Choi's Go-Ahead, Three-Run Blast Leads Indians to Ninth-Inning Victory
June 30, 2023 - International League (IL)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Ji Man Choi blasted a go-ahead, three-run home run with one out in the top of the ninth inning to lift the Indianapolis Indians to a win over the Louisville Bats on Friday night at Louisville Slugger Field, 10-8.
Following a fielding error to put Vinny Capra on and a one-out single by Endy Rodríguez, Choi stepped to the plate and smoked a line drive 107.6 MPH just over the right-field wall against Alan Busenitz (L, 1-1) to plate three, extending his RBI total to four on the night. The ninth-inning victory marks the first time this season the Indians (35-42, 2-1) have scored the game-winning run in their last at-bat.
The back-and-forth contest began with the Indians scoring first, taking a 2-0 lead on back-to-back bases-loaded walks to Chris Owings and Endy Rodríguez at the top of the order. There were four total walks in the frame and 13 in the contest, marking the most walks drawn by the Indians since they walked 15 times on May 5, 2022 vs. Louisville.
The Bats (41-35, 1-2) took the lead in the bottom of the third on a two-run triple by Henry Ramos and subsequent wild pitch. The Indians quickly countered to tie the game via a solo shot by Alika Williams, his second home run in as many days and third in his last five.
With the game tied at 5-5 after the Indians countered a two-run bottom of the fourth with two runs of their own in the fifth, Louisville scored another pair in the sixth and one in the seventh to take the lead. Indianapolis then scored five unanswered runs for the win, with two in the eighth coming via Choi's first triple since 2019 and a wild pitch.
Travis MacGregor (W, 1-0) entered the game with two runners on in the bottom of the seventh and stranded the pair before closing out the contest without allowing a hit. Kyle Nicolas - who entered following opener Yohan Ramirez - struck out nine over 4.0 innings. The nine-strikeout effort marks just the second time this season and in Victory Field history that a reliever has fanned nine-plus batters, following Osvaldo Bido on April 16 vs. St. Paul.
Choi went 3-for-5 and was a double shy of the cycle, while Canaan Smith-Njigba and Williams followed with two hits apiece. Williams extended his hitting streak to eight games with his fourth-inning homer.
The Indians and Bats will face off again on Saturday night at 7:15 PM ET as Indianapolis looks to clinch at least a series split with their third consecutive win. Taking the hill for Indy will be RHP Quinn Priester (7-3, 4.36) against RHP Levi Stoudt (2-3, 5.00).
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