IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Gwinnett Earns Series Clinching Win

Published on June 18, 2009 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS -- The Gwinnett Braves spoiled Tribe starter Eric Hacker's three RBI and six inning effort with the help of seven extra-base hits as they took home the series victory with a 6-5 win over the Indianapolis Indians on Thursday evening at Victory Field.

With the loss the Indians drop to 31-35 overall and 16-21 at home, while the win moves the Braves to 37-31 on the season and 21-13 on the road. The victory for Gwinnett gives them the 3-1 series victory as well as the 6-2 season series triumph over the Tribe.

Hacker (6.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO) struck out three over six innings and ripped two run scoring doubles for the Tribe, but did not figure in the final decision. The right hander's first RBI two-bagger came in the second inning, plating both SS Luis Cruz and 3B Chris Barnwell, who reached on back-to-back base hits, while his second two-base hit brought home C Erik Kratz in the fourth and evened the score at 4-4.

Hacker (2-for-2, 3 RBI) and Cruz (3-for-4, 1 R) turned in the only multi-hit efforts for the Tribe, while LF Brandon Jones (2-for-5, 2 R) and C Clint Sammons (2-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBI) collected multiple base knocks for the Braves.

Gwinnett took home the victory with the help of seven extra-base hits, including five doubles, a triple and a home run.

Shortstop Brooks Conrad started the scoring for Gwinnett in the first inning, when he doubled in RF Reid Gorecki , who led off the game with his first triple of the season. Sammons then extended the Braves lead to 2-0 with his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot to deep left field with two outs in the second inning.

Then after Hacker tied the score up at two in the bottom half of the second, the Braves re-took the lead in the sixth when Jones lined a double to right, moved to third on a single by 2B J.C. Holt and came plateward on a groundout by CF Brian Barton.

The Indians evened the score again in the seventh when pinch hitter Pedro Lopez led off the frame with a single, moved up to third on back-to-back wild pitches, and trotted home on a sacrifice fly by 1B Chris Snelling. However, the Braves sealed the series victory with a run in the eighth, ending the back-and-forth battle that occurred throughout the entire four-game series.

Jones led off the game winning rally in the eighth with his second double of the contest and moved up to third on a rare sacrifice bunt fielder's choice. Pinch hitter Van Pope then drove home Jones with a clutch sacrifice fly to right field that pushed Gwinnett ahead 6-5.

The Tribe did threaten with a runner on third and just one out in the bottom of the ninth, but Gwinnett reliever Boone Logan shut the door on the Indians' rally by securing the final two outs of the game for his first save of the season.

Logan (0.2 IP, 1 SO) and Luis Valdez (1.1 IP, 1 H) combined for two innings of scoreless relief for the Braves, while fellow reliever Juan Perez (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB) was charged with a blown save, but also got credit for the win to improve to 1-1 on the season. Perez, picked up the win in relief of Gwinnett starter Jonny Venters (6.0 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO), who allowed four runs in six innings, but did not figure in the final decision.

Reliever Denny Bautista (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB) took the loss to drop to 2-3 on the season after allowing one run on one hit in an inning of work. While fellow Tribe relievers Mike Koplove (1.0 IP, 2 BB, 2 SO) and Chris Bootcheck (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 3 SO) continued to show why they are among the best relievers in the International League as the duo combined for five strikeouts in two scoreless innings of relief.

Indianapolis will begin an eight-game road trip with a four-game series at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre beginning on Friday at 7:05 p.m. RHP Ty Taubenheim is scheduled to start for Indianapolis, while RHP Sergio Mitre is expected to get the nod for the Yankees.

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 6:45 p.m.

Check out the Indianapolis Indians Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



International League Stories from June 18, 2009


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