IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Bats Awaken as Indians Hold off Clippers, 8-6

Published on August 23, 2018 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS - Jose Osuna and Kevin Kramer cranked long home runs to spark a three-run first inning, J.T. Brubaker struck out eight and the Indians held off the Clippers 8-6 on Thursday night. The win pushed Indy into a first-place tie with Columbus in the IL West with 11 regular-season games remaining.

After dropping a pair of one-run games to start the series, Indianapolis (69-60) ensured that wouldn't be the case on Thursday by scoring three runs in the first off Stephen Fife (L, 5-7). Pablo Reyes led off the frame with a single and was along for the ride on Osuna's sixth homer of the season, a 407-foot blast to left. Two batters later, Kramer golfed his 13th dinger of the year just inside the right-field foul pole.

Columbus (69-60) answered with its only two runs off Brubaker in the second. A walk, single and hit batter preceded a two-run single by Mike Papi. Brubaker escaped further damage with strikeouts of Eric Stamets and Oscar Mercado.

The two punchouts for the Tribe right-hander kicked off a stellar stretch, as he fanned eight of the last 12 batters he faced. Brubaker (W, 8-3) scattered three hits over 5.0 innings of work and walked just one batter, his first issued since July 25.

Before Brubaker exited, Indy built an 8-2 advantage with four runs in the fourth and one more in the fifth. The Indians totaled five hits in the fourth, highlighted by Ryan Lavarnway and Jason Martin RBI singles that sandwiched an Eric Wood run-scoring double. Lavarnway chipped in another RBI single the following frame.

The Clippers didn't go quietly into the night, scoring two off Tanner Anderson in the seventh, the first on a Mercado single and second on an Adam Rosales sacrifice fly.

The visitors eventually brought the potential tying run to the plate in their last at-bat after Brandon Barnes plated two with a single off Dovydas Neverauskas, but Indy prevailed thanks to swinging strikeouts of Bobby Bradley and Eric Haase.

Wood went 3-for-3 from the No. 8 spot in the order, his third three-hit game of the season and first since April 30.

The Indians are 11-4 in Brubaker's last 15 starts.

The Indians open a home-and-home, four-game series at Louisville on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. EDT. Right-hander Tyler Eppler (12-6, 3.80) will face Bats righty Keury Mella (2-1, 3.00).

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International League Stories from August 23, 2018


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