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Doubleheader Information: Indianapolis Indians (34-24) at Toledo Mud Hens (24-34)

June 8, 2019 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


The Indians play their first doubleheader of the 2019 season this evening in Toledo.

Location: Fifth Third Field

Game 1 First Pitch: 5:05 p.m. ET

Game 2 First Pitch: 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 1

Games #59 & #60 / Road #30 & #31: Indianapolis Indians (34-24) at Toledo Mud Hens (24-34)

Game 1 Probables: RHP Eduardo Vera (3-4, 6.56) vs. LHP Gregory Soto (0-0, 10.80)

Game 2 Probables: TBA vs. RHP Drew VerHagen (0-2, 3.94)

Radio: Fox Sports 97.5 / AM 1260 / iHeart app

TV: MiLB TV

LAST NIGHT: Mitch Keller racked up a career-high 13 strikeouts over 5.0 shutout innings, but the Mud Hens scored two runs in the eighth off Dovydas Neverauskas en route to a 3-1 victory over the Tribe. Indy fell behind 1-0 in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Jacob Robson. The Tribe offense finally came through for a run in their next at-bat. Ke'Bryan Hayes opened the eighth with a triple to straightaway center and scored on a Kevin Kramer single up the middle. The Indians outhit the Mud Hens 9-4, marking the Tribe's first loss in eight games this season where the staff has surrendered four hits or less. Jason Martin and Hayes accounted for four of the knocks, and Will Craig went 1-for-4 to extend his team-best hitting streak to 13 games.

MITCH CAN PITCH: Keller dominated the Mud Hens over 5.0 frames last night after each of the first three batters reached base on a hit and two walks. Keller, 23, retired 15 of the last 16 he faced. His first 12 outs recorded were strikeouts and he picked up No. 13 for the second out in the fifth inning. The 13-strikeout performance marked the most by a Tribe pitcher this decade and highest total since Ian Snell had 17 in 7.0 innings pitched on June 28, 2009 vs. Toledo at Victory Field. It was also Keller's second double-digit strikeout game of the season (also: 4/27 at Charlotte) and sixth of his career.

HE'S PRETTY GOOD: Keller ranks among league leaders in ERA (1st, 3.10), strikeouts (1st, 74), wins (T-1st, 5) and average against (5th, .238) following last night's dominant outing. The Pirates top prospect is the top vote-getter among all pitchers on the International League All-Star ballots.

CAN'T WIN 'EM ALL: Despite last night's 3-1 loss, the Indians have won 12 of their last 15 road games overall. The Tribe enter play tonight with a one-game lead in the IL West over Columbus. Indy's 17-12 road record is the third-best mark in the league behind Columbus (21-9) and Durham (20-11).

SINCE MAY 9: After falling below .500 (15-16) following a loss on May 8 at Scranton/WB, the Indians have won 19 of their last 27 games to move to 34-24 on the season. The 19 victories since May 9 are the most in the IL. Indy has been led by its pitching staff during the hot stretch. Since that date, Tribe pitchers rank first among league leaders in ERA (4.00), saves (13), WHIP (1.20) and average against (.231). Their 82 walks issued since May 9 are also the second-fewest allowed in the league.

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING: For the first time in seven 2019 meetings, the Indians were defeated by Toledo last night to even the five-game set at one game apiece. Indy won the first six matchups, which included a two-game sweep at Fifth Third Field in early April, a three-game sweep at Victory Field and one more win over the Mud Hens in the series opener on Thursday.

LET'S PLAY TWO: The Indians and Mud Hens will play a twin bill this evening at Fifth Third Field, marking the first doubleheader for Indy this season. The Tribe also have two doubleheaders on tap after tonight's affairs -- July 5 vs. Toledo at Victory Field and August 16 vs. Lehigh Valley at The Vic. The Tribe and Mud Hens last played a doubleheader against one another on 5/19/17 at Victory Field, where Indy won both ballgames, 6-1 and 7-1.

FOUR HITS OR LESS: Indy's pitching staff held opponents to four hits or less in just two of its first 48 games. Over the last 10 contests, the Tribe staff has surrendered four hits or fewer six times, including three straight on the last homestand and now three straight nights against Louisville and Toledo. Last night was the first time in eight games where Indy has lost when yielding four hits or fewer.

COMMON PRACTICE: Over 74 percent (43-of-58, 74.1%) of Indy's games have been decided by three runs or less this year, and the Tribe are 25-18 in those games, including a 13-8 mark in one-run contests. Last year, exactly 60 percent (84-of-140) of Indy's games were within three runs. The Tribe went 41-43 in those contests and struggled in one-run games (14-24).

BAKER'S DOZEN: Tribe first baseman Will Craig ranks among league leaders in homers (T-6th, 15), RBI (7th, 40) and total bases (T-7th, 115). Craig enters tonight's games riding a 13-game hitting streak dating back to May 25, the longest by a Tribe player this season. Craig's 13-gamer is the third-longest active streak in the league behind Rochester's Jake Cave (15) and Scranton/WB's Breyvic Valera (14). Craig is batting .377 (20-for-53) during the stretch with three homers, six doubles and eight RBI. Craig also carries a 21-game on-base streak into tonight's game, tied with Durham's Jake Cronenworth for the longest active on-base streak in the IL.


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