
Craig's Bat Carries Indians Past Louisville, 7-6
June 25, 2021 - International League (IL)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
LOUISVILLE, KY. - Will Craig launched a pair of home runs - a three-run shot in the third and a solo bomb in the seventh - to carry the Indians to a 7-6 win over Louisville on Friday night. James Marvel tossed five innings in relief of Mitch Keller to earn the win.
The Indians (25-20) never trailed en route to the series-leveling victory. The scoring started in the top of the first thanks to a Chris Sharpe double, single by Kevin Kramer and fielding error by Bats center fielder Mallex Smith. Sharpe's two-bagger moved him into a tie for the league lead in that category.
The Bats (16-29) wasted no time and tied the game in the bottom of the first on a fielder's choice from Narciso Crook that scored Alejo Lopez. Keller fielded Crook's comebacker to the mound, but Lopez - who was caught too far off third to begin a rundown - was awarded home when he collided with Cole Tucker in the baseline.
Keller's bat helped Indy jumped back in front in the third, when he opened the frame with an infield single followed by a single from Tucker. Two outs later, Craig belted a towering three-run home run to left-center to give Indy the lead at 4-1.
Louisville answered with two runs in the bottom of the third to trim its deficit back to one. Keller departed after three innings, and the lead vanished in the fourth when Michael De Leon ripped his second home run of the series out to right off Marvel.
Indy took its third and final lead of the night in its following trip to the plate. With two men on and one away, Jared Oliva greeted Braden Shipley out of the bullpen with a two-run triple to center, pushing the Indians back in front, 6-4.
Craig's second long ball of the night extended the Indians' advantage to 7-4, and it proved to be the difference. The Bats plated two in the bottom of the eighth and had the potential tying run in scoring position, but Marvel (W, 3-1) retired the final three batters he faced.
Clinging to a one-run lead, Joe Jacques (S, 1) pitched around a leadoff infield single with a strikeout and double play to earn his first career Triple-A save.
Indy totaled 13 hits in the triumph, led by Craig's 3-for-5, four-RBI effort. The slugger also scored a game-high three runs.
Bats starter Riley O'Brien (L, 2-3) suffered the loss after allowing six earned runs on eight hits in 4.1 innings pitched.
The Indians and Bats face off again on Saturday with a 7:00 PM start at Louisville Slugger Field. Indy has yet to name a starter while RHP Bo Takahashi (1-4, 7.36) will take the mound for Louisville.
International League Stories from June 25, 2021
- Nunez Launches Two Homers in Win over Redbirds - Toledo Mud Hens
- Omaha Falls Short in Walk-Off Loss to Iowa - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Craig's Bat Carries Indians Past Louisville, 7-6 - Indianapolis Indians
- Iowa Walks-Off Storm Chasers for 4-3 Win - Iowa Cubs
- Redbirds Lose Rain-Soaked Game in Toledo - Memphis Redbirds
- Knights Fall in Extras to Sounds 5-4 - Charlotte Knights
- Brandon Drury Home Run Powers Syracuse to 9-8 Win over Buffalo, Snapping 15-Game Losing Streak - Syracuse Mets
- Bisons Win Streak Ends at Seven - Buffalo Bisons
- Sounds Win Again in Walk-Off Style - Nashville Sounds
- Bulls Hit Three Homers in Five-Run Fourth, Top Jumbo Shrimp 5-1 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Appel, Guthrie lead IronPigs to 6-3 win - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Lopez 3 Hits, Runs Not Enough as Late Comeback Falls Short - Louisville Bats
- Wings Hit Three Homers, Win Third Straight - Rochester Red Wings
- RailRiders Fall to 'Pigs, 6-3 - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Patiño Fans Eleven, Bulls Beat Jumbo Shrimp 5-1 - Durham Bulls
- WooSox Outhit Red Wings, Fall 3-2 in RochesterÃâà- Worcester Red Sox
- Six-Run Second Too Much for Saints to Overcome in 7-2 Loss to Clippers - St. Paul Saints
- June 25 Game Notes: Iowa vs. Omaha - Iowa Cubs
- Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (24-20) at Louisville Bats (16-28) - Indianapolis Indians
- Memphis Redbirds Game Notes: June 25, 2021 - Memphis Redbirds
- SWB RailRiders Game Notes - June 25, 2021 - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Joe Segarra Named President of Rich Entertainment Group - Buffalo Bisons
- Kids Can Learn to Play Baseball - Toledo Mud Hens
- NBT Bank Stadium Hosts Largest Crowd of Season, But Syracuse's Skid Continues as Buffalo Sweeps Thursday Night Doubleheader - Syracuse Mets
- Knights Drop Thursday's Game to Sounds 8-7 - Charlotte Knights
- Sounds Walk-Off the Knights in Dramatic Win - Nashville Sounds
- Jacksonville Bullpen Fires 8.2 Scoreless, Fans 15, Paves the Way for Comeback Win - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Indianapolis Indians Stories
- Redbirds Recover to Defeat Indians, 10-2
- Billy Cook Goes 3-For-4 as Indians Drop Fourth Game of Series, 4-1
- Indians Rally Late, Edge Redbirds 10-9 in Back-And-Forth Battle
- Seven-Run Seventh Sends Indians to 10-3 Win over Memphis
- Indians Toppled by Trio of Seventh Inning Runs

