IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Five-Run Fifth Holds up for Indy in Win over Bats

May 2, 2019 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS - Will Craig crushed a three-run homer to cap a five-run fifth inning as the Indians debuted their Circle City jerseys in style with a 5-3 win over Louisville on Thursday night. Mitch Keller fired 6.0 innings of two-run ball in the triumph.

Donning its new Circle City uniform for the first of seven home Thursday dates in 2019, Indianapolis (14-12) looked good and played well to snap a brief two-game skid. Keller sparked the fifth-inning rally against Bats starter Keury Mella with a run-scoring double into the left-field corner, the first hit by a Tribe pitcher this season. After Kevin Newman worked a two-out walk, Jose Osuna punched a game-tying single into right before Craig cleared the bases with his team-high eighth home run of the year.

Keller (3-0) carried the momentum to the mound in the sixth, striking out the heart of Louisville's lineup to finish with six punchouts.

Geoff Hartlieb picked up where Keller left off by yielding just one run over 2.0 innings of work, and Dovydas Neverauskas (S, 2) needed just 10 pitches to retire the side in the ninth for the save. Jason Martin made a sliding catch in center field to seal the win.

Mella (L, 1-2) cruised through the first four innings before the wheels came off in the fifth. He surrendered five earned runs on five hits in 5.0 innings pitched, walking three and striking out five.

The Bats (11-17) led 2-0 after a half inning thanks to back-to-back home runs by Brian O'Grady and Rob Refsnyder.

Jake Elmore and Ke'Bryan Hayes each collected one hit to extend their hitting streaks to seven games apiece, respectively.

The Indians and Bats continue their four-game set on Friday night at 7:15 p.m. ET. Right-hander Alex McRae (1-2, 7.13) gets the nod for Indy opposite Louisville righty Vladimir Gutierrez (1-2, 8.14).

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