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 Indianapolis Indians

Balentien Blasts Bats Past Indians 5-1

August 24, 2010 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Right fielder Wladimir Balentien blasted two home runs and collected all four Louisville RBI in the contest, while left-handed pitcher Jeremy Horst held the Indianapolis Indians' offense scoreless over four innings of work in his first start in nearly a year, as the Bats beat the Tribe 5-1 on Tuesday night at Louisville Slugger Field.

With the loss, Indianapolis falls to 65-66 on the season, while the win improves Louisville's record to 74-56 on the year. The victory for the Bats gives them a 3-1 advantage in the teams' current five-game home/road series and improves their record to 10-6 overall against the Tribe this season.

After Louisville jumped out to an early 1-0 lead following a two-out wild pitch in the bottom of the third inning, Balentien, who leads the Bats in both home runs and RBI this season, collected his first run-scoring hit of the night in the fourth frame. 1B Yonder Alonso kicked off the inning with a triple to right field and was promptly plated one batter later on a single to center by Balentien to give Louisville a two-run advantage.

Balentien and the Bats doubled their advantage to 4-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning, when the Louisville right fielder blasted his 23rd home run of the season out to deep center field with a runner on first. The two-run shot was Balentien's first home run of the season against Indianapolis and, at the time, upped his RBI total to 74 on the year.

For good measure, Balentien clubbed his second home run of the contest with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Louisville the decisive 5-1 advantage. Balentien's second home run of game the marked the first time that the slugger had belted two home runs in a contest since July 23 against the Gwinnett Braves.

Indianapolis' lone run of the contest came via a one-out RBI single off the bat of C Erik Kratz in the top of the seventh inning. 3B Mitch Jones opened the frame with his 29th double of the season, and, following a passed ball and an Indians' out, trotted home from third base on a single to center field by Kratz.

Horst (4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO), who was making a spot-start for Louisville after RHP Sam LeCure was recalled by the Cincinnati Reds earlier in the day, did not figure in the contest's final decision, but the left-hander gave the West Division-leading Bats a much-needed boost with four scoreless frames. Prior to his outing this evening, Horst had made 41 appearances out of the bullpen between the Single-A, Double-A and Triple-A levels, but hadn't appeared as a starter at any level since September 7, 2009.

In relief of Horst, Louisville left-hander Lee Tabor (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 SO) recorded the win for the Bats after tossing two scoreless innings of work, while RHP Daniel Ray Herrera (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R) earned his fifth save of year after allowing only one hit in two dominant frames. For the Tribe, starter Mike Crotta (6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO) was strapped with eighth loss of the season after he allowed four runs on five hits in six innings of work.

In a game that featured only 13 total hits between the two teams, Jones (2-for-4, 1 R, 2 2B) was the only Indianapolis batter to record multiple base knocks on the evening, while Alonso (2-for-4, 2 R, 1 3B) and Balentien (3-for-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI) each collected at least two hits in the contest for Louisville.

The Indians conclude their five-game home/road series against the Bats on Wednesday, August 25 at 7:05 p.m. RHP Jeremy Powell is expected to get the nod for Indianapolis, while RHP Matt Klinker is the anticipated starter for Louisville.

The contest will be carried by WXLW-950 AM and www.IndyIndians.com with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley on the call. The pre-game show begins at 6:45 p.m.

Post-game quotes -- INF/OF Mitch Jones

(on his 2-for-4, two double performance)

"I felt a little better and a little stronger at the plate. I've been working on trying to get some of my aggressiveness back and not take so many pitches like I have been doing lately. I felt better tonight, but it's always a work in progress."

(on playing defense at third base)

"When you're scuffling a little bit, it definitely helps to get consecutive games under your belt. Any way I can get in the lineup - if it's at third base, first or a corner outfield spot - I'll welcome the transition. It's been a while since I've played third, but once you get over there and get a couple ground balls hit to you some of the old feelings start to come back."


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