IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Four-run Eighth Lifts Bulls To 7-3 Win Over Tribe

June 17, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


DURHAM, N.C. -- Durham rallied for four runs after two men were out in the bottom of the eighth en route to a 7-3 victory over Indianapolis in front of 8,460 Sunday evening at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

The Bulls improve to 35-35 overall and 18-17 at home, while the Indians fall to 40-28 on the season and 19-15 on the road. Sunday will be the Tribe's 63rd consecutive day leading the IL's West Division. Indianapolis had not dropped a road series this season.

Eight men came to the plate in Durham's big inning as five consecutive batters reached safely with two outs. 2B Elliot Johnson (1-for-4, 1 R), DH Rocco Baldelli (1-for-3, 2 R, 1 RBI), LF Justin Ruggiano (3-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI) and 1B Chris Richard (1-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI) each scored to give the Bulls a four-run advantage.

The home team's rally came against Indians LHP Juan Perez (0.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB) and RHP Mike Nannini (0.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER). Perez was pinned with the loss in his first decison of 2007.

Indianapolis RHP John Wasdin (7.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 12 SO), who was making his fourth Major League rehab start of the season, did not figure in the decision despite striking out the last five batters he faced. His 12 punchouts were the most by a Tribe pitcher since LHP Oliver Perez fanned 13 on July 1, 2006.

The Tribe pitching staff has struck out 53 and walked just six over its last five contests. The unit, which fanned 11 in game three of the series on Saturday, has also turned in its first back-to-back 10+ strikeout games since Aug. 23-24, 2006.

Indianapolis lit up the scoreboard with two runs in the opening frame. SS Brian Bixler (2-for-5, 1 R) roped a single up the middle before 1B Brad Eldred (1-for-3, 1 R, 2 RBI) smacked his fifth home run of the season over the left-field wall.

The Indians added one run in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead. DH Russ Johnson (1-for-4, 1 R) doubled to left, moved to third on LF Nick Green's single to left and crossed the plate on a fielding error by the Bulls third baseman.

Durham cut the deficit to one run in its next at-bat. Baldelli belted his first homer of the year -- a solo shot to right. Ruggiano then roped a single to left, stole second and scored on 3B Joel Guzman's (2-for-4, 3 RBI) base knock through the left side.

RF Jeremy Owens (1-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI) knotted the contest in the fifth with his fourth roundtripper of the campaign -- a solo shot to left center.

Bulls RHP Scott Dohman (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO), who worked the eighth and ninth innings, improved to 3-1 with the win.

Indianapolis begins a four-game homestand against Pawtucket on Monday at 7 p.m. LHP Sean Burnett is slated to start for the Indians, while RHP Devern Hansack is expected to get the nod for the Red Sox.

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 17, 2007


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