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IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Cole and Company Lead Tribe Past Toledo 8-4

September 1, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS --The Indianapolis Indians plated eight runs over the first three innings in support of Pittsburgh Pirates top prospect Gerrit Cole, who bounced back from a tough first frame to earn the win with seven strikeouts over six innings of work in the Tribe's 8-4 victory over the Toledo Mud Hens on Saturday night at Victory Field.

After a one hour and 29 minute rain delay, Cole (6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO) got off to a rough start, allowing three runs on four hits in the first inning of his Triple-A career. However, following the first frame, the 2011 No. 1 overall draft pick dominated the rest of the way, surrendering just two base knocks and a walk while striking out seven over six total innings to earn the victory in his Triple-A debut.

Toledo jumped out to a quick advantage after leading off the game with three straight singles and getting an sacrifice fly from DH John Lindsey and a two-run triple from 1B Danny Dorn. However, after Cole settled down and shut down the Mud Hens offense, the Indians offense broke out putting together multi-run rallies in each of the first three innings.

SS Anderson Hernandez began the Indians offensive outburst with a base hit to lead off the bottom of the first before a walk by LF Christian Marrero set the stage for another new Tribe player, 2B Hector Luna. The recently signed major league veteran would come through in the clutch, lining a two-run base knock to left to draw the Tribe within one.

On his base knock, Luna advanced to second on a Toledo throwing error, allowing him to come plateward when CF Brandon Boggs followed with a base knock of his own to even the score at 3-3.

The Indians offense continued to roll into the next frame as 3B Yamaico Navarro led off the bottom of the second with a base hit to left before a walk to C Tony Sanchez and single by Hernandez brought Navarro home to give the Tribe their first lead of the night at 4-3. Marrero would extend that advantage when he followed Hernandez with an RBI groundout to plate Sanchez and push the score to 5-3.

The Tribe then finished off their early-inning outburst with three scores in the bottom of the third beginning with walks by Boggs and pinch-hitter Miguel Perez that set up DH Jeff Larish, who ripped a bases-clearing double to right field to extend the lead to 7-3. A Toledo miscue later in the third would allow Hernandez to score the third run of the frame to push the lead to an insurmountable 8-3.

Though the Mud Hens would get a score back on a single by CF Justin Henry in the top of the seventh, the Indianapolis bullpen would finish out the home finale victory for the Tribe. Indianapolis relievers Logan Kensing (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO), Jose Diaz (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 SO) and LHP Doug Slaten (1.0 IP) combined to allow just one run over the final three innings of the contest.

Toledo starter Casey Crosby (1.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 7-9 on the season after surrendering five runs (four earned) on five hits and three walks over just 1.2 innings of work. Mud Hens relievers Matt Hoffman (2.0 IP, 1 H, 3 SO), Zach Miner (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB) and Collin Balester (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 SO) combined for five innings of scoreless relief in a losing effort.

With the victory, the Indians finish the home schedule with the International League's best record at 48-24, the second-best home mark ever at Victory Field. The Indians also add yet another win to their already record-setting mark, now holding the best overall record by an Indianapolis team during the Victory Field era at 87-55.

The Indians will now head on the road to Louisville for the final two games of the regular season. Indianapolis is expected to send RHP Phil Irwin to the mound in game one on Sunday night at 6:05 p.m., while the Bats are scheduled to counter with RHP Todd Redmond.

The game 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 5:45 p.m.

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