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IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Bowker Blasts Tribe by Bats 3-2

August 12, 2011 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Trailing 2-0 entering the seventh inning, the Indians took advantage of a Louisville miscue to even the score on a pinch hit double by Jeff Clement and RBI groundout by center fielder Alex Presley, before left fielder John Bowker blasted Indianapolis to victory with a solo home run to lead off the eighth as the Tribe took down the Bats 3-2 on Friday night at Louisville Slugger Field.

With the win Indianapolis improves to 64-57, while the loss drops Louisville's record to 61-60. The victory also improves the Indians record to 6-5 against the Bats this season and 4-2 at Louisville Slugger Field.

The Indians let several scoring opportunities slip away early as Bats starter Edinson Volquez (7.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 SO) used a key double play and eight strikeouts to work his way out of jams. However, Volquez could not over come a key Bats' error in the seventh inning and went on to surrender all three Tribe runs and suffer the loss to fall to 2-1 on the season.

After Indians 2B Jordy Mercer reached as the beneficiary of the Louisville miscue in the top of the seventh, C Jason Jaramillo singled him into scoring position. Clement then came through with a clutch pinch hit double to plate Mercer and push Jaramillo to third, where he would score to tie the game one batter later on an RBI groundout by Presley.

In a starting lineup that featured five players who spent time in Pittsburgh this season, it was Bowker who broke through with the game-winning blast, when he connected off Volquez in the top of the eighth for his team leading 15th homer of the season. The left handed slugger finished the night a game best 3-for-4 and has now reached base in 25 straight road contests during which time he has compiled a .359 average (37-for-103) with 18 runs, eight doubles, five homers, and 17 RBI.

Along with Bowker, who spent the early part of the season in Pittsburgh, Presley, RF Jose Tabata,SS Chase d'Arnaud and 3B Josh Harrison gave the Indians' lineup a distinctive Pirates' feel to it on Friday night. However, besides Bowker, the Bats had the rest of the Major Leaguers numbers as Presley, Tabata and d'Arnaud, who are all on rehab assignment with the Tribe, combined to go 1-for-11, while Harrison saw his 10-game hitting streak snapped.

While Bowker helped the Indians battle back offensively, the Indianapolis bullpen turned in spectacular showing, shutting down the Bats for the final four frames. After RHP Jared Hughes (1.0 IP, 2 BB) tossed a scoreless sixth, LHP Tony Watson (2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO) allowed just one hit over the seventh and eighth, before LHP Justin Wilson (1.0 IP) pitched a perfect ninth to give the Tribe the victory.

With his two solid innings, Watson earned the win to improve to 3-3 on the season, while Wilson, in an impressive performance in the ninth, hit high 90s on the radar gun and sat down the Bats in order to earn his first career save.

The Bats' bullpen also turned in an excellent performance, though in a losing effort, as RHP Brad Boxberger (1.0 IP, 1 SO) and RHP Nick Christiani (1.0 IP, 1 H) combined for two scoreless innings in relief of Volquez.

On the offensive side, Louisville got on the board early thanks to a two-out solo longball from C Devin Mesoraco in the second inning. The Bats then extended their lead to 2-0 on back-to-back doubles by 2B Chris Valaika and 3B Juan Francisco to lead-off the sixth.

The back-to-back two baggers in the sixth would chase Indians starter Garrett Olson (5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO), who did not figure in the game's final decision despite another solid outing. However, the two tallies weren't enough as the Tribe continued their push for the playoffs with a victory over their West Division rival.

Indianapolis and Louisville now continue their eight-game road/home series on Saturday night at 6:05 p.m. RHP Sean Gallagher is scheduled to get the start for the Indians, while the Bats are excepted to counter with RHP Darryl Thompson.

The contest will be carried on WNDE 1260 AM, WNDE.com and via iheartradio, a mobile application for iPhone, Blackberry and Android phones, with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley on the call. The pre-game show begins at 5:45 p.m.

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