IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Four-Run Eighth Gives Indy 8-4 Win Over Red Wings

Published on June 6, 2007 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS -- Left fielder Nick Green whacked a lead-off homer to highlight a four-run eighth inning and the Indianapolis bullpen combined for 4.2 scoreless innings in an 8-4 win over Rochester Wednesday afternoon at Victory Field.

The Indians improve to 36-22 overall and 20-12 at home with their fifth straight victory, while the Red Wings fall to 29-26 on the season and 12-13 on the road. Thursday will be the Tribe's 52nd consecutive day atop the International League's West Division.

The contest went back and forth until the eighth when Green connected on his third long ball of the campaign. The blast, which cleared the 362-marker in right center, broke a tie game and gave Indianapolis a lead it would not relinquish.

SS Brian Bixler followed with his second triple of the game -- a shot off the center-field wall -- before coming plateward on DH Russ Johnson's bloop single to left. The Tribe's last two runs came on a throwing error by the Red Wings catcher.

Bixler, who finished 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI, has now hit safely in seven straight tilts. He also became the first Indians hitter since July 10, 2004, to record two triples in a game.

Green, who has assumed the lead-off role since OF Rajai Davis was promoted to Pittsburgh on Tuesday, also wrapped up the affair 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI. Johnson added a 2-for-4 effort with one run and one RBI, just one day after tying season highs for hits (3) and RBI (3) in a game.

Indianapolis jumped on Rochester RHP Matt Garza (6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO) early. The Red Wings starter threw 43 pitches in the first inning alone as the Indians scored four times and batted around.

Green (double to left) and Bixler (triple to right) opened the frame with back-to-back extra-base hits before 1B Yurendell de Caster lifted a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0. RF Michael Ryan roped a two-run single moments later after Johnson and CF Luis Matos came up with two straight base knocks.

Rochester evened the count with a run in the fourth and three more in the fifth. 2B Matt Tolbert managed a lead-off two-bagger in the fourth and a two-run double in the fifth. The 25-year-old Triple-A rookie ended up tying a Victory Field record with five hits in the game and raised his IL-best batting average from .351 to .379.

Indianapolis relievers Franquelis Osoria (1.2 IP, 2 H), Brian Rogers (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 SO), Jesse Chavez (1.0 IP, 1 H) and Michael Tejera (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) blanked Rochester after Shane Youman (4.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO) departed in the fifth.

Chavez improved to 3-1 with the win. Thanks to their bullpen, the Indians improved to 35-1 when holding an advantage after eight frames.

Red Wings southpaw Jose Miljares (1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) was pinned with the loss in the first Triple-A decision of his career.

The two teams return to Victory Field on Thursday at 7 p.m., for game three of the four-game set. RHP John Wasdin is slated to make a Major League rehab start for Indianapolis, while RHP Jeremy Cummings is expected to get the nod for Rochester.

The contest will be carried by ESPN-950 AM and IndyIndians.com with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley. The pre-game show begins at 6:40 p.m.

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International League Stories from June 6, 2007


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