-37 overall and 12-15 at home.

Boeve's homer to right came in the second inning after C Michel Hernandez and 3B Neil Walker led off with back-to-back singles. Boeve becomes just the third Indian to register a roundtripper in back-to-back games this season and tallies his third long ball on the current road trip.

Van Benschoten (6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO), who improves to 6-0 with the win, becomes the first Indians pitcher in three years to start the season with six consecutive wins. RHP Ian Snell accomplished the feat May 15, 2005, en route to a 9-0 start.

CF Andrew McCutchen gave the Tribe an early lead with a run-scoring single in the first, which plated LF Nyjer Morgan, who led off the inning with a double. McCutchen, who extended his hitting streak to 10 games, turned in his fifth three-hit effort of the season.

In just his second game back since being optioned from Pittsburgh, Indians 2007 Most Valuable Player Brian Bixler drove in what turned out to be the game-winning run -- a two-out single in the fourth which plated Walker and Boeve.

McCutchen (3-for-5, 1 RBI), Boeve (2-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBI), Walker (2-for-4, 2 R), Morgan (2-for-4, 1 R) and SS Josh Wilson (2-for-3) all turned in multi-hit performances for the Tribe. It was just the third time this season that five Indians recorded more than one base knock.

Lehigh Valley RHP Ron Chiavacci (4.0 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO) dropped to 1-7 with the loss, while Indianapolis RHP T. J. Beam (1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) went the final 1.1 innings for his team-high fourth save of the season.

CF Brandon Watson (2-for-5, 1 RBI) and SS Mike Rouse (2-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBI) turned in multi-hit performances for the IronPigs, while Watson, Rouse and 1B Mike Cervenak (1-for-4, 1 RBI) all drove in runs.

The clubs combined for seven double plays with Lehigh Valley turning four and Indianapolis recording three.

The teams finish up their four-game series on Thursday at 12:05 p.m. RHP Luis Munoz is scheduled to start for Indianapolis, while LHP Travis Blackley is expected to get the nod for Lehigh Valley.

The contest will be carried by WXLW-950 AM and www.IndyIndians.com with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley. The pre-game show begins at 11:45 a.m.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Post-game quotes -- INF Adam Boeve

(With three home runs on the road trip, are you beginning to feel more comfortable at the plate?) "I have been doing a lot of extra work with (Hitting Coach Hensley) "Bam Bam" (Meulens) and that has helped my comfort level. I am just trying to simplify things and get myself in a better position at the plate."

(Did you know the ball in the second inning was home run when you hit it?) "I wasn't sure when I hit it. I thought I had enough to get it off the wall. I was pretty happy with how well I hit it, but when it went over the wall I was definitely pleased."

(Do you feel like you have played better than your 3-4 record on this road trip?) "Yeah, I think we have. We have played pretty good baseball overall. We have swung the bats quite well, even though our record hasn't shown it. Hopefully tonight's win will get us going in the right direction."


• Discuss this story on the International League message board...

International League Stories from May 28, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central