Clement's Homers Not Enough As Tides Score Six In Final Two Frames
Published on July 31, 2009 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
NORFOLK, Va. -- In his Tribe debut, first baseman Jeff Clement launched solo home runs in each of his first two at-bats, but it wasn't enough as the Norfolk Tides plated six runs over their final two innings to come from behind and defeat the Indianapolis Indians 10-9 Friday night at Harbor Park.
With the loss the Indians fall to 51-55 on the season and 25-29 on the road, while the Tides improve to 57-49 overall and 29-20 at home with the win. The victory gives the Tides the four-game series split, while despite two tough losses, Indianapolis still takes the season series five games to three.
In an offensive back-and-forth battle the two teams combined for 19 runs on 28 hits, including a seven-run sixth for the Indians and a five-run seventh for the Tides.
Overshadowed in the Tides' massive comeback was Clement, who was acquired from Seattle as part of the Jack Wilson/Ian Snell trade, and showed off the power that made him a top prospect in the Mariners organization. In his first game since joining the Tribe, the left handed slugger blasted solo home runs in the second and fourth innings and added a single and run scored in the sixth to cap an impressive opening performance in an Indians' uniform.
The multi-home run game was the first for Clement since he belted two against the Detroit Tigers as a member of the Seattle Mariners on July 5, 2008. Clement also became the fourth Indians' player to belt multiple longballs this season, joining 1B Steve Pearce, OF Garrett Jones and 3B Neil Walker, who accomplished the feat in Tribe's previous game.
After taking an early 4-0 lead, Norfolk fell behind 9-4 as the Indians pounded out nine unanswered runs, including a season high seven runs in the sixth inning. However, it wasn't enough as the Tides came back with five runs in the seventh and the game-winner in the eighth to gain the series split.
CF Joey Gathright (3-for-5, 2 R, 1 RBI) was not only the spark at the top of Norfolk's lineup, but also came through with the clutch game-winning single in the bottom of the eighth that scored C Robby Hammock and completed the Tide's impressive late inning comeback. The speedster also stole two bases to wrap up an impressive season against the Tribe in which he batted .333 (11-for-33) with a team high seven runs and six stolen bases.
Hitting just behind Gathright, 2B Justin Turner and RF Jeff Fiorentino also remained red hot for the Tides as Turner extended his team best hitting streak to eight games and Fiorentino moved his own streak to six consecutive contests. Turner (2-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI) remains an offensive juggernaut for the Tides as the infielder has now scored eight runs and driven in six during his current eight game streak, while Fiorentino (2-for-5, 2 R, 1 RBI), who ranks among the IL's top hitters, improved his average to a ridiculous .476 (10-for-21) with five runs and five RBI over his last six games.
While Gathright, Turner and Fiorentino were setting the stage for the Tides, 1B Brandon Snyder and LF Victor Diaz were coming through with the running scoring base knocks. In Norfolk's five-run seventh in which they scored all five tallies with two outs, both Snyder and Diaz came through with important base knocks as Snyder lined a two-run single to bring the Tides to with-in one and was immediately followed by a run scoring double by Diaz that tied the score at nine.
Despite taking the tough loss, the Indians' offense still shined as all but one player collected at least one hit, all but two scored at least one run, and all but three drove in at least run.
CF Brian Bixler remained red hot for the Tribe as he posted his seventh multi-hit performance over his last 10 games, going 3-for-4 as well as scoring his team leading 60th and 61st run. The multi-dimensional utility man also moved into sole possession of first in the International League with his seventh triple of the season, a hit which also drove in two, to put a cap on his impressive month of July in which he posted team highs in average (.342), hits (37), runs (17), home runs (6), RBI (20) and stolen bases (6).
Along with Clement and Bixler, LF Chris Barnwell (2-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI), RF Tagg Bozied (2-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI) and 3B Neil Walker (2-for-5, 1 RBI) also turned in multi-hit performances for the Tribe. Barnwell and Bozied also each turned in firsts with Indianapolis as Barnwell blasted his first long ball in an Indian's uniform and Bozied collected his first triple.
In a game where solid pitching performances were few and far between, Indians reliever Jason Davis (2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB) tossed two scoreless frames and was in line for the win before the Tides rallied in the final innings. The comeback instead gave Tides' reliever Josh Perrault (2.1 IP, 1 BB, 2 SO) his first win of the season after he tossed 2.1 hitless innings of relief.
Neither starter figured in the decision as Indians RHP Ty Taubenheim (4.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) gave up three earned runs in just four innings and Tides LHP Troy Patton (5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO) gave up two runs on six hits over five frames. Indianapolis reliever Juan Mateo (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER) suffered the loss to drop to 4-5 on the season after he gave up Gathright's game-winning single in the eighth.
Indianapolis begins a four game road series with the Durham Bulls (Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays) on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. The newly acquired Jose Ascanio is scheduled to start for the Indians, while LHP Jason Cromer is expected to get the nod for the Bulls.
The contest will be carried by WXLW-950 AM and www.IndyIndians.com with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley. The pre-game show begins at 6:45 p.m.
International League Stories from July 31, 2009
- Clement's Homers Not Enough As Tides Score Six In Final Two Frames - Indianapolis Indians
- Tides Rally to Beat Tribe - Norfolk Tides
- Short-handed Bats Fall Victim to One Big Inning, Fall to Mud Hens, 8-6 - Louisville Bats
- Bulls Beat Scranton - Durham Bulls
- Knights Involved in Big League Trade - Charlotte Knights
- Bisons Notes - Pawtucket at Buffalo - Buffalo Bisons
- O's place Bergesen on DL; Ray and Mickolio added to roster - Norfolk Tides
- Bats Playoff Tickets On Sale August 10 - Louisville Bats
- Clippers Are Home Starting August 1st - Columbus Clippers
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