IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Columbus Clips Tribe, 5-1

Published on June 6, 2010 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS -- Former Indianapolis Indians' infielder Brian Bixler hit two doubles and drove in four runs, while right-handed pitcher Yohan Pino allowed just two hits over seven scoreless innings to lead the visiting Columbus Clippers to a 5-1 victory over the Tribe on Sunday afternoon at Victory Field.

With the loss, Indianapolis' record falls to 30-27, while the win improves Columbus' mark to 36-22 on the season. The victory pulls the Clippers to within a game of the Tribe in the season series at 5-4 and gives them a 5.5 game lead in the International League West Division.

Bixler, a second-round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2004, stepped to the dish in the top half of the third and, with runners at second and third, flared a two-run, two-out double down the right field line to give the Clippers the 2-0 advantage.

DH Brian Buscher led off the third with a single to center and advanced to second base on a single by 2B Josh Rodriguez before both runners were sacrificed over to second and third by RF Jose Constanza. After a strikeout by CF Michael Brantley accounted for the second out of the inning, Bixler blooped a 3-1 offering from Indians' RHP Hayden Penn (6.1 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO) out of the reach of three Tribe defenders to plate both Columbus base runners.

Bixler recorded his second hit and third RBI of the afternoon with a double in the home half of the fifth inning to plate Constanza and give Columbus a three-run cushion. Constanza singled with one out in the inning and promptly stole both second and third base before trotting home on Bixler's second two-bagger of the contest.

Columbus took a 4-0 lead after Brantley stole home on a double steal with two outs in the top of the seventh, before the Indians scratched out their first and only run of the contest on a throwing error by 3B Jared Goedert that allowed LF Jose Tabata to score from second base to cut the Tribe's deficit to 4-1.

Bixler was back at it again in the top of the ninth, tacking on the Clippers' fifth run of the game with his season-high fourth RBI on the afternoon on a groundout with the bases loaded. Rodriguez walked to lead off the inning, Constanza reached on an infield single to second and Brantley lined a base knock to right to set the stage for Bixler's RBI grounder.

Not to be lost amidst Bixler's impressive offensive outing at the plate was the performance of Columbus starter Pino (7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 6 SO), who limited the Tribe offense to two hits and no runs in seven innings of dominant work. On the afternoon, Pino retired the final eight Tribe batters he faced and only allowed three Indians' base runners to advance past first base.

Indians' right-hander Penn was saddled with his second loss of the season after allowing four runs on nine hits in 6.1 innings of work, while RHP Anthony Claggett (1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO) held the Clippers scoreless over 1.2 innings before RHP Jean Machi (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB) allowed a run in the ninth on two hits.

On the afternoon, three Tribe batters - Tabata (1-for-2, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 SB), 1B Brian Myrow (0-for-2, 2 BB) and DH Brandon Jones (1-for-3, 1 BB) - reached base at least two times, while four Clippers' hitters - Brantley (2-for-4, 1 BB), Bixler (2-for-4, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 1 BB), Rodriguez (3-for-3, 3 R, 1 BB) and Constanza (2-for-3, 1 R) - all tallied multiple base knocks.

The Indians conclude their four-game set with the Columbus Clippers on Monday, June 7 at 7:00 p.m. LHP Brian Burres is expected to get the nod for the Tribe, while RHP Josh Tomlin is the probable starter for the Clippers.

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 6:40 p.m.

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International League Stories from June 6, 2010


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