Bats Beat Out Tribe, 4-2
Published on April 15, 2010 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Starting pitcher Matt Maloney allowed just two runs and struck out seven over six innings of work to earn the victory, while third baseman Todd Frazier blasted a two-run home run in third inning that proved to be the difference as the Louisville Bats defeated the Indianapolis Indians 4-2 on Thursday night at Louisville Slugger Field.
With the loss, Indianapolis falls to 3-5 on the season, while the win gains Louisville the series split and improves their record to the .500 mark at 4-4.
Maloney (6.0 IP, 5 H ,2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO), who last season posted a 2-1 record, 2.08 ERA and 17 strikeouts in three starts against the Tribe, started right where he left off by holding the Tribe offense to just one extra-base hit on his way to his second victory already this season. The Bats' bullpen came on and sealed the deal for Maloney as RHP Carlos Fisher (2.0 IP) and RHP Jon Adkins (1.0 IP) combined for three perfect innings of work with Fisher earning his third hold of the season and Adkins notching his third save.
The Louisville offense also gave Maloney an early lead as they plated a run in the bottom of the first when RF Chris Burke led off the Bats' half of the inning with a single, stole second, moved to third on a single by CF Chris Heisey and eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly by 1B Drew Sutton. The single for Burke for just his second hit in 18 at-bats this season, while the RBI for Sutton was just his second in seven games played.
However, it was Frazier that sealed the victory and series split for the Bats when, in the third inning, the third baseman blasted his first home run of the season, a two-run shot that turned out to be the game-winner. Traveling along on Frazier's longball was LF Juan Francisco, who began the Bats' eventual game-winning rally with a two-out triple, before Frazier followed with his blast to right field.
For Indianapolis, starter Donnie Veal (5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO) was a tough luck loser after he allowed just three runs on five hits and one walk but was pinned with the loss to drop to 0-1 on the season. Indians' reliever Jean Machi (1.0 IP, 1 BB) was a bright spot out of the Tribe bullpen as he turned in his second straight hitless performance, walking just one batter in an inning of work.
The Indianapolis offense managed just two runs on four singles and a double with both tallies coming in the fourth inning. CF Jose Tabata started the Tribe's fourth inning rally with a single to lead off the frame, before moving into scoring position with his team-leading and International League best fifth stolen base of the season. With his 2-for-3 effort at the plate, Tabata has now hit safely in all seven games he has played and is batting .344 (11-for-32) on the season.
Following Tabata's steal, RF Brandon Jones delivered the Indians' only extra-base hit on the evening when he lifted a double to right field to bring Tabata plateward for the Tribe's first run of the contest. Jones then moved up to third on a groundout by 1B Steve Pearce before crossing the plate himself on a groundout by 3B Pedro Alvarez.
Overall, only Tabata (2-for-3, 1 R, 1 SB) for the Tribe and 2B Chris Valaika (2-for-4, 1 R) for the Bats managed to collect multiple hits in the pitcher's duel between the two clubs.
The Indians now head home for Opening Night at Victory Field, which is set for Friday, April 16 when they entertains Toledo at 7:15 p.m. The Indians are guaranteeing 60 degrees on Opening Night again this season and if the game starts with a temperature of below 60, everyone in attendance will receive a FREE ticket to another home game in April.
RHP Chris Jakubauskas is expected to get the home opener start for Indianapolis, while RHP Enrique Gonzalez is the probable starter for Toledo.
The contest will be carried by WXLW-950 AM and broadcast live on Comcast and Bright House Networks digital channel 81 with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley on the call. The pre-game show on WXLW-950 AM begins at 6:55 p.m.
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