IL Indianapolis Indians

7.16.23 Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (41-47, 8-6) at Omaha Storm Chasers (42-43, 4-9)

Published on July 16, 2023 under International League (IL)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


LOCATION: Werner Park

FIRST PITCH: 6:05 PM ET

GAME #89 / ROAD #45: Indianapolis Indians (41-47, 8-6) at Omaha Storm Chasers (42-43, 4-9)

PROBABLES: RHP Jared Jones (1-1, 5.12) vs. LHP Evan Sisk (2-3, 6.48)

RADIO: FoxSportsIndy.com / Fox Sports 1260 / iHeart app

TV: Bally Live app / MiLB TV

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Alika Williams hit a solo home run as part of a three-hit performance, but the Indianapolis Indians allowed three home runs in an 8-3 loss to the Omaha Storm Chasers on Saturday night at Werner Park. The Storm Chasers grabbed the lead for good in the second inning on a three-run homer by Tyler Gentry, his ninth of the season, Williams opened the Indians' half of the third inning with a solo home run - his fifth in his last 16 games - but Logan Porter popped a two-run shot off Jose Hernandez in the bottom half to extend Omaha's lead to 5-1. In the fourth, John O'Reilly uncorked a wild pitch with the bases loaded and two outs to give Omaha its sixth run. Indianapolis cut its deficit to 6-2 in the sixth inning when Endy Rodríguez, who led off the frame with his second double of the night, took third on a wild pitch before scoring on a groundout by Miguel Andújar. Indy brought the tying run to the plate by loading the bases in the seventh for a 2023 Futures Game All-Star showdown between Rodríguez and Will Klein, but the switch-hitting catcher flied out to left field to end the threat. After the stretch, CJ Alexander launched a two-out, two-run homer off Hunter Stratton. Aaron Shackelford finished off the scoring in the eighth with a two-out RBI single.

ENDY DOUBLES: Endy Rodríguez followed up Friday night's five-RBI night with a 2-for-4 showing at the plate with a pair of doubles. He has reached base safely in 10 of his last 16 plate appearances over his last three games, including three extra-base hits and three walks. Rodríguez cranked his first career grand slam in the third inning of Friday night's rout at Werner Park. It was Indy's fifth grand slam of the season and first since Canaan Smith-Njigba did so on June 2 vs. Toledo. His only other career five-RBI game came on June 10, 2019 with DSL Mets 1 at DSL Yankees. The No. 36 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline is 7-for-16 in his last four games. The switch-hitting catcher is hitting .268 (73-for-272) with 16 doubles, three triples, six home runs and 38 RBI in 67 total games this season.

ALIKA BRINGS THE JUICE: Alika Williams left the yard for the fifth time in his last 16 games with Indianapolis, highlighting his three-hit performance. He has slugged eight extra-base hits in his last 13 games. He has five multi-hit games over his last eight and is hitting .357 (15-for-42) with four doubles, two home runs and five RBI in 11 games in July. Since June 23, his five home runs lead the team, followed by Ji Man Choi and Chris Owings who've notched three apiece. His fifth homer with Indy brought his season total to 10, including five with Double-A Montgomery. His next home run would earn him a new career-high total for home runs in a season. After slugging just one extra-base hit in his first 11 games with Indy, the shortstop has hit for extra bases 10 times in his last 16 games. The 24-year-old is hitting .301 (31-for-103) with six doubles, five home runs, 13 RBI, 13 walks and a .892 OPS in 29 games.

MIGGY DRIVES FOR FIVE: After recording a career-high 20-game hitting streak from May 24-June 18, Miguel Andújar is at it again with a current 13-game hitting streak dating back to June 29. On Friday night, Andújar joined Josh Palacios as Indians to record two five-RBI games this season and is the fourth Indian in Victory Field era to have multiple five-RBI performances in a season (also: Brandon Moss (2x), 2010; Roberto Petagine (3x), 1998). Over his past 13 contests, Andújar is hitting .421 (24-for-57) with six extra-base hits, 19 RBI and 1.085 OPS. Since returning to the Indians lineup on May 24 after being designated for assignment by Pittsburgh, he is hitting .408 (69-for-169) with 33 runs scored, 15 doubles, a triple, eight home runs, 47 RBI and a 1.106 OPS while hitting safely in 37 of 41 games. The 28-year-old currently leads the International League in batting average (.364) and ranks among International League full-season qualifiers in RBI (2nd, 63), hits (5th, 95), doubles (T-6th, 23), OPS (7th, 1.017), slugging percentage (7th, .594) and on-base percentage (8th, .423).

JACKSON DELIVERS: Andre Jackson delivered another brilliant 2.0-inning relief appearance with Indy on Saturday night. He fanned two batters and his lone blemish came on an Angelo Castellano double. He has held opponents scoreless in 4.0 innings of work across two outings since joining Indianapolis on June 25. Prior to being claimed by Pittsburgh from Los Angeles (NL), he spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City, making 11 appearances with a 5.86 ERA (18er/27.2ip).

TONIGHT: The Indians and Storm Chasers will play a winner-take-all series finale at Werner Park this evening at 6:05 PM ET. This weekend marks the third series against the Storm Chasers and the first at Werner Park. Omaha visited Victory Field to open the 2023 season (3/31-4/2) and again from June 6-11. The Storm Chasers swept both series with eight-straight victories. Indy earned its first victory against Omaha in nine tries on Friday night before Omaha evened the three-game series on Saturday night. Tonight, right-hander Jared Jones (1-1, 5.12) will take the hill for Indy against a bullpen day for Omaha, beginning with southpaw Evan Sisk (2-3, 6.48).

MR. JONES: Jared Jones will take the hill on Sunday evening to face off against the Omaha Storm Chasers in his fifth appearance (fourth start) in Triple-A this season. In his last outing on July 7, he stunned the Redbirds offense in his first relief appearance since July 11, 2021 with Single-A Bradenton last night, punching out seven in 4.0 one-run innings to earn his first career Triple-A win. His 4.0 innings of relief marked a career best. After topping out at five strikeouts through his first two Triple-A starts, both of which lasted at least 5.0 innings, he's been dominating opposing batters with 15 total strikeouts in 8.2 frames over his last two outings. At Victory Field, where he's made three of his four total Triple-A appearances, he owns a 4.30 ERA (7er/14.2ip) and 16 strikeouts. This evening will only be his second Triple-A start on the road in his first career start against Omaha. Jones is currently rated Pittsburgh's No. 10 prospect by MLB Pipeline.

THIS DATE IN 1981: One day after getting swept in a doubleheader by Denver at Bush Stadium, Indians hurler Charlie Leibrandt went the distance in Game 1 of another twin bill to lift Indy to a 2-1 win in 10 innings. Over 10 innings of work, Leibrandt held Denver to four hits and four walks with five strikeouts. Tom Foley delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 10th to score Gene Menees.

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