IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Clippers Walk Off With 4-3 Win Over Indians

Published on August 27, 2011 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Columbus designated hitter Beau Mills lifted the game-winning sacrifice fly to center with the bases-loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, while third baseman Jared Goedert recorded three hits and drove in three runs, to give the Clippers a 4-3 walk-off win over the Indianapolis Indians on Saturday evening at Huntington Park.

With the defeat, Indianapolis falls to 70-66 this year, while the victory improves Columbus' record to 83-53. The win also ends the four game home/road series in a 2-2 draw, while the Clippers finished the season series with a 13-8 advantage.

Entering the bottom of the ninth tied at 3-3, Goedert reached base for the fourth time in the contest with a lead off walk and moved to third on CF Jerad Head's ground-rule double. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, Mills stepped up and flied out to deep center to bring home Goedert and end the game.

Columbus grabbed the game's first advantage with a three-run fourth inning rally. C Paul Phillips began the scoring spurt with a single prior to base hits from SS Luis Valbuena and LF Tim Fedroff to load the bases for Goedert. The right-handed slugger would come through with a bases-clearing two-out double off the right center field wall to plate all three base runners and give the Clippers a 3-0 lead.

Indianapolis would counter in the sixth however, tying the game with a trio of scores. SS Pedro Ciriaco reached on a double play and advanced to second on 2B Jordy Mercer's base hit, before coming plateward when RF John Bowker singled through the right side for the Indians' first tally. All-Star 1B Matt Hague then drove Mercer in with a base knock to center, while Bowker subsequently scored on a wild pitch to even the score at 3-3.

Goedert (3-for-4, 1 R, 2 2B, 3 RBI), Head (3-for-4, 1 2B) and Fedroff (2-for-5, 1 R) all collected two or more hits for the Clippers, while no Indians batters recorded a multi-hit effort. CF Gorkys Hernandez did reach base three times with a triple and two walks, the three-bagger being his eighth of the season to set a new single-season career-high.

Indians starter Brian Burres (5.2 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB) did not receive a decision after allowing three earned runs on nine hits in 5.2 innings of work, while relievers Aaron Heilman (1.1 IP, 1 BB) and Evan Meek (1.0 IP, 1 BB) combined for 2.1 scoreless innings in support of Burres. LHP Garrett Olson (0.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB) suffered the loss to fall to 4-3 in 2011 after allowing an earned run on one hit.

Clippers starting pitcher Paolo Espino (4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 6 SO) did not factor in the decision as well after relinquishing just one hit while striking out six in four innings of work. RHP Zach Putnam (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 SO) suffered his fourth blown save of the year, while RHP Chen Lee (1.1 IP, 1 BB, 2 SO) earned the victory to improve to 4-0 with Columbus after firing the final 1.1 frames

It was the fifth straight one-run game the Indians have participated in, while 11 of the Tribe's last 16 contest have been decided by that margin. Overall this year the Tribe has played in 45 one-run games, posting a 26-19 mark in those ballgames.

Indianapolis now heads to Toledo to begin a four-game road/home series with the Toledo Mud Hens on Sunday night at 6:00 p.m. RHP Sean Gallagher is scheduled to take the mound for the Indians, while RHP Thad Weber is scheduled to get the nod for the Mud Hens.

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 5:40 p.m.

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International League Stories from August 27, 2011


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