Astounding comeback by Tribe

by Brad Cameron
Published on April 8, 2002 under International League (IL1)

INDIANAPOLIS -- Nearly one year to the day that Indians pitcher Tim Harikkala (1-0) allowed seven runs in 2.1 innings, the reliever led the Indianapolis Indians (3-2) through an equally difficult situation on Monday afternoon against the (1-4) Toledo Mud Hens.

After a 40-minute rain delay, Tribe starter Mark Johnson started his first game with Indy against his former ballclub of two seasons. In just four innings and after facing two additional batters in the fifth, Toledo had compiled seven runs and seven hits before Indians manager Ed Romero had seen enough. All seven runs and six hits were produced in the final two innings of Johnson's stay on the mound.

The calm first inning was seemingly routine as the Mud Hens were retired in order, despite a single by second baseman Jarrod Patterson. Indy was able to turn a double play to end the inning and were unable to produce anything but a single in their first inning of offense.

Another strong performance by Johnson occurred in the second inning as the right-hander struckout the first two batters and forced centerfielder Chad Alexander into a line-out to second base. Late in the third inning, the game took a turn for the worse.

Shortstop Omar Infante walked on six pitches, followed up by right fielder Ryan Jackson's single to right field. The next batter, second baseman Jarrod Patterson doubled into right field, scoring both Infante and Jackson.

The Mud Hens' offensive prowess continued into the following inning as Eric Munson, Alexander and Craig Wilson singled for the visitors. Munson scored on an error to shortstop Bill Hall, his second consecutive game with an error.

Infante found a pitch to his liking and sent it to far right field where Izzy Alcantara had trouble fielding the play when a Mud Hens' bullpen bench obstructed his efforts to retrieve the ball. The two-RBI triple extended the Toledo lead to 5-0.

Romero summoned Harikkala to the mound in the fifth inning after Johnson walked the inning's first two hitters. Toledo was unfazed by the pitching change as Craig Monroe belted a three-run homerun off of Harikkala, his sixth pitch of the game. Toledo 8, Indy 0 until a sudden burst of offensive energy emerged from the Tribe dugout.

"I have been waiting for this effort for the last few days," Romero stated, "this should serve as a confidence builder for all the players."

Every Indians slugger paid a visit to the batter's box in the bottom of the 5th. Dionys Cesar kicked off the rally with a double to right field. Rob Sasser trailed with a two-run homer to left field, cutting the Toledo lead to 8-2. Still at a longshot for victory, the Indians pressed harder.

Marcus Jensen made it two straight over the fence for Indy with a solo shot to right field. Bill Hall broke a slump of 13 at-bats without a hit with a line drive single to centerfield. After Midre Cumming's grounded out down the first baseline, Izzy Alcantara singled to the same spot as Hall who he also drove home on the play.

"I am excited for the team," Alcantara said, "everybody came together and started playing with consistency."

In the sixth inning, the Tribe squeezed out two more runs as Sasser singled to right and was driven in by Hall, who hit his second single of the contest.

"A win like this gives us all a lot of momentum," Hall said, "our bats are really waking up now and this gives us a higher level of confidence going onto the road."

With the outfield playing deep, Ryan Christenson, who was walked earlier, scored on Cumming's RBI single to shallow right field.

Heading into the bottom of the eighth, the Indians two runs away from tying. Nobody imagined that the team could accomplish a feat nearly equal to April 9, 2001's game.

The Indians trailed Columbus 7-0 before scoring 11 straight runs and coming out on top.

For the second time in three innings, the Tribe's entire batting order saw action in the bottom of the eighth. Leadoff hitter Marcus Jensen walked, Christenson flew out to second base. After Bill Hall's third single in the game, Alcantara smashed his third homerun of the year into right field, nearly 420 feet, similar to his opening day homer, only opposite field.

The longball brought in three runs and put Indy in front 9-8 capping an amazing comeback by the Tribe who were not quite satisfied with a one-run lead, understandable after an 8-0 deficit earlier.

Thompson walked and Zuber reached base on a single, becoming the last Tribe starter to earn a hit in the game. Cesar's second double advanced two more runs home and gave Indy the 11-8 win over Toledo.

Brian Mallette picked up his third save of the season with two strikeouts as he allowed one hit in the ninth inning.

"There is no way any team can count us out," Mallette said, "we have been in every game this season and that is all that you can ask for."

The Tribe now hits the road for a six-game trip to North Carolina for four games in Charlotte and a pair of games at Durham. Tomorrow night in Charlotte, right-hander Ryan Glynn (0-0, 1.29) will make his second start of the season. Charlotte will oppose Glynn with southpaw Jim Parque (0-0, 1.80). The first pitch at Knights Stadium is slated for 6:15 p.m. Indianapolis time, 7:15 p.m. Charlotte time.

                BOXSCORE
                1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9   R   H   E 
Toledo          0 0 2 3 3 0 0 0 0   8   9   1 
Indianapolis    0 0 0 0 4 2 0 5 X   11  15  1 

WP: Tim Harikkala (1-0) LP: Oscar Henriquez (0-1) SAVE: Brian Mallette (3)

Home Runs
TOL Craig Monroe (1) Off Tim Harikkala In The 5th
IND Rob Sasser (1) Off Brian Powell In The 5th
Marcus Jensen (1) Off Brian Powell In The 5th
Izzy Alcantara (3) Off Oscar Henriquez In The 8th

Time: 2:54 Att: 3,427

For pictures from the game, click the following link to the game photo page - www.geocities.com/tribephotos/index.html. Comments, Questions, Suggestions? Contact Brad Cameron at PrepX103@aol.com.

International League Stories from April 8, 2002

• Astounding comeback by Tribe - OSC Original by Brad Cameron
• Bisons-Indians Renew Working Agreement - Buffalo Bisons
• Opening Day Set for April 10 at 2:05 p.m. - Buffalo Bisons
• Rain or Shine, We Will Play Ball - Toledo Mud Hens

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