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IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Buffalo Blasts Six Homers to Power Past Tribe 11-6

May 19, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bisons belted six home runs, including three from catcher Vinny Rottino, and one each from right fielder Valentino Pascucci, pinch hitter Jordany Valdespin and left fielder Matt Tuiasosopo to blast past the Indianapolis Indians 11-6 on Saturday night at Coca-Cola Field.

Though the Indians would finally break out of their long scoring drought with six runs on eight hits, it wouldn't be enough as the Buffalo Bisons connected on nine extra-base hits, including an opponent season high six home runs to take game one of the four-game set.

The hero of the night was Rottino, who entered the contest with just one home run in 34 game this season, but finished the night with three times as many. Rottino began the power surge in the bottom of the third when he belted a one-out solo shot to left-center field to extend the Bisons advantage to 3-1.

Pascucci then gave Buffalo back-to-back jacks when he followed up Rottino's third inning blast with his 11th of the season. Incidentally, Pascucci was the last opposing player to connect on three home runs in a single game against the Tribe, accomplishing the feat on June 18, 2010 in Buffalo.

Following the back-to-back jacks, Valdespin continued the power outburst with a pinch hit solo bomb to right field with one out in the sixth inning, before Rottino connected on his second roundtripper, a two-run shot that plated former Indians OF Corey Wimberly later in the inning.

Rottino would finally cap his historic night with another two-run home run that again plated Wimberly in the bottom of the eighth, before Tuiasosopo put the exclamation point on the blow out with his own two-run blast later in the frame. Overall, the Buffalo offense featured six different players with at least one extra-base hit and three with multiple RBI led by Rottino's five.

Overshadowed by Buffalo's power explosion was the Indians' offense finally breaking out of a historic scoreless streak with a solid offensive effort of their own. The Indians managed six runs on eight hits, including multi-hit efforts from left fielder Jake Fox and first baseman Jeff Larish.

In a night where offense was the star of the show neither starter figured in the final decision as Indians LHP Justin Wilson (3.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO) allowed four runs on seven hits over just 3.2 innings, while Buffalo RHP Jeurys Familia (3.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO) posted similar numbers surrendering four runs (three earned) on five hits over 3.2 frames of his own.

Buffalo reliever Justin Hampson (2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 SO) allowed just a single hit over 2.1 scoreless innings of relief to earn the victory and improve to 2-1 on the season. On the other side Tribe reliever Bryan Morris (2.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO) gave up three runs on four hits over 2.1 innings to suffer the loss and fall to 1-1 in 2012.

The Indians (22-20) will now look to break their losing streak when they continue their four-game series in Buffalo on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. LHP Jeff Locke is scheduled to make the start for the Indians, while the Bisons are expected to counter with RHP Jeremy Hefner.

The contest will be carried on WNDE 1260 AM-WFBQ-HD2, WNDE.com and via iheartradio, a mobile application for iPhone, Blackberry and Android phones, with Howard Kellman and Will Flemming on the call. The pre-game show begins at 12:45 p.m.

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