IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Clippers Rally Past Tribe 4-3 For Series Sweep

Published on July 2, 2010 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS -- Right fielder Jordan Brown came through with a clutch two-out two-run single in the eighth inning to help lead the Columbus Clippers to the four-game home/road series sweep over the Indianapolis Indians in front of 11,530 on Friday night at Victory Field.

With the loss, Indianapolis' record falls to 44-38, while Columbus improves to 50-32 on the season with the win. The victory also gives the Clippers an 8-6 season series advantage and a six-game lead over the Indians in the International League West Division standings.

2B Cord Phelps led off the eventual game-winning eighth inning rally with a single to right field before CF Jose Constanza - in what turned out to be a key moment in the contest - beat out a potential double play. Constanza would go on to steal second and, following a walk to DH Josh Rodriguez, swipe third on a double steal to set the stage for Brown's eventual game-winner.

After Columbus jumped out to an early lead when SS Luis Valbuena tripled home DH Josh Rodriguez with one out in the top of the first, Tribe LF Kevin Melillo led off the Indians' offensive effort with a single and immediately moved to second on a Clippers' throwing error. 3B Akinori Iwamura then extended the rally when he drew a base on balls, before Melillo stole third and eventually came around to score on a double play.

The Clippers would regain the lead in the top of the fourth when Brown rolled a base hit to left and came plateward one batter later on a two-bagger by 1B Wes Hodges. However, the Indians would take back the lead as Iwamura led a two-run rally with RBIs in the fifth and seventh frames.

CF Jonathan Van Every led off the fifth with a soft single to left, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by SS Argenis Diaz and, one batter later, came home on Iwamura's first extra-base hit and RBI in an Indians' uniform, on a three-bagger to center. Van Every and Iwamura teamed up again to give the Indians the lead in the seventh as the Tribe center fielder drew a walk to lead-off the frame and eventually came plateward on a clutch two-out double by Iwamura.

Brown (2-for-3, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB) finished the evening as the only Clippers' batter with multiple base knocks and RBI, while Melillo (2-for-5, 1 R) and Iwamura (2-for-3, 2 RBI) each posted multi-hit efforts for the Tribe and Van Every (1-for-3, 2 R) came through with multiple runs scored.

Columbus starter Yohan Pino (6.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO) did not figure in the final decision as he allowed three runs on seven hits over 6.2 innings to improve his ERA to 2.41 (5 ER in 18.2 IP) against the Indians this season. On the other side Indians' starter Hayden Penn (7.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO) was pinned with the loss to fall to 4-3 on the season despite turning a season high 7.1 innings of solid work.

Clippers' relievers Jensen Lewis (1.1 IP, 1 BB, 2 SO) and Vinnie Pestano (1.0 IP) combined for 2.1 innings of scoreless relief as Lewis earned his first victory of the season to improve to 1-0 and Pestano tossed a scoreless ninth to notch his fourth save on the year. Indians' relievers Wil Ledezma (0.2 IP, 1 H) and Jean Machi (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 SO) also combined for scoreless relief work out of the Tribe bullpen as the duo allowed just one hit over 1.2 innings.

Indianapolis now heads on the road for a single contest in Louisville on Saturday, July 3 at 7:05 p.m. before returning to Victory Field for the sold out July 4 contest against the Bats. LHP Brian Burres is expected to get the call for the Indians, while RHP Jesus Delgado is the probable starter for the Bats.

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 6:45 p.m.

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International League Stories from July 2, 2010


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