IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Columbus Cruises to 17-4 Win Over Tribe

Published on April 8, 2010 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Catcher Carlos Santana belted two home runs and drove in four as the Columbus Clippers plated 17 runs on 19 hits to outslug the Indianapolis Indians 17-4 in the 2010 season opener at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio.

With the victory, the Clippers begin the season 1-0, while the loss drops the Tribe to 0-1.

Columbus jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a two-run home run off the bat of RF Chris Gimenez. First baseman Wes Hodges started the frame with a walk, moved to second on a ground out and trotted home on Gimenez's blast to left-center field.

The Tribe answered back with three runs in the top of the third to take over the lead at 3-2. With one out and 2B Brian Friday standing on second base, CF Jose Tabata lined a single to centerfield to drive in the first run of the game for the Indians. One out later, 3B Pedro Alvarez stepped to the plate and launched a two-run long ball to right field to give Indianapolis the lead.

Santana tied the game at 3-3 with a bomb of his own over the scoreboard in right field before Hodges gave the Clippers a lead they would never relinquish with a solo homer of his own.

The two-run fourth was just the beginning of the offensive onslaught for the Clippers, as Columbus scored in five consecutive innings, including three runs in the fifth and eight runs in the seventh inning, where the home team sent 13 batters to the plate and recorded four extra-base hits.

Ten different Columbus batters, including all nine starters, recorded at least one hit, with six different individuals recording an extra-base hit, six different individuals registering at least two hits and five individuals driving in multiple runs.

Santana (4-for-5, 2 HR, 1 2B, 2 R, 4 RBI), Hodges (2-for-4, 1 HR, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 3 R), LF Shelley Duncan (2-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBI) and 3B Brian Buscher (2-for-3, 1 R, 2 RBI) all tallied multiple hits and RBI, while DH Russell Branyan (3-for-3, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI) and Branyan's replacement, DH Jose Constanza (2-for-2, 1 R, 1 RBI) each notched multi-hit performances.

Columbus starter Carlos Carrasco (5.2 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO) went 5.2 innings and earned the win for the Clippers, while Indianapolis reliever Jeremy Powell (1.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO) was saddled with the loss after allowing five runs in one inning of work.

Indianapolis, who tallied 10 hits off the Columbus pitching staff, was led offensively by Tabata (1-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI), 1B Steve Pearce (3-for-4, 2 2B, 1 R), RF Brandon Jones (2-for-5, 1 2B) and Alvarez (1-for-4, 1 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI), who tallied the first Tribe home run of the season with his two-run shot in the third inning.

The two teams continue their four-game series on Friday at 7:05 p.m. RHP Brad Lincoln is scheduled to start for Indianapolis, while RHP Hector Rondon is expected to get the nod for Columbus.

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.

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International League Stories from April 8, 2010


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