IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Five-Run First Propels Tribe to 6-2 Win Over Bats

Published on August 25, 2010 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Center fielder Alex Presley and first baseman Brian Myrow each blasted home runs in a five-run first inning, while starting pitcher Jeremy Powell reached the 10-win plateau for the first time in his career since 2006 as the Indianapolis Indians earned a 6-2 win over the Louisville Bats on Wednesday night at Louisville Slugger Field.

The victory improves Indianapolis' record 66-66 on the season, while the loss drops Louisville to 74-57 on the year. The win also ups the Tribe's record to 7-10 against the Bats this season with five more games still remaining between the two teams this year.

With 2B Akinori Iwamura standing at first with one out in the top of the first inning, Presley kicked off the Tribe's opening inning offensive explosion with a two-run blast to deep right center field to give Indianapolis a quick 2-0 advantage. The long ball was the outfielder's sixth of the season at the Triple-A level and extended his current hitting streak to eight games, during which time Presley has hit .265 (9-for-34) with five runs scored, two home runs and five RBI.

Following back-to-back hit by pitches of RF Brandon Moss and 3B Mitch Jones, Myrow then stepped to the dish with runners standing at first and second and still only one out in the first frame. After working the count full, the Indians' infielder blasted the eighth pitch of his plate appearance out to right field to give the Tribe a commanding 5-0 lead just six batters into the contest. The home run was Myrow's first round-tripper since July 9 and came in the infielder's first start since he manned first base against the Rochester Red Wings on July 19.

After his offense had staked him to a 5-0 lead before the right-hander had even tossed a pitch in the contest, Powell (6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO) entered the game and limited the Bats to one run on five hits in six innings of work to earn his 10th win of the season. The victory also gives the veteran right-hander his first double-digit win total since he collected 10 wins for the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league back in 2006.

Powell's only miscue of the evening came in the home half of the second inning when the Bats scored their first run of the contest on a solo home run by 3B Juan Francisco. The lead-off shot by Francisco was the slugger's 18th bomb of the season and accounted for his team-leading fifth home run of the year against the Tribe.

With the score still holding at 5-1 in the Tribe's favor in the top of the ninth inning, Indianapolis regained its five-run advantage when SS Doug Bernier scored from third base on a two-out error by Bats' RHP Jerry Gil. Louisville then closed out the game's scoring in the bottom of the ninth inning on a solo home run off the bat of LF Todd Frazier with two outs in the frame.

Louisville starter Matt Klinker (6.0 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO) was strapped with his second loss at the Triple-A level this season after the right-hander gave up five runs in the top of the first inning. For the Tribe, RHP Anthony Claggett (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 SO) and LHP Corey Hamman (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 SO) held the Bats to just one run on two hits in the contest's final three innings of play to preserve Powell's 10th victory of the season.

Despite plating six runs in the contest, Indianapolis batters only collected three total hits on the evening, with Presley (1-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI) and Myrow (1-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI) collecting all five RBI for the Indians. Francisco (1-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI) and Frazier (2-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI), who each hit a solo home run in the contest, drove in the only runs of the game for the Bats.

The Indians now head home to Victory Field for a brief two-game set against the Toledo Mud Hens beginning on Thursday, August 26 at 7:00 p.m. Indianapolis has yet to announce a starter, while RHP Thad Weber is expected to get the nod for Toledo.

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.

Post-game quotes -- INF Brian Myrow

(on what he missed while being on the disabled list)

"I missed being able to help the team win games. You try to stay busy in the dugout when you're on the DL, but it's difficult. I just missed being out there with the guys and being able to play in a game and help them win."

(on his three-run home run in the first inning)

"It felt really good. Since I had been on the DL for nearly six weeks, it's difficult to come in and get right in on the timing of things. It was nice to get a pitch I could handle and hopefully I'll get a few more tomorrow."

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International League Stories from August 25, 2010


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